§ 65. Sir H. Lucas-Toothasked the Secretary of Stats for the Home Department whether he will now make a statement on the application of the London taxi trade for increased fares.
§ Mr. BrookeYes. This application, made to me last May, is for an increase in the scale of London taxi fares of about 32 per cent. overall. Despite rising costs these fares have remained unaltered for more than six years, and after thorough examination of the economic situation of the trade I am in no doubt that a substantial increase in fares is justified, and indeed necessary, if sufficient cabs are to be kept on the road. I do not think that the case for an increase as large as 32 per cent. has been made out, but I have decided that it is right to make an order providing 251W for a new scale of fares which will represent an overall increase of about 25 per cent. I am in touch with the trade associations which submitted the claim about the most suitable meter scale to implement this, and about the date of the charge, which will not be before mid-January. I propose to take up with the trade at an early date the question of revising the law relating to the six-mile limit.