HC Deb 26 January 1967 vol 739 cc1760-1
23. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he now proposes to take to prevent the exploitation of travellers making use of taxicabs between London Airport and Central London.

63. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to stop the practice of charging excessive fees for taxicabs travelling from London Airport to Central London.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

The Government intend, when time permits, to introduce legislation to extend the control of fares for taxi journeys beyond the current six mile limit to include all journeys within the Metropolitan Police District, including those to or from London Airport.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Am I right in understanding it to mean that once this legislation is in effect the lawful fare will be that shown on the meter and nothing else?

Mr. Jenkins

I think that the right hon. Gentleman is broadly right in that assumption. It clearly remains to be seen what form the Bill takes—and it will have to be debated in this House and it will be subject to Amendment—but the intention is to deal precisely with the problem that the right hon. Gentleman has raised.

Mr. Goodhart

Eighteen months ago a Home Office Minister said that it was intolerable that the British public should be held to ransom and that early action would be taken. Is the Minister aware that the ransom has risen by about £1 a trip since then and that it is urgent that this Bill should be brought forward?

Mr. Jenkins

We endeavoured to make some progress with a Private Member's Bill on this subject towards the end of the last Parliament. Although at one stage the prospects were promising, later on it foundered. That is the reason why —without giving a precise undertaking when—I am introducing legislation.