§ Mr. FLEMINGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to modify the regulation under which owners of taxi-cabs in small provincial towns in which there are no cab ranks, and in consequence no badges and numbers are issued, are prevented from obtaining a rebate of the duty on the petrol used by them in plying for hire?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSERebate of motor spirit duty is allowed to hackney motor vehicles provided that they stand or ply for hire. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer explained in reply to a similar question addressed to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Orkney and Shetland on the 27th February the provision of such facilities as will enable motor cars which are licensed as public vehicles to stand or ply for hire is a matter for the local authority by whom they are licensed.