asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pirate cabs he estimates operate in the London area; and what proposals he intends to introduce to bring them under licence according to the law.

I have no reason to believe that more than a small minority of the estimated 30,000 private hire cars in London are acting illegally by plying for hire. We have no present plans to licence private hire cars in London; the object of hire car licensing elsewhere is to set minimum standards for both drivers and vehicles and not to permit hire cars to act as taxi-cabs.