§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to transfer responsibility for Taxicard to Transport for London; [87657]
(2) what powers he has to transfer responsibility for Taxicard from London boroughs to the Greater London Authority. [87658]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 21 June 1999]We will honour the commitment made in the White Paper, "A Mayor and Assembly for London" (Cm 3897) to transfer Taxicard to Transport for London (TfL). However, we have also indicated that the precise timing of the transfer will be for the Mayor to decide, in the context of his or her overall transport strategy. That is the most sensible way forward, given the current complexity of the scheme, which is operated, on a discretionary basis, by only 29 boroughs with differing levels of funding and services.
Subject to the passage of the Greater London Authority Bill, the Mayor will have the necessary powers to effect the transfer of the Taxicard scheme, or to operate a similar scheme. I made clear on 25 February 1999, Official Report, Standing Committee A, column 865, that the GLA Bill provisions concerning London boroughs' Local Implementation Plans will be able to deal with Taxicard. The Mayor will be required to include in his or her transport strategy proposals for the provision of transport which is accessible to persons with mobility problems. Those proposals will doubtless include measures on how Taxicard and services like it should be operated. The Mayor will be able to require the boroughs to reflect those proposals in their Local Implementation Plans. Each borough will be required to submit these plans to the Mayor for his or her approval.