Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the regulation and licensing provisions in respect of public transport, taxis and private hire vehicles in ensuring the safety of late night workers using those forms of transport.

The Government recognises the vital role that public transport, including taxi and private hire vehicles, play in getting people to work at all times of the day and night. Passenger safety is integral to the regulation and licensing of passenger transport service providers and policy is constantly kept under review.

The Department for Transport is also working closely with the Home Office on the Government’s cross-departmental strategy to address Violence Against Women and Girls. The Department for Transport’s first Women’s Safety Champions are engaging with campaign groups, industry and Government to understand areas for improvement across the UK’s transport network. They will shortly produce independent recommendations for the Department and wider transport network on what best practice should be adopted to improve safety of the transport network for women and girls. We expect that these measures will enhance safety for all passengers at all times.