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Written question asked by Julian Knight (Conservative) on Monday, 10 October 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 October 2022. It was answered by Lucy Frazer (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 October 2022 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Taxis: Fares

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact a 20 per cent rise in taxi fares would have on rural towns and communities.

Answer

For taxis, which can be hailed in the street or at taxi ranks in the area in which they are licensed, local licensing authorities can set maximum fares. These should pay regard to the needs of the travelling public and what it is reasonable to expect people to pay, but also to the need to give taxi drivers the ability to earn a sufficient income. Regulated metered fares provide an important element of consumer protection as passengers do not pre-book the journey. Many authorities have been reviewing their maximum taxi fares this year in light of the increasing pressure on everyone’s finances.

Local authorities have no power to set fares for private hire vehicles. These services must be booked in advance and the competitive pre-booked market allows operators to compete on price as well as other factors such as quality of service and reputation.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
58979
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Fares Taxis Rural areas
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk