§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the licensing of private care hire firms in Greater London; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloThe Department is reviewing existing legislation relating to taxis and private hire cars. The question whether London's private hire cars should be subject to some form of licensing is part of that review.
§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has undertaken or plans to undertake with representatives of private car hire companies in Greater London about the introduction of a licensing system.
§ Mr. PortilloIn July, as part of our review of taxi and private hire legislation my predecessor my hon. Friend the Member for Hampshire, North-West (Sir D. Mitchell) wrote to consumer bodies, licensing authorites, local government organisations, the police and others, inviting views on both the taxi and hire car trades. Representatives of the London private hire trade were included in that consultation process.