HC Deb 30 January 1957 vol 563 cc197-9W
Captain Kerby

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that as from August some 400 London taxi-cab owner-drivers will be out of work for no reason other than that their taxi-cabs will be over ten years old, and will thus be refused permission

1944, and under Section 1 of the Education Act, 1953.

Sir E. Boyle

Following is the information:

to ply for public hire; and taxi-cab No. HYL 614, Police Badge No. 994, is in perfect condition mechanically and otherwise; and if he will so amend his regulations as to permit all such taxi-cabs which are roadworthy in all respects other than under the 10 year age qualification, to ply for hire until they are judged to be unroadworthy mechanically.

Mr. R. A. Butler

Under the London Cab Orders, 1934 and 1955, the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is empowered to refuse a cab licence if a cab does not conform to the prescribed conditions of fitness and is not fit for public use. The practice of the Deputy Commissioner is to have a special inspection made when a cab is ten years old, but such inspection does not involve automatic condemnation. A cab which is more than ten years old may be re-licensed if the inspection shows it to be still reasonably fit for public service. Incidentally the number of cabs involved is 140 and not 400.