Mr. Hugh Creegan:

There is not a master plan, and it is meant to be a response to a need. The need must exist in the local area, so there would be an area that does not have transport services that are sufficient to cater for demand. There are safeguards in place, as either a business group in the area or a local community group must identify the need. They must involve the local authority, which must provide analysis confirming and endorsing that need. It is only at that stage that it can come to us as a valid application. We will be very much taking comfort from the fact that the local authority will have done a piece of work indicating that there are no other hackney or taxi services. There would have to be a genuine need and it is only when the information is brought in that we determine the licence. It is on an individual area basis each time.