HC Deb 27 February 1964 vol 690 cc612-3
16. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he consulted consumer interests before agreeing to the recent increases in London taxi fares.

Mr. Woodhouse

My right hon. Friend, naturally, regards it as incumbent upon him, when considering an application for an increase of taxi fares, to take into account the interest of the travelling public as well as to see that the taxi trade receives a fair return.

Mr. Rankin

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the 2s. fare now becomes 2s. 6d. and the 8s. 6d. fare becomes 11s., and that those changes represent increases of 25 to 30 per cent.? How can he defend such increases to a particular section of the community when the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer are urging industrial, professional and commercial workers not to make demands for increases beyond 4 per cent.?

Mr. Woodhouse

The increase was an average of 25 per cent. over the whole range of fares—

Mr. Rankin

That is still no excuse.

Mr. Woodhouse

—and it was the first such increase made for seven years. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that one of the primary interests of the travelling public is that there should be a taxi service and that taxis should not disappear from the streets.

Sir H. Lucas-Tooth

Is my hon. Friend aware that this increase is, in fact, at a rate lower than that recommended for industry generally and that, it an increase at least as large as this had not been made, there would have been no taxis for people to use in London?

Mr. Rankin

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, and because it does not give the true facts, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.