Government reiterates taxi and PHV licensing reform plans as industry awaits action following damning 2025 Casey Report
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
The UK Government has reiterated its intention to overhaul taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing rules, in what is the latest parliamentary exchange on the issue as the industry continues to wait for firm action.
Responding to a written question from Reform’s Lee Anderson MP, Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood pointed to legislative and policy proposals already in motion following Baroness Casey’s National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
Greenwood said the Government had “committed to legislate to tackle the inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) driver licensing” as part of its response to the Casey audit, which identified safeguarding risks linked to fragmented local licensing systems.
As an initial step, she confirmed that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill includes provisions to introduce national oversight. “The Bill seeks a power for the Secretary of State to set national standards for taxi and PHV licensing,” she said, adding that it would also enable “the suspension, with immediate effect, of any licence issued by any authority in whose area it is being used if such action is needed to protect public safety.”
Latest ministerial response signals intent but leaves timelines and implementation details unresolved
The response marks another indication of policy direction rather than delivery, with operators, drivers and licensing authorities still awaiting clarity on how and when reforms will be implemented. Concerns around inconsistent standards and cross-border working have been raised repeatedly across the sector, particularly following the publication of the Casey audit in June 2025.
Greenwood said that, if passed, the legislation would allow government “to set robust standards for licensing right across England” and give authorities “greater powers to keep vulnerable children and, indeed, all members of the public safe, wherever they live or travel.”
However, she also acknowledged that further work remains ongoing. “The Department continues to consider further options for reform, including out-of-area working and enforcement,” she said, highlighting one of the most contentious operational issues affecting both taxi and PHV markets.
In parallel, the Government is consulting on structural changes to licensing responsibilities. Greenwood confirmed that proposals are being considered to make all local transport authorities responsible for taxi and PHV licensing, stating that “administering licensing across larger areas would further increase consistency… and enable better resourced authorities to make better use of their current and proposed enforcement powers.”
The continued flow of parliamentary questions on the topic reflects sustained political and industry pressure for action, particularly around safeguarding, licensing consistency and the regulation of cross-border working. Until legislation is passed and secondary measures defined, many in the sector are likely to remain in a holding pattern.
Lilian Greenwood MP said: “The Government response to Baroness Casey’s National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse committed to legislate to tackle the inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) driver licensing. As a first step, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill seeks a power for the Secretary of State to set national standards for taxi and PHV licensing and to enable the suspension, with immediate effect, of any licence issued by any authority in whose area it is being used if such action is needed to protect public safety.
“If passed, this would enable government to set robust standards for licensing right across England and provide licensing authorities with greater powers to keep vulnerable children and, indeed, all members of the public safe, wherever they live or travel.
“The Department continues to consider further options for reform, including out-of-area working and enforcement. We need to ensure that taxis and PHVs are able to work in a way that facilitates the journeys passengers want and need to make, in a consistently safe way, whilst achieving the best overall outcomes for passenger safety.
“The Government is currently consulting on making all local transport authorities responsible for taxi and PHV licensing. Administering licensing across larger areas would further increase consistency in licensing and enable better resourced authorities to make better use of their current and proposed enforcement powers.”
