Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make Disclosure and Barring Service checks a statutory requirement for taxi and private hire vehicle driver licenses.

The Policing and Crime Bill contains a power to enable the Secretary of State for Transport to issue Statutory Guidance to licensing authorities in relation to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. There will be a consultation on draft guidance, which I intend will include guidance on Disclosure and Barring Service checks. It is expected that a consultation on this, and any Statutory Guidance, would be launched early next year.