Mr. WEST RUSSELLasked the Home Secretary if a record is kept of how many of the taximeter cabs licensed by the Metropolitan authorities for public use are run on chassis made more than nine years ago; and what steps are taken to reduce the number of taximeter cabs with out-of-date chassis or bodies at present licensed for hire in the Metropolitan area?
§ Sir H. SAMUELFitness, not age, of chassis and body is the determining factor when taximeter cabs are submitted annually for re-licensing. No cab is licensed as fit for public use unless it comes up to the conditions of fitness laid down by the Commissioner of Police. No record is kept of the age of the chassis.