HL Deb 12 June 1973 vol 343 cc529-30
LORD MOYNE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, for the reduction of traffic congestion, they will not tax motor vehicles according to the square feet of road space they occupy; whether they will not remove V.A.T. from taxicabs and whether they will not allow taxi-cabs (as in Paris) to use the new reverse bus channel in Piccadilly.

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOUR-TON

My Lords, the answer to the first two parts of the Question is, "No". Whether taxis should be allowed to use the Piccadilly reverse bus channel is a matter for the Greater London Council.

LORD MOYNE

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for his reply may 1 ask him whether he would be inclined to qualify his complete negative? Does he consider it equitable that a Mini should pay less for its few square feet than a Cadillac for its broad acreage? On the question of the reverse bus channel, will Her Majesty's Government tender advice to local authorities who are primarily concerned, with a view to allowing taxi drivers—who are anxious to use this channel—to do so without being allowed to set down passengers and so block the buses?

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOUR-TON

My Lords, I take the noble Lord's point about larger cars and smaller cars. As the noble Lord will be aware, the motor vehicle taxation system operated differently and it was changed many years ago at the request of the motor industry. It is self-evident that large cars pay much more in taxation inasmuch as they use more fuel. Regarding the question of taxi-cabs using reverse bus lanes, this is not practicable because when buses stopped the taxis would be held up. But, more important, when taxis stop to set down and pick up the buses would be delayed, thereby defeating the object of the exercise.

LORD MOYNE

My Lords, I hesitate to speak again but part of my supplementary question was as to whether taxis could be prevented from setting down if they were allowed to use the channel.

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOUR-TON

My Lords, if taxis were prevented from setting down I do not think this facility would help them very much.