§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what authorisation he has recently given for an increase in the London taxi tariff; if previous increases had been based on any cost index; if he will state his reasons for not using such an index on this occasion; and what percentage increase such an index would currently indicate.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe London Cab Order 1977, which came into effect on 22nd December 1977, authorised fare increases averaging 10 per cent. Previous increases in July 1975 and December 1976 had been based on the motoring and cycling section of the General Retail Prices Index and this was taken into account in considering the 1977 fares increase; this section of the index currently shows a rise of 16.6 per cent. since the base date for the 1976 fares increase. The Government concluded, however, that the Price Commission should examine the structure of both London and provincial taxi fares, and that the 1977 London taxi fares increase should be limited to 10 per cent.
(i) EXISTING HOSTELS Hostel Location Number of Places Number of vacancies on 31st December 1977 For men Peterboroug … … … … … … … 6 2 London (see also below) … … … … … 9 Nil Liverpool … … … … … … … 8 Nil Birmingham … … … … … … … 12 Nil Sheffield … … … … … … … 16 5 Leeds … … … … … … … … 9 1 For men and women Fareham (Hants) … … … … … … 22 7 Total … … … … … … … 82 15 In addition, in London 12 places for men are provided in the Salvation Army's Field Wing at Booth House and five places for women in the Griffins aftercare hostel at Stockdale House; and the majority of approved probation hostels, whether for men or women, accept bail cases if they have spare accommodation.