HC Deb 22 June 1967 vol 748 cc1930-1
12. Dr. Gray

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now fixed taxi fares from Heathrow Airport to Central London.

48. Mr. St. John-Stevas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now take action to fix maximum charges for taxi journeys from Heathrow Airport to central London.

Miss Bacon

This requires legislation which it has not been found possible to include in the Government's programme for this Session.

Dr. Gray

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this question is urgent as the tourist season has started? Recently, a French friend of mine was charged £4 10s. from Heathrow to Victoria Station. From Orly to central Paris cab fares are fixed. Why not fix them for London? Do we want to create this unfavourable impression on all visitors?

Miss Bacon

My right hon. Friend has announced the Government's intention to introduce legislation for this purpose, but he made it clear that it would probably not be able to be introduced in this Session.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

Pending legislation, cannot the right hon. Lady get a voluntary agreement of some kind with the cab trade for a reasonable fare? Is she aware that only the other day I was charged £4 in returning to this House after coming back from abroad on a Parliamentary engagement?

Miss Bacon

The hon. Gentleman has made a very useful suggestion. As he knows, the Home Office recently set up a consultative committee with sections of the cab trade. I will see that this matter is referred to them.