Abtisam Mohamed MP presses transport minister on cross-border hiring concerns amid ongoing licensing inquiry
- Perry Richardson
- 7 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Abtisam Mohamed MP has highlighted concern among taxi and private hire drivers over cross-border hiring, following discussions with Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood.
In a social media update, the Sheffield MP said drivers in her constituency continue to report safety and employment issues linked to the practice, where a vehicle licensed in one authority undertakes work in another.
Her comments come as Parliament’s Transport Select Committee continues its wide-ranging Taxi and PHV licensing inquiry. The committee is gathering evidence on potential reforms, including whether national minimum licensing standards should be introduced and whether mayoral or combined authorities should take on wider regulatory powers. The inquiry is also assessing existing enforcement problems created by cross-border booking and subcontracting rules.
Cross-border hiring has been a contentious issue for operators and licensing teams for more than a decade. Current legislation allows a vehicle, driver and operator licensed in one district to accept bookings in another area, provided the booking is made through the home-licensed operator.
She says taxi and PHV drivers are raising fresh fears over safety and employment risks as MPs examine possible national standards and changes to licensing powers.
Many licensing authorities and trade groups argue this enables drivers to work predominantly outside the area that vetted and licensed them. Concerns reported to MPs have included uneven driver standards, difficulties conducting compliance checks and inconsistent safeguarding policies.
Mohamed MP said on social media: “Taxi drivers in my constituency are rightly concerned about the safety and employment risks of cross-border hiring.
“I raised this with Minister Lillian Greenwood who assures me the upcoming changes will address the issue, with potential national minimum standards and placing licensing responsibilities with mayoral authorities.
“If you're a taxi driver, let me know your thoughts.”
Several witnesses, including local authorities and industry bodies, have argued that a patchwork system of rules across England undermines passenger safety and driver working conditions.
The licensing inquiry has taken evidence from councils, operators, trade unions and technology firms, reflecting differing views on how cross-border work should be regulated.
Some operators support maintaining existing flexibility, warning that restricting cross-border activity could reduce service availability in rural areas or create operational barriers for national and regional firms. Others favour tightening the rules so that enforcement teams can monitor vehicles working within their boundaries without relying on other authorities.
The Transport Committee’s final recommendations are expected to carry significant weight as the Government prepares its next steps on PHV and taxi legislation. Ministers have repeatedly acknowledged the need to modernise the 2015 Deregulation Act provisions that expanded cross-border subcontracting, but a clear policy direction has yet to be confirmed.
Mohamed invited taxi and PHV drivers to share their experiences as she prepares further submissions to ministers. Elsewhere, the inquiry continues to receive evidence as stakeholders press for clarity on how any reforms would be implemented and funded, particularly for licensing teams already facing resource pressures.
