Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 23 June 2020 to Question 59615 on Taxis: Licensing and the Statutory Taxi and Private Vehicle Standards guidance published in July 2021, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to reform taxi and private hire regulation to reflect the emergence of ride-hailing apps.

The Department is supporting licensing authorities to make use of their extensive existing powers through the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards issued last year and is supporting a Private Members’ Bill (Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill) which would further enhance the protection the licensing regime provides to the public. A consultation on updated best practice guidance for licensing authorities will be launched shortly.

The Government is committed to introducing legislation, when Parliamentary time allows, to reform the regulation of the sector.