London taxi and private hire licence delays left to TfL as Transport minister rules out intervention
- Perry Richardson
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Ongoing delays in the processing of taxi and private hire driver licences in London have been formally raised in Parliament, with ministers making clear they will not step in to intervene in Transport for London’s (TfL) licensing operations.
The issue was put to the Department for Transport (DfT) by Will Foster, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on immigration and asylum, who asked whether the department had assessed the impact of the average time taken by Transport for London to process and issue private hire vehicle driver licences.
Drivers and operators across London have repeatedly reported extended waiting times for new and renewed licences, with some unable to work for months while applications remain under review. Industry representatives say the delays are affecting driver supply, income stability and service availability across the capital.
Responding on behalf of the Government, Lilian Greenwood, minister at Department for Transport, said responsibility for licensing sat firmly with local authorities rather than central government.
Government says licensing times are a matter for Transport for London, despite mounting concerns from drivers over prolonged waits
“The Department for Transport is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which local licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades but ultimately the licensing process is left at the discretion of local authorities,” Greenwood said.
She added that while the department maintains engagement with the capital’s transport authority, operational decisions remain outside ministerial control. “We work closely with Transport for London on a range of issues but the operation of private hire driver licensing is a matter solely for them and it would not be appropriate for ministers to comment or intervene,” she said.
The statement confirms that no formal assessment has been made by the DfT into the policy implications of TfL’s average licensing times, despite growing concern from drivers who say administrative backlogs are preventing them from earning.
TfL has upped staffing levels to clear the backlog of applications and renewals. However, drivers argue that the lack of clear timelines and limited communication has compounded frustration across both the taxi and private hire sectors.
