Taxi Driver Online

Another interesting written parliamentary answer, via Taxi Point. But this is it in the raw

Not sure if the proposal for a national driver, vehicle and operator database is actually new, but maybe I missed it...


Joe Robertson
Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government will establish a national database of licensed taxi and private hire vehicle drivers accessible to licensing authorities.


Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Labour MP for Nottingham South

Since 2023 all licensing authorities have been required to use a national licensing database to facilitate the sharing of information when a taxi or private hire vehicle driver has had a licence refused, suspended or revoked on the grounds of safeguarding, road safety or equality discrimination concerns. The Department for Transport is considering options to reform the regulation of the sector, and as part of this intends to have a national licensing database with the details of every driver, vehicle and private hire vehicle operator licence.

First it's one of a number of options, but then the word 'intends' is used, suggesting it's maybe a definite

Or maybe it'll definitely happen if that option is chosen

What would be the benefit of a national taxi/PH database?

Given how lax governments are with our data, I'm not sure any benefits outweigh our privacy rights.

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IDFIMH