INQUIRY FINDINGS: Taxi drivers left unable to work as Transport Select Committee MPs demand action on licensing delays
- Perry Richardson
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
Taxi and private hire drivers are being left unable to work because of lengthy licensing delays, prompting MPs to call for national performance targets and greater accountability from licensing authorities.
A new Transport Committee report warns that prolonged waits for licence applications and renewals are creating financial hardship for drivers while also fuelling the growth of licence shopping, where drivers seek licences from authorities perceived to be faster and more efficient.
The issue emerged during the committee’s inquiry into taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, with industry representatives highlighting significant differences in processing times between authorities. Andy Mahoney MBE, representing the Licensed Private Hire Car Association, told MPs that some councils were taking far too long to complete licensing work.
Mahoney said “some licensing departments can take up to 15 weeks to process a licence”, adding that such delays were “far too long” for drivers whose livelihoods depend on being able to work legally.
The committee also received evidence showing that licensing backlogs can leave fully compliant drivers unable to earn an income while waiting for renewals to be completed. A survey highlighted to MPs by committee member Baggy Shanker found that drivers can lose their livelihoods through no fault of their own when renewal applications are delayed.
MPs concluded that slow licensing processes are becoming a major factor behind licence shopping. Drivers who face lengthy waits in one area may instead choose to licence with authorities that can process applications more quickly, even if they operate elsewhere.
Transport for London (TfL) gave evidence on the challenges surrounding licensing administration. Helen Chapman, TfL’s Director of Licensing and Regulation, told MPs that the capital’s licensing operation had experienced difficulties following a cyber security incident and the introduction of a new licensing software platform. She said considerable resources had been committed to improving the situation, although delays can still occur when additional information is required from applicants.
The committee said the consequences of licensing delays extend beyond just inconvenience. In its conclusions, MPs stated: “Prolonged application and renewal delays create strong incentives for licence shopping. More acutely, they have a huge impact on the livelihoods of drivers.”
To tackle the issue, MPs are recommending the introduction of national standards covering licensing performance. Under the proposal, authorities would be required to meet a clear benchmark for processing applications, renewals and licence variations. They would also have to publish their performance against those benchmarks in a standardised format.
The committee believes this would create greater transparency across England’s fragmented licensing system and help identify authorities struggling with resources or outdated processes. It would also provide drivers with a clearer understanding of how efficiently licensing services are being delivered in different areas.
MPs also cautioned ministers against assuming that structural reform alone will solve the problem. The Government is currently considering transferring licensing responsibilities from more than 260 licensing authorities to a smaller number of local transport authorities. However, the committee noted that London’s recent experience demonstrates that larger organisations can also face processing backlogs if the necessary operational systems and resources are not in place.
As a result, MPs have urged the Department for Transport to study the causes of licensing delays and identify the staffing, technology and operational requirements needed to ensure reliable processing times at larger strategic authorities.
The recommendations come ahead of the Government’s planned Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Bill, which ministers have said will include measures to improve licensing efficiency.
