Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to enable local authorities to retain information on sex offenders to inform the granting of licences to taxi drivers.

In 2012, the Government amended legislation to allow local authorities to undertake enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks on all applicants for taxi and private hire vehicle driver licences. These checks will disclose convictions for sex offences and other relevant information that local authorities can take into consideration when deciding who to license. I have asked my Noble Friend, the Minister of State for Transport (Baroness Kramer) to write to all local authorities reminding them of the importance that the Government attaches to this matter.