HC Deb 19 March 1999 vol 327 c577W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 1999,Official Report, column 164, concerning black cabs, if a taxi licensed by the Public Carriage Office will be permitted also to be licensed by another licensing authority to ply for hire outside the new Metropolitan Police District boundary. [76473]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 15 March 1999]: This decision will rest with the relevant local licensing authority. But I can see a number of practical reasons, particularly in relation to taximeters and licence plates, why a local authority would choose not to grant a second taxi licence for a vehicle which has already been licensed as a London taxi.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of taxi cabs that will be affected within each suburban licensing sector by the realignment of the Metropolitan Police District. [76474]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 15 March 1999]: Of the 22,700 London licensed taxi drivers, 1,365 hold suburban licences which entitle them to ply for hire in one or more of the nine suburban sectors which will be directly affected by the Metropolitan Police District boundary change. 444 drivers hold licences covering sectors 3A (Epsom) and 3B (Carshalton); 338 covering sectors 1A (Woodford); 237 covering sectors 4A (Kingston) and 4B (Hounslow); 215 covering sector 5B (Ruislip); and 131 covering sectors 6A (Finchley), 6B (Wood Green) and 6C (Walthamstow). Drivers holding suburban licences will still be entitled to ply for hire throughout the relevant suburban zone; the Public Carriage Office is currently reviewing the boundaries of suburban sectors in the light of the Metropolitan Police District boundary change, with a view to ensuring that each sector is of reasonable size. In addition, the 20,400 drivers with all-London licenses will continue to be entitled to ply for hire throughout the Metropolitan Police District (as defined by the new boundary).