§ Mr. Peter GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many hackney carriage and private hire drivers were granted licences in(a) 1985 and (b) 1989;
(2) what is the total number of licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers in England and Wales.
§ Mr. PortilloThe licensing of hackney carriage and private hire drivers belongs to district councils. Statistics are not collected by central Government.
§ Mr. Peter GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hackney carriage and private hire driving licences were revoked in the last year for which records are available; and what were the most common reasons.
§ Mr. PortilloDistrict councils have powers to revoke licences for a variety of reasons. They have not been asked to supply central Government with statistics on revocations.
§ Mr. Peter GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received regarding the protection of passengers in hackney carriage and private hire vehicles from drivers who have prison convictions for offences of a sexual or violent nature.
§ Mr. PortilloSince October 1989 I have received five representations on the threat to passengers in hackney carriages and private hire vehicles from drivers who may have had criminal convictions.
§ Mr. Peter GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider making statutory provision for a declaration of previous offences of a sexual or violent nature by all applicants for hackney carriage or private hire licences.
§ Mr. PortilloI have no plans to make such a provision. Local licensing authorities already have powers under legislation which enable them to require the submission of information by applicants as a means of assessing their suitability.