§ Mr. Woodhouseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will authorise a surcharge on London and provincial taxi fares to cover the additional cost of petrol since the Budget.
§ Dr. SummerskillNo. A new fare scale was introduced in London on 7th April 1974 and the changes in fuel costs since that date, which include the latest reduction in the rate of VAT, do not warrant a surcharge. In the provinces local authorities have made, or are making, new fares byelaws where they consider it appropriate to do so.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is now the index or average cost per mile for the hire of taxi cabs in the London area, the provinces and the country as a whole, respectively; and how this compares with comparative indices or costs for 1st April 1974, 1973 and 1968.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe cost per mile of a hiring in London varies according to the length of the journey, the number of persons carried, the time of day and other factors. Similar variations apply outside London. For these reasons it is impossible to calculate a single average cost per mile for taxi fares. For reasonably typical journeys the average cost per mile in London might range from around 20p to 30p. For earlier years the comparable London figures would have been 17p to 141W 22½p—1st April 1974 and 1st April 1973—and 11p to 12p—1st April 1968—but changes in the fares structure during this period make strict comparisons impossible. Outside London the range would be broadly comparable.