Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support black cab drivers.

The Government has provided support for the taxi and private hire vehicle sector throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of taxi and private hire vehicle drivers are self-employed and were therefore able to apply for grants through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) before the scheme closed on 30 September 2021. Over the history of the SEISS, £28.1 billion has been paid in grants in total (up to 28 October 2021) and 2.9 million individuals have received a grant.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provides local councils with grant funding to support businesses that are severely impacted by Coronavirus and the rise of the Omicron variant, which are not eligible for other grant funding. Further information can be found here at www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-additional-restrictions-grant.

While the ARG scheme remains in place to enable Local Authorities to deliver discretionary business support, we are encouraging Local Authorities to support those businesses that have been severely impacted by the spread of the Omicron variant. There is no restriction on the number of grants a business may receive, subject to subsidy limits.