§ Viscount FURNESSasked Her Majesty's Government:
- (a) how many times and by what percentage London taxi fares have been increased since June 1955 and what is the cumulative percentage increase since that date;
- (b) by what amount and by what percentage has the London taxi fare
1448 for an average journey from Euston Station to Waterloo Station been increased on each such occasion, and cumulatively; - (c) how these increases compare with the increase in the retail price index (or other appropriate index) from June 1955 to the date of each such fare increase, and cumulatively; and
- (d) by what percentage the price of fuel has increased over each such period and cumulatively.
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHSince June 1955 London taxi fares have been increased on ten occasions. The fare scale comprises a variety of factors which make it difficult to calculate percentage increases overall; but the journey between Euston and Waterloo stations approximates very closely to the average journey distance of just under 2½ miles, and the appended table therefore gives a fair indication of the general level of increases over the period. These increases have broadly corresponded to those in the Motoring and Cycling Section of the Index of Retail Prices and in the cost of petrol and diesel fuel. A precise comparison is, however, impossible because of a number of considerations, such as the general change from petrol to diesel; and it could be misleading because of certain other major items, such as wages and the rent of premises, which have been taken into account in the calculation of the fare scales
Year of increase (i) Daytime: 2½miles with 1 extra passenger and 1 item luggage (ii) Night 2½miles with 1 extra passenger and 1 item luggage Percentage increase Day Percentage increase Night 1955 22½p 22½p — — 1956 25p 25p Over Previous 11 Over Previous 11 Cumulative 11 Cumulative 11 1958 (Night charge introduced) 25p 30p Over Previous 0 Over Previous 20 Cumulative 11 Cumulative 33 1964 22½p 27½p Over Previous −11 Over Previous −8⅓ Cumulative 0 Cumulative 22 1965 27½p 32½p Over Previous 22 Over Previous 18 Cumulative 22 Cumulative 44½ 1968 30p 37½p Over Previous 9 Over Previous 15⅓ Cumulative 33⅓ Cumulative 66⅔ 1970 32½p 40p Over Previous 8⅓ Over Previous 6½ Cumulative 44½ Cumulative 78 1971 39p 48p Over Previous 20 Over Previous 20 Cumulative 73⅓ Cumulative 113⅓ 1973 42p 51p Over Previous 7½ Over Previous 6 Cumulative 86½ Cumulative 126½ 1974 55p 67p Over Previous 31 Over Previous 31⅓ Cumulative 144½ Cumulative 198 1975 70p 80p Over Previous 27 Over Previous 19½ Cumulative 211 Cumulative 255½ NoteThe figures in columns (i) and (ii) are expressed, or have been converted, into new pence.