Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the report by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust highlighting the number of taxis and private hire vehicles licences which have been granted to drivers with criminal convictions.

The Government is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which local licensing authorities in England and Wales license taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers.

The Department for Transport will shortly consult on statutory guidance to be issued to licensing authorities; this will propose a range of measures to increase the safety of passengers.