Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of designating private hire drivers as Disclosure and Barring Service regulated professionals.

There are certain circumstances, such as undertaking specific contracted work driving children, which fall into the definition of a regulated activity. The definitions of regulated activity that apply to work with children or work with adults are set out in legislation and such activities include teaching or supervision of children and the provision of health or personal care services.

In addition, all licensing authorities currently require an enhanced DBS check for drivers of taxis and PHV, and are able to request a barred list check alongside this. Consequently designating taxi and PHV driving as a regulated activity would not mean any additional information would be disclosed. The Government considers that it would be disproportionate to designate taxi and PHV driving as regulated activity because not all taxi or PHV drivers take on such work with children or vulnerable adults.

I announced in a Westminster Hall debate that I would be setting up a working group to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing, reporting its findings to me in the new year.