Taxi Driver Online

Came across this via TaxiPoint, but these are the verbatim questions and answer.

And, of course, the transport secretary didn't actually answer the question - it was a junior transport minister.

(In fact had to Google who the transport secretary actually is - it's Heidi Alexander. I could only recall the last one with the daft hair - she was sacked, wasn't she, after her past fraud conviction came to light? )


Chris Ward, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support local authorities to enforce taxi and private hire vehicle licensing regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that (a) taxi and (b) private hire journeys either (i) start or (ii) finish within licensed vehicle areas.


Simon Lightwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

It is widely accepted that taxis and private hire vehicles have always been permitted to carry pre-booked fares outside the area in which they are licensed. This allows the sector to work more flexibly to meet the needs of their passengers.

Licensing authorities in England are required by law to share safeguarding or road safety concerns about taxi and private hire vehicle drivers licensed in other areas with the authority that issued the licence. The authority that issued the licence must then consider whether to suspend or revoke the driver’s licence.

The Department for Transport has issued guidance to licensing authorities which includes ways that authorities can, if needed, seek increased compliance and enforcement powers. Licensing authorities can jointly authorise each other's officers or can seek additional powers over all licensed vehicles and drivers through the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme. Licensing authorities can also undertake joint enforcement operations.

The Government recognises concerns around out-of-area working and is considering options to strengthen the regulation of the sector.

Therefore pretty predictable answer in terms of deflection and waffle, basically, without getting to the nitty gritty.

The final paragraph is kind of an acknowledgement, though, about 'recognising the concerns' and 'considering options'. But the usual euphemism and indirect answer, kind of stuff

Interesting that the MP's constituency is cross-border sharing parts of B&H and Lewes.

He is also a mate of Keir.

Not sure how his question is going to help anyway as Sussex is looking to be part of the Devolution Revolution, which I envisage will lead to a Sussex PH plate, and a lot of worried B&H hackney plate owners.

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IDFIMH