Taxi Licensing: Deregulation Act 2015

Shaun Davies Excerpts

Monday 21st October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Chris Vince (Harlow) (Lab/Co-op)]

I give my sincere thanks to the Minister for taking time to engage in this crucial debate. Taxi licensing is not merely a technical matter; it strikes at the heart of issues of fairness and safety, and affects the livelihoods of hard-working taxi drivers in my constituency, in Harlow and surrounding villages such as Lower Nazeing. Although this issue is of nationwide concern, as I hope is evidenced by the many MPs who will speak tonight, I will focus primarily on experiences in Harlow. I am not here to rehash arguments surrounding the Deregulation Act 2015, which was introduced with the best intentions, but we cannot ignore reality and the unintended consequences of that legislation, which have left taxi drivers vulnerable, passengers at risk, and the integrity of local oversight severely compromised.

[Shaun Davies (Telford) (Lab)]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on the points he is making in his excellent speech. In 2022, the independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford published its report. It highlighted concern that:

“So far as national policy is concerned…aspects of taxi licensing…undermine rather than promote best practice”

in respect of tackling child sexual exploitation. Does he agree that those concerns should be addressed by the Minister?

[Chris Vince]

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. I am sure that the Minister will address those concerns in his closing remarks.

I have sought this debate to bring attention to the growing dangers fostered under the current system. The 2015 Act has opened a loophole, allowing private hire drivers to license their vehicle in district authorities far from where they operate. In practice, this means that drivers are no longer bound by local standards. Instead, they can shop around for the cheapest licence anywhere in the country, then return to work wherever they choose. Harlow has long had the gold standard for its taxi services—standards that our local drivers proudly meet. Why is that? It is because they know, as I do, that nothing is more important than the safety of their passengers.