Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of making disability equality training a requirement for all (a) taxi and (b) private hire vehicle drivers.

Taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) provide a vital service for many disabled people, and their drivers should have the knowledge and skills to provide every passenger with the assistance they require.

Around a third of local licensing authorities already require drivers to complete disability awareness or equality training, and I would urge the remainder to take action now, using their existing licensing powers, to ensure that every driver receives it.

Later in 2018 we intend to consult on revised best practice guidance for local licensing authorities which will recommend that authorities require drivers to complete disability awareness training and take robust action against those found to have discriminated against disabled passengers.