§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to implement the recommendations made by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in their report on London taxicab fares; and whether he will simultaneously prescribe fares for journeys of over six miles in pursuance of the powers conferred on him by section 1(1) of the London Cab Act, 1968.
§ Mr. CallaghanYes, the First Secretary of State and I accept the substance of the recommendations of the Prices and Incomes Board. Accordingly a new fare scale will be introduced as soon as possible increasing by about 11½ per cent. the standard rates of fare for journeys of six miles or less and the extra night charge by 6d.
At the same time I intend, for the time being, to prescribe fares for all longer journeys within London at a rate of double the standard tariff for those parts of a journey in excess of six miles.
The increases, which fall below those claimed by the London Motorcab Proprietors' Association, will be the first which have been permitted since February, 1964.