House of Commons urged to intervene as TfL private hire licensing delays reach 18 months according to MP
- Perry Richardson
- 53 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Lengthy delays in the issuing of private hire vehicle licences by Transport for London were raised in the House of Commons this week, with MPs warning that waits of up to 18 months are leaving drivers without income and facing uncertainty.
Speaking during Commons business on 5 February, Tan Dhesi said constituents had repeatedly complained about slow processing times and a lack of clear communication from Transport for London.
“Many of my constituents face lengthy delays in securing their Transport for London private hire licences, with some complaining about delays of up to 18 months and unclear communication. Many of their concerns are simply being ignored,” Dhesi told the House of Commons.
He said the impact was not limited to administrative inconvenience, adding: “As the Leader of the House will be aware, our private hire drivers rely on those licences for their household livelihoods, helping to put food on the table and to pay their Bills.”
MPs warn prolonged processing times are hitting driver livelihoods as ministers are pressed to engage with Transport for London
Dhesi asked whether the issue could be raised directly with ministers and whether additional resources could be allocated to address what he described as “unacceptable delays”, urging government engagement with TfL.
Responding on behalf of the Government, Alan Campbell, Leader of the House of Commons, acknowledged the concerns and said the matter would be escalated.
“I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important point. I agree that these are important matters for drivers themselves and for their families’ wellbeing, and taxi drivers also provide a very important service to our constituents, so these matters need to be resolved,” Campbell said.
He added: “I will draw this issue to the attention of the relevant Minister and get my hon. Friend an update on what can be done to resolve the situation.”
The exchange follows growing pressure from drivers and trade bodies over licensing backlogs in London, where private hire drivers cannot legally work without a valid TfL licence. Industry representatives have previously warned that delays can push drivers into financial hardship and increase churn in the workforce.
TfL has introduced a Goodwill Payment Scheme for existing taxi and private-hire drivers who were hit by prolonged licence processing delays, recognising operational disruption linked to a combination of factors including the rollout of new licence processing software and the after-effects of a cyber security incident that disrupted systems and contributed to backlogs.
Under the scheme, eligible drivers will receive a one-off payment equal to a refund of both their Application Fee and Grant of Licence Fee - £300 for taxi drivers and £310 for private hire vehicle drivers. Where a driver experienced a period of more than seven days without a valid licence, TfL will instead issue a payment of £500. These payments are intended as a gesture of goodwill and will be issued automatically by cheque to drivers whose licences were renewed between 1 September 2024 and 31 December 2025, provided they completed all mandatory assessments before their previous licence expired.
TfL’s official notices outline that the delays stemmed in part from the introduction of the new processing system and the need to recover from an earlier cyber attack, which together slowed renewals and meant some drivers were temporarily unable to work while applications were processed. TfL said it took steps to mitigate impact during the disruption, including recruiting extra licensing staff, prioritising renewals, and issuing short-term licences where appropriate.
Industry reaction has been mixed. While some unions have welcomed the acknowledgement of the problem, other representative bodies have rejected the £500 offer as ‘inadequate’, arguing it does not reflect the scale of lost earnings and broader financial harm drivers faced during lengthy waits.
