London must choose between the chaotic Uber or its heavily-regulated but safe black cabs because the two cannot operate side by side, a Tory MP has warned.
Charles Walker said while cab drivers had to pass the Knowledge and undergo background and financial checks, technology start-up Uber was brazenly ignoring the rules and flooding the capital with mini-cab drivers.
He warned City Hall officials were having to deal with as many as 1,200 new mini-cab registrations every month, while Uber straightforwardly ignored most regulations.
Mr Walker said if Uber was preferred there should be a genuine free for all, releasing cab drivers from the current regulations on themselves and allowing them to put "any old piece of rubbish on the road".
Taxi drivers went on strike last summer to protest "the inefficient manner in which TfL manages taxi and private hire in London", said the LTDA's Steve McNamara
Speaking in a late-night Commons adjournment debate, Mr Walker said: "For 400 years, London has recognised the need to have a properly-regulated and licensed taxi service. I suggest our illustrious predecessors were not fools in this matter.
"London can't have it both ways: it can try but it will end in tears."
Mr Walker said without the enforcement of regulations on all kinds of taxi, fares would rocket, cars would be unsafe, disability access would be hit and people would be less safe.
He said the enforcement officials had neither the resources nor the sanctions available to properly uphold the rules - telling MPs there should be the ability to get rule breakers off the roads for good.
The Broxbourne MP said there was currently no penalty for not meeting the rules.
"I want to be clear: I want to derive reassurance from a licensed and regulated black cab taxi trade. Of course, it's not a perfect trade but it's a very good one," he said.
"I want to know when my children are out in London, they will always have the option of easily finding a black cab to take them home or back to the place they are staying.
"And I want to know they will pay the price on the meter, not a meter price artificially inflated through surge pricing as Uber drivers did during the 2014 Sydney hostage crisis and in London by 300 per cent during last week's Tube strike. Thank you Uber, thank you for nothing.
"I want to know my children are being driven by a professional with four years' training because my children's safety is important to me."
He continued: "Why shouldn't fares be left to the discretion of the driver? Only the fools will be left to pay the higher rates and that's their punishment for being stupid, weak, old or frail.
"This is not the London I want to live in but unless we take regulatory enforcement seriously, I fear it is the one we are going to get."
Transport minister Robert Goodwill said he understood Mr Walker's desire to raise his concerns in the Commons, but added licensing was the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL).
He said: "London's taxi service is recognised as one of the best in the world, with high vehicle standards - including disabled access and skilled drivers.
"By learning the world famous Knowledge of London, London taxi drivers therefore earn the unique right to ply for hire on the streets of the capital.
"Private hire vehicles offer a different service, also with high standard but allowing a customer to choose who they travel with.
"This combination of taxi and private hire ensures that the needs of as many Londoners as possible can be met."
Mr Goodwill said "time does not stand still" for the iconic black cab, with the market changing due to new technology.
He noted the "industry must adapt" but change brings challenges, explaining TfL and other licensing authorities was faced with accommodating "21st-century technology in 19th-century legislation".
Mr Goodwill said a consultation had been carried out in the capital which may deal with some of Mr Walker's concerns, adding the results would be published later this year.
Read full transcript of last nights late debate. Fantastic support from MPs Victoria Borwick and Jim Shannon.
>Click Here : For full debate <
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
So there you have it: Times not standing still, it's a changing market, 21st century technology with 19th century legislation. London must choose between Uber and Black Cabs...
MP Charles Walker expressed fears about the possible annihilation of the taxi trade, we then have the transport minister stating that licensing responsibility is firmly with TfL.
As predicted, we hear the same old rhetoric of how the taxi trade must adapt and accomadate 21st century new technology, as if we were no more than a bunch of Luddites. The fact that any technological advances in the passenger transport field have always appeared first in the taxi trade, years ahead of our competitors, not mentioned of course!
