Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is his policy to bring forward legislative proposals to mandate disability equality training for taxi and minicab drivers.

Taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services must be accessible to those who rely upon them, and disability awareness and equality training can be effective in equipping drivers with the skills and knowledge to provide all passengers with the assistance they require. The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on the draft Accessibility Action Plan which will inform the updated Best Practice Guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities.

It is the Department’s expectation that the guidance will include a recommendation that authorities should use their existing powers to require prospective drivers to complete disability awareness and equality training.

The working group established by the then Minister of State (John Hayes MP) to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing will report its findings shortly. There are no existing plans to bring legislation to mandate this training.