Taxi Driver Online

Well this is easily the biggest news of the day, and indeed arguably the biggest news for some time, or at least maybe as significant as the Casey audit

Not that it'll be the be all and end all - I still recall the captured committee session in the wake of the OFT's report more than 20 years ago - but obviously a significant development in what will very probably happen over the next couple of years in Westminster

And, for example, using the term 'ride-hailing' below is not a good start

Anyway, took me ages to insert all the links etc - since it's an official parliamentary webpage, thought I'd better get it as faithful to the original as possible


New inquiry into licensing and standards in the taxis and private-hire vehicles sectors

16 July 2025

https://committees.parliament.uk/commit ... s-sectors/

A new inquiry by the Transport Committee will investigate how standards for taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) could be improved, amid concern about inadequate regulation that varies from one area of the country to another.

• Inquiry: Licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles
• Submit evidence to this inquiry
• Transport Committee

Local authorities with the power to issue licences (licensing authorities) – such as Transport for London, city councils, county councils or combined authorities – have some freedom to set their own local standards for safety, driver conduct and accessibility, within a statutory framework.

Despite licensing authorities needing to have regard to statutory standards, local variations have arisen across different authorities.

Additionally, ‘cross-border licensing’ has given rise to the case of Wolverhampton City Council, where 96% of its taxi and PHV licences have been awarded to drivers from outside of the city.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is among those calling for a change in the law, after a Freedom of Information Act disclosure showed that 9,000 drivers registered with Wolverhampton City Council reside in the Greater Manchester area.

The cross-party Committee will also examine how standards across the sector could be improved and made more consistent across the country with regards to accessibility, safety and safeguarding of passengers.

The inquiry will look at how best practice could be replicated, the effectiveness of enforcement and inspection regimes, and how standards vary – and could be standardised – between taxis, PHVs and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt.

MPs will also look to the future at how the sector and its regulatory system might need to evolve to enable the use of self-driving vehicles.

The inquiry comes after the Committee published its report on accessible transport, which heard evidence of too few wheelchair-accessible PHVs and taxis being in circulation around the country, and even of drivers turning away blind people with assistance dogs.

Chair comment

Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury MP said:

“When it comes to the licensing and regulation of taxi and private hire vehicles, a strange patchwork of driver and vehicle standards now exists across every town and city in the country.

“This inconsistency has given rise to a situation that just isn’t good enough for drivers or for the public, who can unknowingly leave themselves vulnerable when getting into the back of a stranger’s car.

“This Committee will investigate whether a more standardised, more rational regulatory and enforcement regime could do away with the phenomenon of one city receiving applications from all over the country. We want to examine how an improved system could give greater confidence to consumers, particularly disabled people, women, children and other vulnerable people. And we need to look at how the system could make it clear who a passenger can complain to if standards aren’t met.”

Call for evidence

The Transport Committee now accepts written evidence submissions from those with knowledge of the sector. Submissions should be made via the Committee’s website, by 11.59pm on 8 September 2025.

1. Do current licensing arrangements and tools enable local authorities to effectively regulate and oversee the taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) sector across England, in terms of safety, accessibility and quality of service? If not, what improvements could be made? 

2. What is the impact on the travelling public and drivers of variation between licensing authorities? Is reform needed to bring greater standardisation?  

3. What would be the practical implications for licensing authorities and operators of more stringent or standardised licensing conditions in respect of safety, accessibility, vehicles and driver conduct? 

4. What steps should the Government take to address the challenges posed by cross-border licensing in the taxi and PHV sector? 

5. What would effective reform look like in terms of enforcement, passenger safety and safeguarding, and regulatory consistency? Is there a role for regional transport authorities? 

6. How are digital ride-hailing platforms impacting standards in the sector, and is further regulation in this area required? 

7. How effective, accessible, and trusted are complaints and incident reporting systems in the taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) sector, for both passengers and drivers?  

8. How effective is the National Register of Licence Revocations and Refusals (NR3) in supporting consistent licensing decisions across local authorities? What barriers, if any, are limiting its use or impact? 

