§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many disabled people there are in (a) the Greater London council area and (b) each London borough who qualify for the Greater London council taxicard scheme;
(2) how many people (a) in the Greater London council area and (b) in each borough have obtained Greater London council taxicards;
(3) what Is the current annual expenditure in the Greater London council area on the taxicard scheme;
(4) how many staff at the Greater London council currently administer the taxicard scheme.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe administration of the taxicard scheme is a matter for the Greater London council. Requests for information ort this issue are best addressed to it and not to this Department.
§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if the taxicard scheme becomes a borough responsibility after the abolition of the Greater London council (a) what is the estimated number of staff who would be responsible for its administration and (b) what are the estimated staff savings of such a move;
(2) if, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, his Department would meet the Greater London council subsidy for the taxicard scheme.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe future funding of schemes of this kind for disabled people would become a borough responsibility after abolition of the GLC. This Department will discuss administrative arrangements for handling schemes for disabled people with the boroughs and London Regional Transport.