§ 85 Sir John Mellorasked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he has any survey made of the obstruction caused to general traffic in the Central London area by crawling taximeter-cabs, and with what results;
(2) whether he will specify the streets in the Central London area in which taximeter-cabs have been prohibited by regulation from crawling; and whether any and, if so, how many prosecutions have taken place for infringement of this regulation;
(3) whether he has any figures available to indicate with regard to any recent period the number of accidents in the Central London area attributable to crawling taximeter-cabs?
§ The Minister of Transport (Mr. Burgin)The various causes of obstruction to the flow of traffic in Central London are continually under review. The loitering taxicab is only one of the causes and the problem it presents is so bound up with other factors that I do not feel that a survey on the lines mentioned would produce any data of value. Taxicabs are prohibited by regulations under the London Traffic Act from loitering in certain streets between certain hours, and I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate all the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir J. MellorWas not a survey made by the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor about a year ago with regard to loitering taxi cabs?
§ Mr. BurginYes, I think there was.
§ Sir J. MellorMay we have such information as resulted from that survey?
§ Mr. BurginI do not think it is at all material to the problem with which the hon. Member is dealing in his questions but if he would like to know what happened in the past, I shall be glad to give him the information.
§ Sir Percy HarrisIs it not the case that taxi-drivers are having a very difficult time at the moment, and will the right hon. Member see that no regulations are made which will make it more difficult for them to make both ends meet.
§ Mr. BurginThe traffic problem of London is very much greater than loitering taxi-cabs.
§ Mr. LeachWill the Minister cease using the words "loitering" and "crawling" in view of the fact that these men are engaged in the honourable job of seeking clients?
§ Following is the information:
§ Between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. taxicabs are prohibited from loitering in the following streets:
- Buckingham Palace Road.
- Kensington High Street—from Royal Palace Hotel to Wright's Lane.
- New Bond Street.
- Old Bond Street.
- New Oxford Street.
- Oxford Street—from Marble Arch to Oxford Circus.
- Regent Street.
- Wigmore Street.
§ A similar prohibition applies between 8 a.m. and midnight in the following streets:
- Charing Cross Road.
- Coventry Street.
- Kingsway.
- Oxford Street—from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road.
- Piccadilly—east of Stratton Street.
- Shaftesbury Avenue—from Piccadilly Circus to Cambridge Circus.
- Strand.
- Tottenham Court Road.
- Wilton Road.
§ In 1937, 361 summonses were issued against drivers accused of contravening these Regulations. In addition, prosecutions under the London Hackney Carriages Act, 1843, for causing obstruction by loitering in other streets were taken in 592 137 cases. No information is available as to the number of accidents in the Central area attributable to loitering taxicabs.