§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to protect public safety by ensuring that taxi licences are granted only to fit and proper persons.
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§ Mr. McLoughlinOutside London district councils license taxi drivers and it is for those councils to undertake what measures they consider appropriate to ensure that licences arc granted only to fit and proper persons.
In London, where the licensing of taxi drivers is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport, the assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police, who licenses taxi drivers on his behalf, carries out the checks that he considers necessary to satisfy himself that the applicant is of good character and fit to act as a taxi driver; these include a medical check and a check of any past criminal convictions.