Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation granting licensing authorities a statutory basis for creating minimum wage thresholds for drivers within the licensing criteria for private hire operators.

At a Westminster Hall Debate last year, the Rt Hon John Hayes MP announced the formation of a Task and Finish group to consider any taxi and private hire regulatory issues, their causes and potential remedies. The Group’s report was published on 24 September and it includes a chapter on industry working conditions. The Government response to the report will be published in due course.