§ Mr. HindTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to reform the hackney cab knowledge test outside London; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloOutside London, district councils are the licensing authorities for hackney carriages. It is a matter for them whether to require prospective hackney carriage drivers to undertake a geographical knowledge test for the area in which a licence would apply. The Government have no plans to propose the removal of that discretionary power.