HC Deb 12 November 1984 vol 67 cc397-8
2. Mrs. Kellett-Bowman

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to provide compensation to taxi owners who have paid for their licence plate, the value of which will be reduced to zero when deregulation takes place.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. David Mitchell)

We have no plans to do so.

Mrs. Kellett-Bowman

Will my hon. Friend accept that I find it disappointing that he cannot help this hard-working bunch of people, many of whom have spent their redundancy money on their licence plates or are looking forward to selling these plates to finance their retirement? If he cannot help in the way that I have asked, will he at least see that taxi drivers are not driven out of business by fly-by-night operators who just skim the cream at weekends and have other sources of income?

Mr. Mitchell

The problem has been caused by local authorities restricting the supply of taxi plates. I want to listen to the operators' views at first hand and discuss the problems with local government representatives.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Is the Minister aware that I met a group of those involved in the taxi trade in the wider Leeds areas at the weekend? In view of the finality of his answer, what sort of time scale have we for making representation on the wider issues of deregulation?

Mr. Mitchell

Naturally, I was not aware that the right hon. Gentleman had met the taxi operators to whom he referred. It is my intention to meet representatives of the taxi operators' profession. I shall be happy to include any whom the right hon. Gentleman wishes to introduce.

Mr. Waller

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that it is no fault of the operators that the local authorities have restricted the issue of plates and have therefore made it necessary for operators to pay thousands of pounds in many cases in order to acquire one? Should not my hon. Friend bear that very much in mind when going ahead with deregulation of the taxi business?

Mr. Mitchell

Yes, Mr. Speaker. That is one reason why I intend to discuss the matter with the local authority representatives.

Mrs. Dunwoody

What efforts has the hon. Gentleman made to consult old-age pensioners and those enjoying concessionary bus fares who may find themselves without transport and who will find that the taxis that are left are much more expensive than anything they have at present? What compensation will they receive?

Mr. Mitchell

I have every reason to believe that our proposals on buses will lead to more competition, more plentiful supply and lower fares.