§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total of public funds expended on the proposed newly-designed London taxicab so far; and on what ground public expenditure on the project is deemed necessary.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to the reply, 29 October 1984, c. 785]: Details of financial assistance made available to individual companies, in accordance with usual practice, must remain confidential. To attract support, all research and development projects must satisfy the published criteria for assistance under the support for innovation scheme.
§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the estimated selling price of the proposed new London taxicab and the current price of the present model.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to the reply, 29 October 1984, c. 785]: This is a matter for the judgment of the manufacturers.
§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which rules and regulations of the European Community make it necessary to change the design of the London taxicab.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to the reply, 29 October 1984, c. 785]: The decision to produce a new London taxi was a commercial decision unrelated to European Community regulations. The present London taxi meets current British national type approval requirements in all respects. Along with many other older vehicle models, exemption has been granted to the London taxi from the European Community requirements relating to interior fittings and exterior projections. Any new taxi will now have to comply with these requirements.