London Minicabs: User Safety Report (Hansard, 1 July 1992)

The Minister of State, Department of Transport (The Earl of Caithness)
My Lords, the Government have recently received the report of the working party. It will be carefully studied and publication will be arranged shortly.

§ Baroness Gardner of Parkes
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. As he knows, this House has waited patiently for this report. We are most anxious that the Government should press on with this matter. Will my noble friend assure me that the Government will do everything possible to ensure a higher standard of safety for passengers travelling in minicabs? Will they also ensure that standards are raised in all forms of passenger transport in London?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, we take the question of safety extremely seriously. This very afternoon my honourable friend the Minister with responsibility for transport in London is holding a meeting on the subject.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, is the Minister aware that London Hackney cabs have made much progress in providing facilities for disabled people? Do the terms of reference of the inquiry on minicabs, and of the report, include the safety and welfare of disabled people?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, with regard to the noble Lord's first question, the answer is yes. In 768 answer to his second question, I have said that the publication of the report will be announced shortly and the noble Lord will be able to read it for himself to see whether the matter of disabled people has been addressed. However, I can assure the noble Lord, and the House, that the question of disabled people is very much at the forefront of our minds.

§ Baroness Hamwee
My Lords, is the Minister aware that concern for safety has led to the establishment of a number of minicab firms operating with women only drivers, even though that is not necessarily an answer to the safety problem as women are not necessarily more reliable than men in that respect? Is the Minister further aware that it is not possible for minicab firms to advertise solely for women drivers without infringing the sex discrimination legislation? Does the Minister agree that if the Government were to proceed quickly with the recommendations of the report passengers would be reassured? There would also be the added benefit that a piece of legislation would not be brought into disrepute, as it is now.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, with regard to the first two questions of the noble Baroness, the answer is yes. With regard to her third question, we hope to publish the report shortly.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, we welcome the fact that the report will be published shortly. Will the report be made available for public discussion before the Government move on legislation? That is an important matter that we should consider, though I appreciate that the Minister cannot give us a definite statement today on the Government's decision. However, the working party was set up as a result of the efforts of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which is concerned with the safety of passengers, particularly in minicabs. Will the Government therefore bear in mind the fact that the public strongly desire legislation that will bring the minicab trade into line with the black cab trade? At the same time, does the Minister agree that nothing should be done to weaken the position of the black cabs, which give a grand service to the people of London?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, the answers to the noble Lord's questions will depend on the Government's decision. I have taken careful note of what he said.

§ Baroness Gardner of Parkes
My Lords, is the Minister aware that last year the report was published the day after this House rose for the parliamentary Recess and that we all found that unsatisfactory? Can he assure us that this time it will be published and we shall have it before the Recess?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, again, I take note of what my noble friend said. As I have just told the House, a meeting is taking place this afternoon on that subject.