§ Sir R. Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many taxi-cabs in the Metropolitan Police area are now off the streets awaiting repair; how many have been licensed by the Commissioner of Police and how many have been refused as their condition falls below the standard; and what steps have been taken to put taxi-cabs in repair and to order new ones to meet the urgent post-war requirements for transport.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI am informed by the Commissioner that, of a total of 5,297 taxi-cabs licensed by the Metropolitan Police, about 400 are at present off the streets awaiting repair. In addition there are some 1,200 cabs which have not been presented for current licensing and are laid up for various reasons, including overhaul, lack of spare parts and insufficiency of labour to carry out repairs. None of this latter group of vehicles has been presented for current licensing; but it must not be assumed that if these 1,200824W cabs could all be made serviceable drivers would be available for the full number. The taxi-cab trade is suffering, like other trades, from shortage of the materials and labour necessary to keep the vehicles in proper repair; and these difficulties are not easy to solve in present conditions, but I am making inquiries and will consider whether anything can be done to improve the position. The question of securing an output of new cabs after the war is primarily a matter for the trade and the manufacturers.