§ 35. Mr. Harry Thorneycroftasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that the railway companies only permit a limited number of drivers of taxi-cabs to ply for hire on the station approaches in Manchester and in those cases only in return for an annual rent of £7 16s. for each 1894 taxi-cab; that, as a result of this, as from Monday, 8th May, very few taxi-cabs have been delivering passengers to, or collecting passengers from, the station approaches in Manchester; and what action he proposes to take.
§ 36. Mr. Emeryasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he is aware that railway companies only allow a limited number of taxicabs to ply for hire on station approaches in Manchester and charge £7 16s. per annum for the privilege from each taxicab; and if, in view of the threat of taxi-cab owners to withdraw their services, with consequent inconvenience to the travelling public, he will allow all licensed taxi-cabs free access to the station approaches.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Mr. Noel-Baker)The railway companies make a charge of three shillings a week for every taxi-cab which they authorise to ply for hire on the station premises at Manchester. I understand that they have offered to allow all taxi-cabs to use the station stands, up to the specified capacity of the stands, provided they receive the same total payment as they now receive by way of acknowledgment rental from the authorised taxi-cabs. I am asking the Manchester and Salford Owner Drivers' Association if they are prepared to accept this proposal.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIs my hon. Friend aware that as a result of a similar dispute between railway companies and cab-owners in London more than 20 years ago, the railway companies permitted cab owners free access to the stations; and in view of the serious inconvenience that is suffered by the travelling public in that part of Lancashire, will he give reconsideration to this question? Manchester is only asking to come into line with London.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerYes, Sir, but I think the conditions in London and Manchester differ rather widely. The railway companies maintain that in peace time the existing arrangement secures a better service for the public, and there is certainly a strong argument in favour of that view. I think that their present proposal would solve the present difficulty if it were accepted, but I thought it right to ask the Association if they would agree.
§ Mr. Rhys DaviesWill my hon. Friend take care in any negotiations he has with railway companies on this point to see that Manchester is not put in a worse position than London? I live in Manchester. Manchester is as important as London.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftOwing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.