Government confirms draft taxi and private hire vehicle bill will target disabled passenger access

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The Government has confirmed that planned reforms to taxi and private hire vehicle regulation will include measures intended to improve services for disabled passengers.

Simon Lightwood, minister at Department for Transport , said ministers would bring forward a draft taxi and PHV bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.

The confirmation came in response to a parliamentary question from Plaid Cymru MP Ben Lake, who asked what action the Department for Transport was taking to improve accessible transport in rural and coastal communities.

Lightwood said: “We recognise that taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) provide a vital door-to-door service for disabled people, including in rural and coastal communities where other transport options may be limited.”

He added: “The Department is continuing to consider, holistically, how the regulation of taxis and PHVs could be reformed. We will be bringing forward a draft taxi and PHV bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.”

The proposed legislation will set out how the Government intends to deliver more accessible taxi and private hire services. Lightwood said this would be achieved by “strengthening existing protections and removing barriers to travel”.

No publication date for the draft bill was provided in the parliamentary response.

Accessibility remains a significant operational issue across the sector. Taxi and PHV services can be particularly important in areas with limited bus and rail provision, while disabled passengers may depend on door-to-door transport for medical appointments, employment and essential journeys.

Existing legal protections include duties applying to drivers and operators when carrying disabled passengers, including requirements relating to assistance dogs and designated wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The forthcoming bill could expand or strengthen that framework, although the Government has not yet specified which provisions it intends to change.

Pre-legislative scrutiny will allow parliamentarians and interested parties to examine the draft measures before a formal bill is introduced. The process is likely to attract close attention from disability organisations, taxi and PHV representatives, licensing authorities and technology-led booking platforms.

The Government’s wider accessible transport programme also includes measures covering buses and rail services. However, the proposed taxi and PHV legislation could have particular significance for rural and coastal communities, where licensed vehicles frequently fill gaps left by limited fixed-route public transport.