§ Dr. Twinnasked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in ensuring that in future taxis in London are suitable for carrying disabled people, including those in wheelchairs.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI am delighted to be able to tell the House that since I last reported progress on this matter on 22 December 1983, extensive consultation has taken place with the cab trade and other interested bodies and the assistant commissioner for the Metropolitan police, who is the licensing authority for all London taxis, has amended the conditions of fitness to require all cabs offered for type approval on or after 1 January 1985 to be capable of accommodating a disabled person in a wheelchair and to facilitate the carriage of disabled people generally.
I believe that this will be a major step in ensuring that the transport needs of disabled people in London and other major cities are more effectively met in the future.