§ 34. Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his regulations allow a taxicab driver to charge the full fare to each passenger when they share a journey.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)The amount recorded on the taximeter at the conclusion of a hiring is the total charge which may legally be made by a London taxicab driver. In cases where a taxicab is shared, any apportionment of this charge is a matter for the passengers, and provided the driver receives the amount recorded, he has no right to insist on a separate contribution from each passenger.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill the Home Secretary try to give this answer publicity over the B.B.C., and ask the police so to inform taxi drivers?
§ Mr. EdeI have no control over the B.B.C., but I hope that the publicity given to the hon. Member's Question and my answer will achieve the result he desires.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonThe right hon. Gentleman must be aware that a few taxi drivers do exploit the public like this; ought not the effect of the right hon. Gentleman's answer to be placed in the cabs with the other regulations?
§ Mr. EdeI do not think that that would be very effective. If a member of the public upon whom the exploitation is attempted will inform the police, they will take the necessary action.
§ 36. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken by the 770 Metropolitan Police to prevent unauthorised and exorbitant charges by taxi-cab drivers.
§ Mr. EdeThe police have standing instructions to report cab drivers who break the law by demanding more than the fare recorded on the taximeter, but their ability to take action largely depends upon the public giving information of such improper charges and being willing to give evidence. In the first nine months of this year 51 cases have been reported and 42 prosecutions resulted.
§ Mr. KeelingIs not the passenger's simple remedy to tell the driver to drive to the nearest police station?