§ 32. Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that petrol, tyres and other costs of running taximeter cabs have increased; that the cost of living has also increased; that petrol for taximeter cabs is restricted; that taximeter cab-drivers have carried out their vocation in arduous war-time conditions with courage and diligence; and whether, in these circumstances he will authorise an increase in fares?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)I am of course aware of the considerations mentioned by my hon. Friend, but the information at present in my possession does not suggest that there is need for a change. So far as London is concerned, one result of war time conditions is that taxi-cabs are much more continuously employed. In provincial towns the scale of fares is fixed by by-laws made by the local authority and confirmed by the Minister of Health.