Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Minister of Transport whether his atten- 1565W tion has been called to the great increase in the number of taxi-cabs in the London area which, instead of utilising to the full recognised cab ranks, ply for hire by what is popularly known as prowling, especially in the neighbourhood of railway termini; whether he is aware that this tends to congest the streets; and whether he will consult the Commissioner of Police in order to frame measures to increase the number of cab ranks with telephones, and to make their use more general?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am aware that considerable numbers of taxi-cabs ply for hire in the streets of London by what is popularly known as prowling or crawling, and I quite appreciate that this tends to congestion. The question of Regulations to deal with this matter is specifically dealt with in the Third Schedule to the London Traffic Act, 1925, and is a matter which will in due course be considered by the London Traffic Advisory Committee.