London Mayor should have the power to cap the number of private hire vehicles

Sadiq Khan should be given the power to cap the number of private hire vehicles on the roads of London, a cross-party group of MPs said today. The All Party Parliamentary Group, led by Wes Streeting, was set up to help the taxi trade and all modes of road transport in London, has stated that the government should give the Mayor and regulators Transport for London more powers to reduce congestion and close cross border hiring loopholes.  

(Wes Streeting MP and TaxiPoint's Steve Kenton)

TaxiPoint's Steve Kenton has been invited to the report launch in parliament today, where the group is expected to say that the number of minicabs has increased out of control. Since 2010 private hire vehicles have doubled to 120,000 contributing to the high levels of congestion in the capital.  

The disruptive minicab operator, Uber, however disputes that figure, stating only 87,000 private hire vehicles are licensed in London despite regulator data showing otherwise.