Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse in the taxi and private hire sector.

The response to the report by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing issued on 12 February committed to bring forward legislation to enable national minimum standards in licensing, enable greater enforcement powers for licensing officers and to establish a national licensing database to assist in the sharing of relevant information.

The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on draft statutory guidance to be issued to licensing authorities on how they can use their extensive existing powers to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm when using taxi and private hire vehicle services.