The Government has re-confirmed that a draft Bill aimed at reforming taxi and private hire vehicle licensing legislation will be published during the current parliamentary session, providing the clearest indication yet of the timetable for long-awaited changes to the sector, says TaxiPoint.
The update came in response to a written parliamentary question from Labour MP Hannah Spencer, who asked the Secretary of State for Transport when she planned to publish the draft legislative steps intended to reform out-of-area taxi licensing.
Responding on behalf of the Department for Transport, transport minister Lilian Greenwood said ministers and officials were actively engaging with the taxi and private hire vehicle sector alongside other stakeholders to consider a package of reforms designed to modernise legislation.
Greenwood said the reforms are intended to make everyday journeys “safer, fairer and easier”, while strengthening public safety, removing barriers for disabled passengers and ensuring legislation reflects contemporary travel patterns. She added that a draft Bill for parliamentary scrutiny would be brought forward during the current parliamentary session.
The statement is likely to be closely watched across the taxi and private hire industries, where concerns around cross-border and out-of-area licensing have remained a major point of debate for several years. Current legislation allows private hire operators to accept bookings outside the authority area where they are licensed, a practice that has drawn criticism from some local authorities, drivers and trade groups.
The Government’s latest confirmation follows increasing pressure from industry stakeholders and parliamentarians seeking greater clarity over future licensing arrangements. While Greenwood’s response did not provide specific details on the content of the proposed legislation, it signals that work on a wider package of taxi and private hire reforms remains ongoing within the Department for Transport.
Ms Greenwood said:
“Ministers and officials are engaging with the sector and other stakeholders to consider the reforms necessary to modernise taxi and private hire vehicle legislation to make everyday journeys safer, fairer and easier; strengthening public safety, removing barriers for disabled passengers, and reflecting how people travel today. A draft Bill for parliamentary scrutiny will be brought forward during this parliamentary session.”
(Picture: TfL)
