Taxi Driver Online

Came across this via TaxiPoint - not often I'm looking at questions to the Mayor of London in the London Assembly

But Khan was banging the drum about capping PHVs a few years ago, so nothing new about his stance here. But a tad surprising that the questioner is leader of the Conservatives at city hall. But, as a I realised nearly thirty years ago, when it comes to stuff like this normal party politics seems to go out the window


Question

Cap on PHV Licences

Neil Garratt AM (City Hall Conservatives)

Why has Transport for London (TfL) failed to introduce a cap on PHV licences to prevent oversaturation and protect the regulated taxi industry?


Answer

Date: Tuesday 25 March 2025

Transport for London (TfL) is legally obliged to issue a licence to anyone who meets the statutory criteria for licensing.

Primary legislation would be required to impose a cap on licence numbers.

This matter was considered by the Department for Transport-commissioned Task and Finish Group (2018) on taxi and PHV licensing, which recommended providing powers to cap the number of licences. The Government’s response (2019) was clear that it was not minded to take this recommendation forward.

There is a broader and more pressing issue of cross-border hiring, which, without being addressed, would make any powers to cap private hire vehicle numbers ineffective.

TfL published a detailed policy paper in February 2018 which sets out how cross-border hiring could be addressed, and I continue to urge Government to make these legislative changes.

But again interesting that Khan banging the drum on the cross-border thing just as the Manchester mayor has launched a campaign about the same thing (although the question above was asked and answered a few weeks ago)

(Of course, I should say 'Sir Sadiq' rather than 'Khan' But he should have said 'out-of-area' rather than 'cross-border' )

You have to wonder why there hasn't been any movement from the current government in addressing the issues of cross-border.

Senior Labour people like Khan and Burnham are very much in favour of sorting it out, as I would imagine are many Labour MPs, but we don't appear to have much movement yet.

Maybe in the next year or so we will.

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IDFIMH

More from the same questioner. And if you've got the same mindset as me, then you might notice a bit of a contradiction between his first and second questions


Question

Algorithmic Pricing

Neil Garratt AM (City Hall Conservatives)

Do you agree that Uber and similar operators use algorithmic pricing to overcharge passengers while underpaying drivers—seemingly creating an unfair, potentially exploitative business model?


Answer

Friday 4 April 2025

Transport for London (TfL) regulates private hire vehicle (PHV) services in accordance with the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 (1998 Act). There is no provision in the 1998 Act to regulate PHV fares.

Issues regarding drivers’ pay and conditions are for specialist tribunals and are not matters that TfL can regulate.

A similar response to that from a Labour transport minister in the House of Commons not that long ago

But, again, why is it that the likes of licensing committees can hold forth on 'fit and proper' status in other regards without court involvement, or enforcement by other authorities. But not in this regard?

Surely a fit and proper operator should ensure the drivers using its app are earning at least the minimum wage, and are not working excessive hours to earn a living.

If they don't ensure drivers are earning a viable living, then how can they be viewed as fit and proper?

I know both the above sentences mean the same, but they also point to this issue being a licensing one, and councils who think otherwise are neglecting their legal duty to ensure the safety of taxi/PH users.

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IDFIMH