Minister confirms Government and TfL dialogue on taxi licensing and Mayor’s new ‘Action Plan’
Transport for London’s (TfL) revised Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan has sparked Parliamentary attention, with Shadow Minister Louie French questioning the Department for Transport (DfT) about its engagement with the initiative.
French sought clarity on whether discussions had taken place between the DfT and TfL concerning the potential impact of the revised plan on national policies.
In response, Simon Lightwood, DfT Minister, confirmed that while the DfT establishes the overall regulatory framework for taxi and private hire licensing across England’s licensing authorities, TfL independently oversees London’s licensing decisions. Lightwood noted that the DfT maintains dialogue with TfL on a range of licensing issues.
The Mayor’s Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan, which is set to be announced in the new year, is TfL’s blueprint for modernising the capital’s taxi and private hire services. It aims to focus on stopping the decline in taxi drivers and safeguard the future of the fully accessible public transport service within the capital.
It is hoped that this dialogue between TfL and the DfT highlights a level of discussion and balance between local autonomy and national oversight in shaping the future of the industry.
Lightwood said: “The Government sets the regulatory structure within which 263 licensing authorities in England licence the taxi and private hire vehicle sector and issues guidance to assist them in doing this. Transport for London (TfL) are the licensing authority for London and the Department discusses a range of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing matters with them.”