9. What are the implications for taxi and PHV licensing of the future rollout of autonomous vehicles?

 

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Nothing like a government enquiry to keep those calling for action at bay whilst sweeping it under the carpet

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

Worth watching this video monologue from councillor Daisy, who seems to be developing a reasonable clout regarding all of this. It's about Wolverhampton and cross-bordering

And while she makes a good case in general terms, suspect she's overdoing the amount of drivers who have 'failed background checks' elsewhere but then got badged in Wolverhampton...

I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but in the grand scheme of 50,000 badge it's probably only a small minority.

https://x.com/DaisyBlakemore/status/1945500422262907334

Strangly enough that was my first thought.

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IDFIMH

At one time there were more than a dozen who had been stripped of their badge in Peterborough who came to our council and got badged and we were firmly told by the LO that you can't deny someone the right to work. This was before Berwick, Rossendale and then Wolves

it's common practice amongst certain communities in Peterborough to shop around until you find the council equivalent of the man from Del Monte

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

I think she is overdoing it, but Wolverhampton have been overdoing the spin for years, so she gets a pass from me.

What it needs is for taxi/PH drivers, councils, councillors, mayors, MPs, union leaders, licensing officers, and everyone else who has complained for the last 10 years about the likes of Wolverhampton and cross-border hiring, to write to the Transport Committee and tell them why things need to change.

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IDFIMH

But is the Labour Government, pursuing the Devolution process, going to change that?

Or will it be a case of devolution for everything other than taxi/PH licensing?

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IDFIMH

I shall come to the other questions in due course, but if the auto cars don't have real drivers, they don't come under taxi/PH legislation.
 

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IDFIMH

Indeed, there may be an element of delay and deflection about the whole thing.

But given all that's gone on, and what will happen, it would be more remarkable if at least one parliamentary committee didn't announce an inquiry.

so an autonomous taxi/ph doesnt need to comply with legislation covering taxi/ph,I dont see how not having a driver means they are not taxi/ph anymore,arent peeps on here always telling us a p/h is always a p/h no matter who is driving(in england I think)Im not sure if this also applies to taxis

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i started out with nothing and ive still got most of it left

Don't know about England, Jozef, but had a quick look at the Scottish legislation, and wondered if in fact you were right, and there was perhaps a loophole that meant that an autonomous car here could operate as a 'hire car' under the current legislation

And indeed, in the bit about licensing hire cars the legislation just talks about a licence being required, for 'operating', and nothing specifically about requiring a driver.

And the section about badging doesn't precisely say that a hire car needs a driver...

However, the definition in s.23(2) says that a 'hire car' means a 'motor vehicle with a driver'. Therefore...

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/45/section/23

The definition of a private hire vehicle in the 1976 act (England and Wales) is;

"private hire vehicle" means a motor vehicle constructed or adapted to seat [fewer than nine passengers], other than a hackney carriage or public service vehicle [or a London cab] [or tramcar], which is provided for hire with the services of a driver for the purpose of carrying passengers;

The definition of a private hire vehicle in the 1982 act (Scotland) is;

(2)In subsection (1) above, “hire car” means a motor vehicle with a driver (other than a vehicle being a public service vehicle within the meaning of section 1(1)(a) of the M8Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981) which is, with a view to profit, available for hire by the public for personal conveyance.

So no driver, no requirement to be a private hire vehicle.

The definition of a taxi in the 1982 act (Scotland) is;

“taxi” means a hire car which is engaged, by arrangements made in a public place between the person to be conveyed in it (or a person acting on his behalf) and its driver for a journey beginning there and then;

So no taxi driver, no licensed taxi.

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IDFIMH

That is clearly not what was intended when the legislation was passed because there was no expectation at that time that it would be possible to have a driverless car, so it clearly needs the legislation to change.

Of course they don't, else the Transport Committee wouldn't be undertaking this inquiry, or the government looking into changes following the damming comments in the Casey Report, or the hundreds of comments from MPs, councillors, Mayors, etc that have been bemoaning matters for many years.

Councils do, IMO, have the powers, if they wish to use them, to regulate and oversee their locally licensed taxi/PH trade within their licensing area. The problem arises (which has led to most that is wrong in the trade), is when those not licensed locally act or work as if they were. Helped by operators who don't give a monkey's and only wish to license as many drivers as possible, as quickly as possible, from anywhere in the country.

How can anyone believe that to be a safe process?

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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