The transport minister worryingly bigged up the private hire trade saying that although they give a different service, it was also of a high standard and gave customers choice". I'm surprised he didn't come out with the other TfL spin cliche "it's what the public wants". Just who was the minister referring to, Uber perhaps?
His final statement should flag up danger signs when he said a consultation had already been carried out which "MAY" deal with some of Mr Walkers concerns.
Other news from the HoC: Written Answers
MP Tom Watson had asked the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library copies of all correspondence between
7 comments:
Welcome back Jim !
Charles Walker's comments are of course gratefully received, as indeed the compliments paid by Labour MP Tom Watson were.
But with respect, we often see and hear various MP's coming out of the catacombs to support us.....and are still up to our eyes in it, as I type!
It is for this reason that I was pessimistic of some of the trade orgs decisions to call off the pressure, in favour of negotiations with Tom Watson. For sure, Mr Watson probably means well, as no doubt does Mr Walker. But just remember this, the Prime Minister has his work cut out keeping London Mayor Johnson in tow, let alone a lowly labour MP, irrespective of how honourable his intentions are.
It,s these periods of democratic negotiating sessions that I have absolutely no confidence in. They are woefully drawn out over months if not years, and answers to our questions and fears are deliberately designed to take a lifetime to answer.
To the management of Uber and others like them, time is the life blood to get established, motivated and organised.
No doubt history will show who is right and who is wrong, as it always does in these predictions, but sadly, I feel it will take a lot more pressure than Watson and Walker to take the Uxbridge & South Ruislip Tory MP and London Mayor to task. Johnson wont fear any of these opponents and would delight in tearing them up for arse paper.
In my opinion for what its worth, hard hitting direct action with demands for hard hitting direct TFL and City Hall decisions, is the only viable way forward for our London Taxi Trade. As I say, my opinion only. We shall have to wait and see what the correct avenue to go down is and was. Let's hope for all our sakes, we choose the right one.
8829 Semtex
The Spanish cabbies are trying to establish a European alliance to legislate against unlawfully practice of app based companies,considering their success I'm surprised our unions have not picked up on this.
I believe that if Brussels created legislation diffining the legality of ubend,even our own government would be obliged to conform.
While we wait to see what happens regarding the 'meter' issue our represatives should be looking to europe for unity and justice.
I wonder how many cab drivers are gonna miss their tax payment at the end of July, 82,000 minicabs and counting. Do they want us or not?
The phv review could help us or sink us, a limit on the amount of cars any minicab firm is allowed on their books would be good for competition. The firms would have to compete on price and service to retain passengers, predatory companies like Uber wouldn't be able to swamp the market and then exploit drivers and passengers by monopolising the market. Tfl should deal with all phv complaints, this new office will be paid for by phv drivers. Good ideas, so, of course they won't happen. Brian.
The Spanish newspaper "la pais' reports that Spanish cabbies are looking to start a European wide alliance,http://www.thelocal.es/20150708/spanish-cabbies-call-for-anti-uber-alliance
What a brilliant initiative! I hope our unions can get behind this.
Pressure from Europe could be just what we need.
Booted straight back into TFL's court, they are the villains in this piece, we need to fight them, and we need to win to survive.
Follow Andrew jones MP for Harrogate hardly any touting goes on there *ber are trying to get a foothold there let's see if he endorses a free for all in Harrogate....
Transport Minister Robert Goodwill should be made aware that it is Parliament that sets the rules and elects Transport for London to carry out Parliaments wishes. By doing so Parliament does not wash its hands of its responsibilities and must see that those instructed to oversee the Acts laid down are implemented and enforced to the full. It is Parliaments job to police those who have been given the mandate to administrate the London Hackney Carriage Acts.
If as has been proven that TfL are woefully inadequate, then they should be taken to task by Government using the Parliamentary Transport Select Committee calling for a public enquiry to ascertain where the failure lies and rectify it forthwith and without delay.
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