VOCATIONAL LICENCES OF TAXI DRIVERS (Appeal Tribunal)

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Communications and Minister for Labour whether the Ministry of Communications will consider the setting up of a tribunal to hear appeals against the decision of the Registrar of Vehicles to cancel or suspend vocational licences of taxi drivers to enable the taxi driver to challenge the case against him upon which the order to suspend had been made.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: Section 63(4) of the Road Traffic Act empowers the Registrar of Vehicles to suspend or revoke the vocational licence of a taxi driver on the ground that by reason of his conduct or physical disability, he is not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence. In exercising this power, the Registrar's decision is based upon evidence adduced from both the complainant and the taxi driver.

The power to review the Registrar's decision is vested with the Minister and this is laid down in section 63(5) of the Road Traffic Act. Thus if a taxi driver is dissatisfied with the Registrar's decision, he can appeal to the Minister against the decision of the Registrar.

As there is already an avenue of appeal, we do not see a need to set up a tribunal as proposed by the Honourable Member for Anson.