Sadiq Khan to face further questions from Assembly Members on pressing taxi issues

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to come under further scrutiny from the taxi industry this week at the upcoming Mayor’s Question Time held at City Hall. A range of questions centring around both taxi and private hire trades, are to be put forward in the chambers on Thursday 18 July by City Hall Assembly Members.

Some of the questions will be up for public debate, whilst some will receive a private response from the Mayor at a later date. The questions range from topics covering private hire firm Uber, legal advice for taxi drivers and improving driving standards on the capital’s roads. Assembly Members David Kurten and Caroline Pidgeon will put forward no less than 15 questions to the mayor which will include:

• Roundels for Private Hire Vehicles were previously marked with the words ‘Pre-Booked Only’. Will you restore these words on PHV roundels?

• It is widely alleged in the media that Uber are deliberately avoiding their VAT liability; this is reported to be in the region of £1 billion pounds. Do you think this money would help to fund preventative measures and policing needed to tackle violent crime in London?

• A recent FOI from Cambridge City Council reveals that the licensing officer told Uber: PH Vehicles should be parked up in places where they could not be accused of plying for hire. Can the Mayor give examples of where a "parked up" PH Vehicle could be accused of plying for hire?

• How much money has TfL actually invested in taxis to date (not future investment), excluding licence fees, since they took over running the trade?

• You recently said that taxi drivers should seek their own legal advice, if they have licensing concerns. How do you expect drivers to fund this, when the average cost is approximately £300 per hour? Would you consider giving taxi drivers access to TfL's legal department for legal advice?

• Do you think Taxi and PH drivers trust TfL TPH?

• To improve passenger safety and the standard of driving will you consider a separate higher level of driving test as a requirement before any driver is licensed to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle in London?

Image: LEVC