The Minister for Local Government will tomorrow appear before MPs as the Transport Committee wraps up the evidence for its inquiry into the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs).
The inquiry is focused on how PHV standards could be improved, amid concern about inadequate regulation that varies from one part of the country to another.
Laws underpinning taxi and private hire vehicle licensing date back to 1847 and 1976 respectively. As they question the Minister, MPs will explore whether there is any appetite for updating or replacing the legislative framework to make it more fit for modern times.
In November 2025, the Department for Transport announced that it would legislate for National Minimum Standards that set a baseline for taxis and private hire vehicles.
The Minister will be asked about the proposed scope of the Standards and the main areas they will cover. With the variation in standards across the country being a key talking point throughout the inquiry, MPs will seek clarity on why the Department has not set a single set of absolute standards that every licensing authority could apply to deliver greater consistency. They will also explore what accompanying enforcement mechanisms could look like.
There will be a further focus on licensing fees, which are presently set by each authority, and on licensing responsibility. The Department has consulted on moving the responsibility for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing from licensing authorities to Local Transport Authorities and the Minister is likely to be pressed on what it is intending to achieve by this.
Department for Transport data shows that there has been a 10.5% increase in the number of PHV licences issued (reaching 256,600 in 2024). By contrast, the number of taxi licences issued has decreased over the same period by 1.4% to 56,400.
MPs could also ask about whether app-based platforms and traditional operators are treated equally under current licensing conditions, whether there are plans to address working conditions for drivers, and what can be done to improve the accessibility of the fleet.
You can watch the proceedings from 0915 tomorrow HERE.
(Picture: TfL)
