§ Mr. Speirasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received in recent months from representatives of London's taxicab proprietors, regarding authorisation to charge increased fares; and what reply he has given;
(2) whether he will now introduce legislation to abolish or expand the six-mile limit as applied to London taxicabs.
§ Mr. BrookeI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Sir H. Lucas-Tooth) yesterday.
§ Mr. Speirasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many London taxicabs are today licensed to 293W ply for hire; how many were so licensed on the same date last year; and how many were licensed in 1933.
§ Mr. BrookeThe number of cabs in the Metropolitan Police District licensed on 30th November, 1963, was 6,876. The corresponding figure for 30th November, 1962, was 6,691.
The comparable figure for 1933 is not available but during that year 8,055 licences were issued for cabs—including 30 horse cabs. A number of cabs are licensed twice within a year.