Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken stop private hire cab drivers operating in areas in which they do not have a licence.

Taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) are permitted to undertake pre-booked work outside of the area in which they are licensed. PHVs are subject to a triple licensing lock; the operator fulfilling the request, the driver and vehicle must all be licensed by the same authority.

As set out in the Government’s response to the report by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing, the Government will consider how restrictions on out-of-area journeys might work in practice, with a view to legislating.