Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to issue new statutory taxi hire standards.
Answered by George Freeman
We will shortly be issuing Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Standards to licensing authorities, on protecting passengers and updated best practice guidance for other matters that will follow later this year.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his policy on the Task and Finish group report on Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing is the same as the previous Government's as published in its February 2019 response to that report.
Answered by George Freeman
The Government’s response to the Task and Finish Group report on taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing, set out its commitment to taking action where needed, to ensure a safe and well-functioning taxi and PHV sector, meets the needs and expectations of its passengers. This is still the Government’s position. We will shortly be issuing Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Standards.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to reform taxi and private hire licensing laws; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Grant Shapps
The Government is taking robust action and will introduce national standards with Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Safeguarding Guidance, standardised checks, and enhanced enforcement. We will also pursue a national database. We intend to set out shortly these national standards which will safeguard passengers by monitoring adoption levels and engaging with authorities that do not follow them.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the need for regulatory reform in the taxi and private hire industry.
Answered by George Freeman
Ministers and officials at the Department for Transport meet regularly with representatives of the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle sector to discuss a wide range of issues. Quarterly information on ministerial meetings is published at: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/789fd6df-87a9-4144-bc59-62b0b84e59f0/department-for-transport-ministerial-and-special-adviser-meetings-with-external-organisations-including-meetings-with-newspaper-and-other-media-proprietors-editors-and-senior-executives.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals on the regulatory reform of the taxi and private hire industry.
Answered by George Freeman
The Government will bring forward legislation in line with the commitments made in the response to the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing when time allows. We encourage licensing authorities to make full use of their extensive existing powers to protect passengers.