§ Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on what consultations and discussions have taken place between his Department and the relevant parties on the planned conversion to decimal calibration in London area taxicabs, and the interim installation of conversion charts.
§ Mr. MaudlingMy Department discussed these matters with the Decimal Currency Board, which had consulted the taximeter manufacturers, and with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, who is responsible for arranging for the display of conversion tables and the installation of new taximeters. The main organisations representing the taxicab trade were told of the decisions made at the earliest possible opportunity and were able to discuss them with my hon. Friend the Minister of State, but they were not consulted in advance because, given the level of fares to which the Government were prepared to agree, the requirements of decimalisation determined the features of the scale, allowing virtually no room for adjustments.