Call Sign April 2006 - Page 5 - LEE SCOTT TABLES HIS EARLY DAY MOTION

LEE SCOTT TABLES HIS EARLY DAY MOTION

Following last month’s disclosure in Call Sign that during a meeting with Dial-a-Cab Chairman, Brian Rice, Conservative Ilford North MP Lee Scott agreed to put forward an Early Day Motion, Mr Scott carried out that promise and launched it on March 6.
The EDM is on Commercial Minicab Signage and London Taxi Network has now written to all London MPs asking them to add their signatures to the motion. This allows MPs to put on record their opinion on the subject of minicab signage and possibly canvass support for the motion from fellow Members.
Lee Scott’s Early Day Motion is worded as below:

Commercial Minicab Signage
"That this House notes with concern the fact that a large number of women are sexually assaulted every year in London by illegal minicab drivers; further notes that the Public Carriage Office is considering permitting commercial signage on the exterior of licensed minicabs; is concerned that this will lead to the public being deceived by `imitation' unlicensed minicabs using bogus signage as a badge of respectability; believes that commercial signage will increase illegal touting in London and threaten to reverse the downward trend in the sexual assaults against women; acknowledges that the Metropolitan Police Cab Enforcement Unit is already overstretched; is alarmed that the Public Carriage Office consultation only proposes one option for consideration and not the status quo;

Lee Scott with Brian Rice

and calls on the Mayor of London and Transport for London to rule out the introduction of commercial signage for minicabs."

   An Early Day Motion means that no actual date has been set for debate, but the more MPs that sign could bring the date forward and at worst, make MPs aware of the problem that minicab signage may lead to. With Lee Scott being on the House of Commons Transport Committee, his support on the signage debate is extremely important.
   Brian Rice has written much on the subject of minicab signage in Call Sign and while some may find the topic boring, there can be little doubt that if they are allowed to advertise themselves, it will become impossible to know which car’s signage is genuine and which are not.
   After all, how many drivers sent Call Sign car registration numbers following sightings of obviously tampered-with roundels in minicabs – and these were supposed to be tamper proof when launched.
   And can anyone doubt that Abdul Jalal, the bogus minicab driver recently sent to prison for ten years for sex attacks on his female passengers, would have used signage had it not drawn attention?

TEMPORARY RANKING FACILITIES AT FINSBURY PARK

The PCO have informed Call Sign that between the dates shown below, GNER trains will be terminating at Finsbury Park instead of Kings Cross. During these times, TfL Buses will make space available for taxis at Station Place, Finsbury Park for the use of taxis. Taxi drivers are encouraged to use this temporary rank. The space will be shared with buses and taxi drivers should respect and co-operate with any instruction given by bus controllers at this site.

The periods concerned are:
Good Friday 14 April to Easter Monday 17 April
Saturday 29 April to Monday 1 May
Saturday 27 May to Monday 29 May

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