§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in pursuance of their concern for the disabled they will seek to eliminate such differences in the administration of the London Taxicard Scheme as those between the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Wandsworth.
The Minister of State, Department of Transport (The Earl of Caithness)The Government have no powers to affect or reverse decisions taken by the London boroughs in relation to Taxicard. On 1st April this year the administration of the Taxicard scheme passed from London Transport to a borough body—the London Accessible Transport Unit (LATU). Responsibility for Taxicard rests not with the Government but with local authorities and it is for London boroughs to decide who best to assist their residents with disabilities, and to formulate operational policies appropriate to schemes like Taxicard. There are no plans to take concessionary fares administration or funding out of the hands of local authorities, and the Government are convinced that these responsibilities should be discharged at local rather than central level. Complaints about Taxicard should be taken up with LATU at Hammersmith Town Hall, King Street, London W6 9JU.