Chris the Fish wrote:
My letter to James Padden when all this started - as far as I am concerned my points hold good.
In respect of (i) your points might carry weight if what you are saying didn't already apply to firms passing on work to hackney carriage firms. Why are you not lobbying to end such a rule, or are you only concerned about PH passing work onto another PH firm? In your world is a hackney firm passing work onto another hackney firm, or even passing work onto another PH firm fine, but not PH on to PH?
In respect of (ii) the vast majority, if not all, of crimes against punters are undertaken by licensed drivers in licensed vehicles, or unlicensed drivers in unlicensed vehicles, you tell me what % of attacks are undertaken by unlicensed drivers in licensed vehicles? Tell me if the system was so bad prior to Benson-v-Boyce? And how it improved so much after that case.
I also go back to what the GMB sent to the Law Commission, before they forgot what they sent and changed their mind.
Law Commission Provisional proposal 20:
Leisure and non-professional use of taxis and private hire vehicles should be permitted. There would however be a presumption that the vehicle is being used for professional purposes at any time unless the contrary can be proved.
GMB Union Answer: 20
Agreed. Restricting eligibility of only licensed drivers being allowed to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle is not required. There are many reasons adopt the Metropolitan view including the use of such vehicles being driven by mechanics and such like.In respect of (iii) I have a little bit of sympathy with that in terms of effect it might have on enforcement activities. But in general term this will save drivers money, so it's really hard to fight against, IMO. In the debate today the minister said 50,000 vehicles in London, and 50% of all taxi and PH outside of London operate this way. Have they all got it wrong?
And in respect of (i) (ii) and (iii) I struggle to counter the argument that London already operates that way. Now I'm not saying London PH are the beacon that we should all aspire too, but tell me or show me where those rules have had a detrimental effect on safety in London?