London Cabs for Wheelchair-Bound Commuters

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport in view of the expiry of licences for operators of London cabs by March 2012 (a) how would the Ministry help those who are wheelchair-bound to get better mobility on taxis; (b) whether LTA would work out a suitable arrangement with SMRT to continue operating the London cabs until a suitable long-term solution is found for wheelchair bound commuters; and (c) whether LTA would give special dispensation to transport operators to incentivise them to apply for licences to run London cabs.

The Minister of State for Transport (Mrs Josephine Teo) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank Ms Lee for her question. Let me assure the Member that the Government understands the concerns of wheelchair users in having access to transport services which meet their needs. As announced by the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports on 10 November 2011, LTA will support MCYS to identify feasible solutions through working with the Enabling Masterplan Steering Committee and related stakeholders. Sir, this is an umbrella review of inter-related policies and will take some time. In the meantime, LTA has agreed to work with SMRT to extend the statutory lifespan of all the 15 units of the London Taxis for an additional year up to March 2013.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Mr Speaker, Sir, supplementary questions for the Minister of State. What if by March 2013 there is no solution? What alternatives will be given? The next question is: before SMRT announced that it would terminate the services of the London taxis, were there any discussions with LTA? Is the SMRT's decision based on commercial reasons, that is, based on the bottom line and in answer to the shareholders, or were there any other reasons?

Mrs Josephine Teo: Mr Speaker, Sir, with regard to the question of what other alternatives would be made available, it is a little too early to say right now. The Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports had indicated that the needs assessment alone, that is to do a comprehensive job, would take two to three months. Thereafter, it would be in both MCYS' and LTA's interests to try and meet the needs as best as they possibly can. On the other question of what was behind the SMRT's decision-making process, SMRT itself had come out to explain that the take-up rate for the London taxis was not as high as they had anticipated. Notwithstanding the fact that there were a number of the cab drivers who were willing to continue, in fact, there are quite a number of the London taxis that are not leased out by SMRT. Among the 15 units of London taxis which are currently registered, there is actually a number of units that are not hired. In other words, the take-up rate is not as high.

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