§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pirate cabs he estimates operate in the London area; and what proposals he intends to introduce to bring them under licence according to the law.
§ Mr. RaisonI have no reason to believe that more than a small minority of the estimated 30,000 private hire cars in London are acting illegally by plying 265W for hire. We have no present plans to licence private hire cars in London; the object of hire car licensing elsewhere is to set minimum standards for both drivers and vehicles and not to permit hire cars to act as taxi-cabs.