QUESTIONNAIRE

The purpose of this questionnaire is to seek your views on Government proposals for the taxi provisions of the Act and the timing of their implementation. It is not necessary to answer every part of the questionnaire if you do not wish to do so.

In responding to questions, please tick the appropriate box unless directed otherwise. After some questions, space is provided for further comments. If the space provided is insufficient, or there are other matters on which you wish to comment, please feel free to use supplementary sheets.

Thank you for your time and contribution.

Implementation timetable (Consultation document)

The technical specification (Consultation document)

(When commenting on specific items in the technical specification, it would be helpful if section numbers and headings could be quoted, i.e. ‘3.4 Steps’.)

B1.	Are there any item(s)/dimension(s) included in the technical specification that you think can be changed but still achieve the same result ?

B2.	We would be grateful for any general comments on the technical specification:

B3.	Should any additional design features be included ?
	Yes No Don't Know

B4.	If yes, please state what additional feature(s) should be included.

B5.	Should any proposed design features be excluded ?
	Yes No Don't Know

B6.	If yes, please state which feature(s) should be excluded and why.

Interim requirements (Consultation document)

C1.	We would be grateful for any general comments on the interim requirements.

C2.	Are there any additional features which you believe could be included ?
	Yes No Don't Know

C3.	If yes, please state what additional feature(s) should be included.

C4.	Are any of the proposed requirements unreasonable ?
	Yes No Don't Know

C5.	If yes, please state which requirement(s) are unreasonable and why.

Exemption Criteria (Consultation document)

D1.	We would be grateful for any comments on the proposed exemption criteria.

Costs (Consultation document)

Please remember when answering these questions, that compliance with the regulations will not require taxi drivers to purchase a brand new vehicle outright. The proposals also allow for second-hand vehicles. There is also a number of ways of acquiring new vehicles including leasing, hire purchase and personal contract plans (PCPs).

E1.	Are the indicative costs included unrealistic ?
	Yes No Don't Know

E2.	If yes, please state why you think the costs are unrealistic.

Enforcement (Consultation document)

F1.	We would be grateful for any comments on the proposal that the Vehicle Inspectorate should certify vehicles which meet the regulations.

F2.	We would be grateful for any comments on the proposal that licensing authorities should be responsible for general enforcement of the taxi provisions of the Act.

About you

G1.	Are you responding as:
	An individual On behalf of an organisation (please state position in organisation)

G2.	Which category best describes you or your organisation/company ? (please tick as appropriate)
	Taxi driver/a taxi trade association (if you are a taxi driver please complete section H) A disabled person/an organisation which represents disabled people A licensing authority Vehicle manufacturer Vehicle converter A local authority (not licensing) Other (please state)

G3.	If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, please state the main business/purpose of your organisation.

G4.	Are you a member of a trade association, disability organisation or other organisation ?
	Yes No If ‘yes’, please state the organisation(s) to which you belong:

G5.	Please fill in your name and address below:
	Name Address Post Code

G6.	Are you content for the opinions you have expressed in response to this consultation exercise to be attributed to [you or] the organisation on whose behalf you are responding ?
	Yes No

Taxi Drivers

H1.	How many hours do you usually work on taxis each week ?

H2.	Do you work on:
	a) hackney carriage ? b) private hire ? c) both ?

H3.	Do you :
	a) own your own vehicle ? b) hire a vehicle ?

H4.	Is the vehicle you usually use:
	a) a “London” cab ? b) a saloon car/estate ? c) other ?

H5.	If you operate a hackney carriage, could you say approximately what percentage of your customers come from:
	a) cab ranks b) on-street hail

Information sought from taxis drivers in this section will be used to assist a study by Cranfield University (see Consultation document).