§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what role(a) he and (b) other Government ministers play in determining the tariff structure set by the London Taxi Board; and what criteria are used in setting the tariff structure. [39458]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe London Taxi tariff is set not by the London Taxi Board, but by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument. The Secretary of State's decision is taken with reference to a formula established in 1980, which takes into account the various costs involved in operating a taxi in London. I announced in a written answer on 8 April 1998,Official Report, column 307, the new fares applying from 25 April.
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§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if uncorroborated complaints against taxi cab drivers are kept in their personal files by the Public Carriage Office. [39485]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonBrief details of all complaints against licensed London taxi drivers are kept in their personal files by the Public Carriage Office. All such complaints will have been the subject of an investigation or inquiry. Complaints are not recorded as "corroborated" or otherwise.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons cabs appointed by the Public Carriage Office are required to have 6-ply-rated taxi tyres. [39486]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson6-ply-rated tyres are specified for London taxis by their manufacturers to ensure that they have the appropriate load and speed characteristics and adequate wear resistance, particularly at the shoulders. The Public Carriage Office requires the tyres to be marked "taxi" to indicate that they are approved for use on London taxis and are of the appropriate circumference to ensure accurate meter readings.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for how long records of court convictions are retained by the Public Carriage Office in a licensed driver's personal file. [39487]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonSuch records are retained on a driver's personal file for as long as the individual remains licensed.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of taximeters have to be retested and resealed by the BSI and again by the Public Carriage Office during the period of the annual cab licence. [39488]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAll taximeters are returned to the BSI for testing once every 12 months and are sealed to certify accuracy of the instrument. In addition each taxi has its meter installation checked during the taxi's annual inspection by the Public Carriage Office (PCO) to ensure that the BSI seal is intact and up to date, that all linkages are sealed against tampering, and that the meter as installed is registering correctly over a measured distance.
During 1997 the BSI tested 25,358 taximeters of which 884 failed, and the PCO tested 20,293 meter installations of which 193 failed.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what driving examination qualification Public Carriage Office test examiners are required to hold. [39467]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAlthough the legislation allows for any Public Carriage Examiner to conduct taxi driving tests, the Public Carriage Office permits only those examiners who have been certified by the Metropolitan Police Driving School at Hendon to conduct taxi driving tests.
The examiners are re-assessed by the Police Driving School at intervals of about five years.
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§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what(a) total ceiling and (b) annual ceiling the Public Carriage Office places on the number of cab driver licences issued in London. [39471]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAll individuals who meet the requirements of the Public Carriage Office in respect of good character, medical fitness, topographical knowledge of London and driving ability in a London taxi are licensed. There are no ceilings on the numbers of licences issued.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the turning circle of(a) the LTI/TXI taxi cab and (b) Metrocab Series III in taxi cabs approved by the Public Carriage Office as being in roadworthy condition. [39460]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe precise turning circle for each vehicle is a matter for the manufacturers. The Public Carriage Office (PCO) is satisfied that both types of vehicle comply with the turning circle requirements of the Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness for London taxis, namely that they are capable of being turned on either lock so as to proceed in the opposite direction without reversing between parallel planes 8.535 metres apart, and that the wheel turning circle kerb to kerb on either lock is not less than 7.62 metres in diameter.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce a requirement to make a U-turn in Public Carriage Office driving tests. [39462]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI have no plans to do so.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) central and (b) suburban cab driver licences were (i) issued and (ii) surrendered in 1996 and 1997; and how many are forecast to be issued in 1998. [39469]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe figures are as follows:
Taxi driver licences Issued Of which new licences issued Surrendered 1996 all-London 7,131 575 398 1997 all-London 6,753 415 341 1998 estimated all-London 6,957 588 332 1996 suburban 619 122 25 1997 suburban 762 188 29 1998 estimate suburban 773 240 16 Note:
That the figures for licences issued (second column) comprise renewals as well as new drivers' licences issued. The latter are shown separately in the third column.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what educational qualifications and vocational experience are required of Public Carriage Office knowledge of London examiners. [39473]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe primary requirement of Public Carriage Office Knowledge of London examiners is that they have undertaken and successfully passed the "All-London" Knowledge of London topographical 83W examination, or that they are able to demonstrate a similarly detailed knowledge of the Metropolitan Police District.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the purpose of the Public Carriage Office cab driving test. [39468]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonA London taxi has particular driving characteristics associated with its size, weight and turning ability. The Public Carriage Office taxi driving test is designed to test a candidate's ability to drive such a vehicle safely in London's traffic conditions with consideration for passengers and other road users.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what market surveys and other evidence is used by the Public Carriage Office to establish market demand for taxi cabs in London. [39472]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonNone. There is no limitation imposed by the Public Carriage Office on the number of taxis or taxi drivers licensed in London; all that meet the necessary standards are licensed. It is up to individuals to decide whether to seek to enter the London taxi trade.
However, my Department has commissioned a study into the supply and demand for taxis at different times of the day and in different parts of London, with a view to assessing whether any change in the structure of the taxi fares tariff would be appropriate.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons taximeters are removed, retested and resealed by the BSI and again by the Public Carriage Office as part of the annual relicensing vehicle road test. [39461]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonMeters are not removed from taxis by the BSI or by the Public Carriage Office (PCO); they are removed by the meter companies or their authorised agents.
Whenever seals are broken they are replaced by the BSI, or by the PCO, as appropriate, in order to maintain the integrity of the meter installation. Seals may get broken during the course of repairs to the meter itself, the transducer, the driver cable or its illumination. Seals may also be broken following an accident, or during repairs to the taxi's transmission.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applicants in respect of knowledge of London attended the Public Carriage Office's initial talks in 1996 and 1997 after being accepted as cab driver trainees. [39470]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe number was 3,357 in 1996, and 4,107 in 1997.