Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Transport for London on delays arising from the introduction of new licensing software in 2025; what assessment she has made of the impact of the 2024 cyber incident on taxi and private hire licence processing times; how many drivers have received payments under Transport for London’s Goodwill Payment Scheme in 2026; and what the total value of payments made under that scheme has been.

The Department for Transport is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which local licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades but ultimately the licensing process is left at the discretion of local authorities. We work closely with Transport for London on a range of issues but the operation of private hire driver licensing is a matter solely for them.

The Department does not collect data on the processing times of licence applications but expects authorities to administer the system efficiently, including the processing of all applications when they have the necessary information.

The Department’s best practice guidance to licensing authorities in England makes clear that taxi and private hire vehicle licensing is a statutory function, and it is important for authorities to consider how best to deliver this service in a timely and efficient manner.