DATE REVEALED: MPs to question Uber, Bolt and Veezu as taxi and private hire licensing inquiry moves into key phase

The Transport Committee will take fresh evidence from major private hire firms, licensing specialists and safety campaigners on Wednesday 19 November as MPs continue their examination of how taxis and private hire vehicles are regulated across the UK.

The session runs from 9.15am until midday in the Grimond Room at Portcullis House. It forms part of a wide-ranging review looking at whether current licensing systems meet the needs of passengers, drivers and local authorities.

The morning opens with senior representatives from Uber, Bolt and Veezu. Emma O’Dwyer, Director of Public Policy at Uber, Andrew Wescott of Veezu, and Kimberly Hurd, Senior General Manager for the UK and Ireland at Bolt, will appear alongside Mark Robinson, the owner and director of Vokes Taxis Limited. This panel sets out a direct opportunity for MPs to question the three biggest operators on issues shaping the sector.

MPs are expected to probe cross-border working, how large operators manage driver compliance, and whether existing rules give councils the ability to enforce standards effectively. The growth of national platforms and their impact on smaller operators remains a central concern for many industry figures. The committee is also likely to explore data sharing between companies and licensing authorities, price setting, and the effect of surge pricing on public confidence.

The safety of passengers and drivers is another area due for detailed examination. Questions are anticipated around background checks, how operators monitor complaints, and how safeguarding concerns are reported to councils. MPs are seeking clarity on what improvements the largest firms believe are necessary to make licensing more consistent and to support enforcement teams.

From 10.15am the committee moves to a second panel focused on safety, accessibility and local authority responsibilities. Emma Vogelmann of Transport for All will outline the concerns of disabled passengers and raise the issue of inconsistent accessibility standards across licensing areas. James Button, a leading licensing lawyer, will give a professional legal view on current legislation and where gaps exist.

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Saskia Garner from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust is expected to highlight risks faced by both passengers and drivers, including lone working and personal safety. Councillor Arooj Shah from the Local Government Association will offer insight into the pressures on councils, including funding constraints, variation in policy between regions and the challenge of overseeing operators working across multiple boundaries.

This latest session follows initial evidence heard earlier this month, which set out the scale of the regulatory challenges and the need to modernise the system. MPs are now moving into a phase where they will question operators directly on how they meet their responsibilities and what changes they believe would support a fair and workable licensing framework.

The meeting is open to the public and will also be available to watch online.