§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 May,Official Report, column 306, on licences for taxi drivers, what assessment he has made of the difficulties created for local authorities in fulfilling the requirements of section 59(1)(a), and section 51(1)(a) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 by their lack of access to criminal records from the police; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinI am aware that local authorities can encounter difficulties in satisfying themselves that applicants for such licences are fit and proper persons, and I understand that my Home Office colleagues and the Association of Chief Police Officers are considering this issue following the completion, in April, of the scrutiny study report on criminal records. The scrutiny study was undertaken in response to a Home Affairs Select Committee report in December 1990.