Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that rules, regulations and standards do not diverge in quality between local taxi licensing authorities.

The legislation that provides for licensing of taxi and private hire vehicle services is enabling in its nature, giving local licensing authorities the discretion to set standards that they deem to be appropriate for their area.

The Government committed in the response to the report by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing to take forward legislation when time allows to enable the setting of national minimum standards in licensing.

The Department is also consulting on draft statutory guidance to be issued to licensing authorities on how they should use the extensive existing powers to protect children and vulnerable adults when using these services.