Majority of councils now require English tests for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers, says transport minister
- Perry Richardson
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that most licensing authorities in England now require English language testing for taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers.
In a written response to a Parliamentary question from Independent MP Rupert Lowe, the Department stated that, as of April 2024, 81% of authorities required licensed taxi drivers to meet a minimum English proficiency standard. The figure for PHV drivers stood slightly higher at 82%.
The requirement typically includes either written, oral or both forms of language assessment. This is part of statutory guidance issued under the Policing and Crime Act 2017, designed to ensure drivers can understand safeguarding policies and recognise signs of potential exploitation, particularly involving children and vulnerable adults.
However, the Department also confirmed that it does not collect information on whether licensing authorities conduct in-person interviews for driver applicants.
The Government is currently reviewing compliance with the statutory guidance and has said it will act against authorities that do not meet the standards.
Lightwood said: “The Policing and Crime Act 2017 enables the Secretary of State for Transport to issue statutory guidance to licensing authorities on exercising their taxi and private hire vehicle licensing functions to protect children and vulnerable adults. Statutory guidance was published in 2020 under these powers. This statutory guidance includes a recommendation that a licensing authority’s test of a driver’s English language proficiency should cover both oral and written English language skills to ensure that drivers have the ability to understand written documents, such as policies and guidance, relating to the protection of children and vulnerable adults and can identify and act on the signs of potential exploitation.
“As of 1 April 2024, 81% of licensing authorities in England reported that they require the taxi drivers that they license to meet a minimum standard of proficiency for either written, oral or both written and oral English language. As of 1 April 2024, 82% of licensing authorities in England reported that they require the private hire vehicle drivers that they license to meet a minimum standard of proficiency for either written, oral or both written and oral English language. We are currently reviewing licensing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance and will hold those who do not follow it to account.
“The Department does not hold any information about whether licensing authorities conduct in-person interviews for applicants for taxi or private hire vehicle driver licences.”
