MP questions whether more support to make taxis affordable for disabled passengers could be provided
- Perry Richardson
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
A question raised by a Member of Parliament has highlighted concerns over the affordability of taxis for disabled passengers.
Seamus Logan, Scottish National Party MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether action would be taken to help make taxi travel more affordable for disabled people. The question reflects a wider issue for those reliant on taxis, especially where public transport options are limited.
In response, Department for Transport Minister Simon Lightwood clarified that taxi and private hire licensing is a devolved matter in Scotland. He added that while licensing authorities in England can set maximum fares for taxi journeys, fares for private hire vehicles are set by individual operators. Passengers booking these services in advance have the option to compare prices and service levels.
The Minister acknowledged that disabled passengers are more dependent on taxi and private hire services, making them more exposed to rising fares. He urged licensing authorities in England to follow best practice guidance aimed at improving accessibility, availability and affordability of these services.
Current legislation under the Equality Act 2010 prohibits operators and drivers from charging disabled passengers extra for their journey or any assistance they are legally required to provide. This includes wheelchair users and those with assistance dogs.
Local authorities in England also have the option to offer alternatives to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme. In some cases, eligible passengers may surrender their free bus pass in exchange for travel tokens or other concessions, such as discounted rail travel or subsidised taxi use.
Lightwood said: “General policy on taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing is devolved in Scotland (where PHVs are known as private hire cars), Wales and Northern Ireland. In England, licensing authorities can set maximum taxi fares for journeys within their area to protect passengers hailing taxis in the street or at a rank where passengers have little choice over which vehicle they hire. The setting of fares by private hire vehicle operators is a commercial matter for the company in question; as such services must be pre-booked passengers can shop around, comparing factors such as price, reliability and availability.
“Disabled people are particularly reliant on taxi and PHV services and, thus, can be especially sensitive to high fares. We encourage licensing authorities to use the government’s Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing best practice guidance for licensing authorities in England which emphasises the importance of licensing authorities continuing to improve the inclusivity of the taxi and PHV services they regulate to ensure services in their area are safe, available, affordable and accessible.
“The Equality Act 2010 is however clear that operators and drivers cannot charge disabled people, including wheelchair users and assistance dog owners, more for their carriage or for providing assistance required by law.
“Local authorities in England can also choose to provide an additional scheme to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), whereby a person eligible for free bus travel under the ENCTS, may agree with the local authority to surrender their pass in return for alternative travel concessions, such as travel tokens (which may be used on taxi and PHV services) or a railcard.”
