§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has initiated and concluded, and what proposals he has made, concerning the transfer of the functions and staff of the public carriage office of the Metropolitan police to his Department; and if he will list those bodies and individuals from whom he has received support for this proposal.
§ Mr. NorrisThis proposal is one of the matters covered by the consultation paper on the future of taxi and private hire services issued by my Department. About 4,500 copies were sent to organisations and individuals who have an interest in the subject. These include local authority504W associations and all individual county and district councils, local and national taxi and private hire vehicle organisations, the licensing officers organisation, the police, organisations concerned with people who have mobility problems and vulnerable members of society, consumer groups, transport interests, the press, car, taxi and taxi-meter manufacturers and those concerned with tourists. Copies were available in the Lobby of this House and in another place. The paper was also published in a trade newspaper. The consultation period last until 1 March 1994.
It is not our practice to identify those organisations or individuals who responded to consultation exercises.