RULES: Cabbies must speak English

Council chiefs are insisting all new cabbies have a good grasp of the language before they are allowed on the road.[> [> The move in Manchester follows complaints from customers. Under a 12-month pilot scheme, applicants will sit a 15-minute oral test.[> [> Licensing officers will ask them to “describe a recent journey you took” or “describe your favourite place in England”.[> [> Applicants will also have to prove they understand common expressions such as “Can you drop me after the lights?” and “Can I have a receipt?”.[>

[> The test will be followed by a basic maths exam to prove the cabbie can hand out the correct change. They will also have to prove they can use an A-Z. More than half of Manchester’s 3,000 black cab and private hire drivers do not have English as a first language.[> [> George Simms, of the Taxi Owners and Drivers Association, said English cabbies were often asked for help by foreign drivers who could not understand customers.[> [> “In recent years the number of immigrants driving cabs has greatly increased, but we have encountered problems if they don’t speak English.”[>

[> Dave Evans, of the TGU/ Unite union, said: “There have been some issues around communication between drivers and passengers. We need to look at how to put that right.” [> [> Council chiefs say the exams will involve “relaxed conversation” with follow-up questions to prevent people being able to learn answers parrot-fashion.[> [> The £10 cost of the exam will be added to the £155 black cab or £207 minicab licence. Existing drivers will not be forced to take the exams.[>