§ Mr. BendallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the Government's policy on allowing licensed taxi drivers to ban smoking in their cabs; and what plans the Government have to allow them to do So. [26184]
§ Mr. NorrisTaxi drivers may request passengers not to smoke in their cabs.
The courts, in interpreting the compellability law, have ruled that the fact that an intending passenger was smoking was not a "reasonable excuse" for the driver to refuse to carry him or her.
The Government have already announced in "The Health of the Nation" White Paper that they propose to change the law to allow a taxi driver to designate his or her cab as a "no smoking" one and then to refuse passengers that are smoking. This proposal awaits a suitable legislative opportunity.