Oral Answers to Questions

Louise Haigh Excerpts

Thursday 15th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Louise Haigh (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)]

15. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the provisions of the Deregulation Act 2015 relating to taxi licensing on the ability of licensing authorities to regulate taxi trade.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Andrew Jones)]

Local councils have the powers to provide effective licensing arrangements in their area, but legislation is in the House to strengthen the current framework. We will consult on new statutory guidance for local licensing authorities once the parliamentary process is complete.

[Andrew Jones]

The legislation that governs this sector goes back many, many more decades, to the age of the horse and carriage. That is why the Government asked the Law Commission to take a comprehensive review of taxi and private hire regulation in England and Wales. Obviously, it is a devolved matter in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We will be responding to the Law Commission’s report in due course.

[Louise Haigh]

Sheffield City Council believes that its tough policy on child sexual exploitation is basically useless because other taxi operators can license themselves outside Sheffield and then operate in Sheffield. Will the Minister meet me and other colleagues from Sheffield city region to discuss taxi licensing in relation to CSE?

[Andrew Jones]

I will be happy to meet the hon. Lady. I just point out that whatever licensing area a company is operating in, it has to ensure that a fit and proper person test is carried out, but I will be very happy to meet her.

--- Later in debate ---

[Chris Grayling]

I am very interested in this as a proposal, and it is being looked at very carefully. What I would say to my hon. Friend, to every Member on the Southern route and to all the passengers on the Southern route is that I recognise that the issues over the last few months have been unacceptable. I am working hard with all those involved, and I have unveiled a number of changes in recent weeks, which I believe will help to get this situation resolved as quickly as possible. It has not been acceptable; it has to be dealt with, and we are working as hard as we can to ensure that it is.

[Louise Haigh (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)]

T5. Clause 21 of the Bus Services Bill bans local authorities from forming their own bus companies. This policy went unmentioned in bus reform workshop documents and in any prior announcements. Will the Minister explain how this clause can possibly be reconciled with the Government’s so-called devolution revolution?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Andrew Jones)]

It is simply because the Government are giving more powers to local authorities to franchise services, and we were anxious that the powers to commission and provide were separated.