To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement outlining the meaning of two-tier licensing for London's taxis as referred to in the oral statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris), on 26 March, Official Report, column 1410.

By "two-tier licensing" (Official Report, 26 March, column 1410) was meant the system which currently exists outside London whereby hackney carriage vehicles and drivers are licensed to ply for hire in the streets and at ranks; and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators are licensed to undertake pre-booked hirings only.