TfL set to face City Hall questions around new Uber autonomous trials and much criticised Taxi and PHV Action Plan
- Perry Richardson
- Jun 17
- 2 min read
Transport for London (TfL) will be questioned by the London Assembly Transport Committee following a steep drop in the number of licensed taxis and a consolidation of private hire services under fewer large operators.
The number of black cabs in the capital has fallen by 35 per cent over the last decade, from 22,810 in 2013-14 to just 14,800 in 2023-24. The number of private hire operators has also dropped by more than 40 per cent in the same period, with just 1,740 now licensed.
Driver groups and unions have linked this shift to increased operational costs, ongoing challenges with The Knowledge, and the growing dominance of app-based services like Uber. Concerns have also been raised over employment conditions and passenger safety, particularly around the use of algorithms to control fares and driver allocation.
TfL’s latest Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan 2025, released in March, includes 14 action points. These cover areas such as driver recruitment, safety improvements, and environmental targets. However, the Plan has been criticised for failing to fully address long-standing issues around working conditions, cross-border hiring, and costs.
The Plan pledges to halt the decline of the taxi trade and update The Knowledge to make it more accessible. It also commits to supporting driver welfare and calling for government intervention on VAT exemptions and cross-border licensing.
At today’s meeting, Committee Members will ask TfL how it plans to deliver the Plan and whether it addresses the concerns raised by drivers. They will also explore the implications of Uber’s upcoming trial of driverless vehicles in London.
TfL representatives due to appear include Helen Chapman, Director of Licensing, Regulation and Charging; Christina Calderato, Director of Transport Strategy and Policy; and Nick Dent, Director of Customer Operations.
The meeting will be held at City Hall at 10am.
