Member

The noble Lord will recall a discussion that we had not too many weeks ago in which it was quite clear that there were some fundamental differences in the needs of local areas in the provision of taxi and private hire services. We are strongly attempting to recognise that we have to start from where we are and that a one-size-fits-all solution to the mandatory provision of things may not suit every area—for example, it may not suit rural areas in comparison to dense urban areas. I am not at all saying that the needs of disabled people are different in different areas, but the way in which the two trades are organised in different areas is because the needs of the users, as expressed in the use of those services, are very different.