Banned...the taxi drivers who can’t speak English

Council chiefs are insisting all new cabbies have a good grasp of the language before they are allowed on the road.[>

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The move in Manchester follows complaints from customers. Under a 12-month pilot scheme, applicants will sit a 15-minute oral test.[>

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Licensing officers will ask them to “describe a recent journey you took” or “describe your favourite place in England”.[>

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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?”.[>

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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.[>

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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.[>

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“In recent years the number of immigrants driving cabs has greatly increased, but we have encountered problems if they don’t speak English.”[>

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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.” [>

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Council chiefs say the exams will involve “relaxed conversation” with follow-up questions to prevent people being able to learn answers parrot-fashion.[>

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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.[>

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A council spokesman said: “Taxi drivers are often the first person a visitor to the city will meet. The vast majority do an excellent job, but making sure new drivers possess the communications skills to deliver a good service is a sensible step.”[>