WAITING GAME: Government unable to confirm timeline for national taxi standards rollout
- Perry Richardson
- 35 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The UK Government has not set a firm timetable for introducing national taxi and private hire vehicle standards across England, according to a response from transport minister Lilian Greenwood.
In a written parliamentary answer, Greenwood confirmed that the Government intends to establish national standards once powers are secured through the proposed English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which is currently being considered by the House of Lords.
The response came after Shaun Davies asked the Department for Transport what timetable had been set for implementing national taxi standards across England.
Greenwood indicated that the Government’s immediate priority is passing the legislation, which would allow ministers to introduce mandatory licensing requirements through secondary regulations.
Transport minister says new powers could be used quickly if legislation passes, but warns time will be needed to develop the first mandatory framework.
“The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, currently being considered by the House of Lords, seeks to provide a power for the Secretary of State to set in regulations requirements that must be met for any taxi or private hire vehicle licence to be issued and held,” Greenwood said.
While no specific rollout schedule has been published, Greenwood said the Government intends to act soon after the legislation receives approval. She stated: “If passed, we are committed to using the powers to set the standards as quickly as possible.”
However, she cautioned that the development of the national framework will take time, given that mandatory licensing standards for taxis and private hire vehicles have never previously been implemented across England.
“As this will be the first time that mandatory standards in taxi and private hire vehicle licensing have been set, it is vital that sufficient time is taken to get them right to provide certainty and stability for passengers and the trades,” Greenwood added.
Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing in England is currently overseen by local authorities, each setting their own conditions on driver vetting, vehicle standards and operational rules. The Government’s proposal would introduce a national baseline that licensing authorities must apply when issuing and maintaining licences.
The legislative process means any concrete timeline for implementation is likely to depend on the bill’s progress through Parliament and the subsequent regulatory consultation needed to determine what the national standards will include.
For the taxi and private hire sector, the response signals that change is coming but not imminent, with the timeline tied closely to the passage of the devolution bill and the policy work that would follow.
