§ LORD KILMANYMy 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 the new scale of fares for London taxi-cabs was agreed on the basis of an expectation that "tipping" would continue, or whether it was fixed on the basis that statutory right should take the place of voluntary gratuities.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD HARRIS OF GREENWICH)My Lords, the new fares scale assumed no change in the practice of tipping.
§ LORD KILMANYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that almost every taxi driver—certainly every taxi driver whom I have ever engaged—, regards a tip as part of the bargain. Is it not just as well to accept that as a fact, even though taxis are so expensive that many of us find it difficult to afford one at all?
§ LORD HARRIS OF GREENWICHMy Lords, this matter has been looked at once or twice, as the noble Lord will be aware, but I do not think that at the moment there is any proposal to change the existing situation.