Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's response to the recommendations of the report of the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Task and Finish Group, what the timeframe is for the implementation of those recommendations; and whether primary legislation will be required to enact those recommendations.

The Government’s response to the report of the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Task and Finish Group sets out which of the recommendations the Department proposes to take forward. Many of the short-term recommendations made by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group in his report are for licensing authorities to make full use of their extensive existing powers and these are a matter for licensing authorities to consider.

Work has already started to take forward some of the recommendations, for example the Department launched, on 12 February, its consultation on draft statutory guidance to be issued to licensing authorities on the use of their powers to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm which will run until 22 April. Those reforms that require legislative change, for example national minimum standards, will be made through primary legislation when time allows.