HC Deb 27 October 1970 vol 805 cc49-51W
Mr. Raymond Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of the Maxwell Stamp Committee on the London Cab Trade, and associated matters, will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Carlisle

The report of the Committee on the London Taxicab Trade was published on 14th October. I am glad to take this opportunity of acknowledging the thoroughness and skill with which Mr. Maxwell Stamp and his colleagues have carried out a complex and exacting task. Their report proposes far-reaching changes in the system of control over taxicabs and private hire cars in London, which the Government will need to consider with care, in consultation with those affected.

Mr. Raymond Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated by the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police under the London Cab Act, 1968; what were the results; and in how many cases of offences under the Act were warnings sent and no proceedings taken.

Mr. Carlisle

There have been 99 police prosecutions under Section 4 of the London Cab Act, 1968, of which 18 are still to be heard. The results in the decided cases were as follows:

Defendant fined 58
Defendant conditionally discharged 4
Case dismissed or defendant discharged 19
Written cautions have been sent, without proceedings being taken, in 79 cases.

Mr. Raymond Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to amend the London Cab Act, 1968, in view of the evidence of widespread evasions of it submitted both to his Department and the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police by the Cab Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

Mr. Carlisle

I have no evidence of widespread evasion of the provisions of this Act. Any question of introducing amending legislation relating to hackney carriages must await consideration of the recommendations of the Committee on the London Taxicab Trade. (Cmnd. 4483).

Mr. Raymond Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Cab Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union, regarding the imposition of fixed penalty notices; what replies have been sent; and what action he proposes to take.

Mr. Sharples

My right hon. Friend has received no such representations. His predecessor received a letter, and was later sent copies of two others to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, about the difficulties caused to taxi-cab drivers by the way in which parking restrictions in the Metropolitan Police District were enforced. The reply explained that responsibility for enforcing the law rested with the Commissioner. He does not contemplate taking any further action in the matter.

Mr. Raymond Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant an interim increase in the initial hiring charge for taxi-cabs, as proposed to his Department by the Joint Trade Committee of proprietors, owner-drivers and journeymen drivers in the London cab trade.

Mr. Carlisle

My right hon. Friend authorised an interim increase in the initial hiring charge, with effect from 24th August, in the form of a 6d. surcharge on each hiring. He is not prepared to grant any further interim increases pending the outcome of the application for a substantive increase in fares which is at present under consideration.

Mr. Raymond Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Cab Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union about meal-time facilities in Central London; what reply he has sent; and what action he proposes to take.

Mr. Carlisle

The only representations I have received related to the removal of a coffee stall in circumstances in which I had no power to take any action. The Transport and General Workers' Union were informed accordingly.

Mr. Raymond Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to amend paragraphs 51 and 52 of the London Cab Order, 1934, governing lost property, certain anomalies arising from which have been brought to the attention of his Department by the Cab Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

Mr. Carlisle

My right hon. Friend is aware of the anomalies, which can be corrected by an amending Order. He proposes to do this at the next suitable opportunity.