Taxi Driver Online

Association calls for English language test suspension

The Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA) has called for the Mayor of London to immediately suspend the requirement for private hire drivers to undertake English language tests.

Following the launch of the tests in October, applicants for a Private Hire license have to undergo an English language test to prove their abilities and submit the qualification to TfL. The tests have been deemed as not fit for purpose and the industry association is now calling for them to be scrapped.

TfL allows drivers to provide a copy of previously obtained exam certificate demonstrating English language proficiency.  If they can’t locate one, a driver would need to contact their exam board to obtain a copy or, if their exam board no longer exists, they would need to commence a likely minimum eight-week process to try and get hold of a copy from the AQA.

Steve Wright MBE, Chairman of the LPHCA commented: “Some drivers who are unable to locate a copy of an exam certificate deemed acceptable by TfL are being forced to go to a test centre, pay a fee of around £180 to take a test and lose a day’s income while the test is administered.

“One driver has reported to us being subjected to a series of degrading security checks including looking behind his ears and being asked to turn his pockets inside out. It doesn’t matter to TfL if you were born in the UK and have spoken English all of your life. Drivers, some of whom have held a licence in London since licensing began and possibly having worked in the industry for nearly 50 years, are being forced to undertake an English test.

He concluded; “If TfL cares about the livelihoods of private hire drivers across London and the vital service that they perform, it must act today and suspend these tests.”

source: http://www.thechauffeur.com/association ... uspension/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

How is that degrading?

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Grandad,

why do you need to be searched like a criminal ? do they think he/she was hiding cheat notes in their pockets ?

whilst i can understand where he is coming from I think he is missing the mark because this is actually a benefit to his members as it will restrict the flood of new drivers coming into the trade which surely must help protect the earnings of existing drivers

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Do you think that no one would consider cheating on a test?

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Grandad,

I would imagine the main issues would be identity fraud and smuggling in smartphones which is the primary reason for searching applicants, but I don't get the checking behind the ears unless their looking for earpieces, I would start to get worried if they started putting latex gloves on

the point is that they are requiring people for whom English is their first language to take the test and are subjecting them to this would you not be offended ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

No, I wouldn't be offended. If some people are suspected of cheating I think it is fair that all people are treated the same.

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Grandad,

London spivs at their best.

Crying over drivers having to speak English to a good standard.

Mr MBE should be ashamed of himself.

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IDFIMH

I would say that's taken as given by many in the London PH fraternity.

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IDFIMH

He is not interested in protecting drivers earning but probably like most private hire operators is only interested in protecting and increasing their own income by having more and more drivers on their circuits at the expense of all drivers.

The pie does not get any bigger only the slices diminish in size,when is an investigation by those in power going to take place with regard to the taxpayer subsidising these private hire operators in regard to drivers having to claim benefits from the State to make ends meet.

"Ridiculous" £180 Language Test For Private Hire Drivers

A ‘ridiculous’ language test which forces London private hire drivers to fork out at least £180 to prove they speak English could see a private education firm pocket £20million.

The new rule has caused outrage among workers – particularly those who were born and raised in the UK and are being asked to shell out to show they can speak their own mother tongue.

Unless they can prove they have an English GCSE, Transport for London (TfL) says they must undergo a day-long language test under belittling classroom conditions from their recommended provider – Trinity College London.

With an estimated 110,000 Private Hire Drivers in London, and with each tests costing at least £180 [1], this could see the company trouser a whopping £19.8million.

Trinity College’s turnover last year was £32million – so this windfall almost doubles their annual income.

Steve ******** (pictured), GMB’s professional drivers’ secretary, said:

“Not only are these tests unnecessary and demeaning, they will shovel huge sums of money into a private college’s coffers thanks to a virtual monopoly.

“Our member work hard for their cash – why should they have to stump up £180 for to prove they can speak what, in many cases, is the language they’ve spoken all their lives.

“We completely accept drivers need good verbal communication skills – but do they really need an expensive written exam to boot?

“TfL really need to rethink this ridiculous requirement before it’s too late.”

source: http://www.fleetpoint.org/fleet-industr ... e-drivers/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

What all three of them?

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IDFIMH

Another spiv.

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IDFIMH

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

WE AGREE SUSSEX HES A GROVELLING CLUNT

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