WELSH GOVERNMENT TAXI Q&A: Support through the pandemic and measuring the future impact

The support provided to the taxi industry throughout the pandemic has varied significantly between the devolved nations. The Welsh response has been widely regarded as one of the most supportive throughout the UK, when compared to other regions.

TaxiPoint contacted the Welsh Government to gain more insight into how they have helped taxi drivers throughout the pandemic and what prompted the decisions to act. We also take a look at what lies ahead for the industry in Wales as we move out of the coronavirus restrictions into a new normality.

How has the Welsh Government monitored and evaluated the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the taxi industry in Wales? What have the key findings been?

“We’ve been in regular discussion with unions and the industry to establish what support has been needed over the course of the pandemic.

“The need to limit travel to save lives has obviously caused enormous financial pressures from the limited customer base, so a lot of focus has been placed on

how we can help alleviate that. There’s also been very understandable safety concerns and we’ve been looking at how we can best address these, which led to our free PPE scheme.”

What role has the taxi industry played in communities across Wales since the pandemic began?

“Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers are an essential part of our transport network and this has been particularly true during the pandemic. Drivers have supported essential travel and provided a valuable service to their communities, such as undertaking deliveries of food, and transporting patients to vaccination appointments. We remain hugely grateful for their work.”

How and why has the Welsh Government actively provided further support?

“In addition to the funding provided by the UK Government, self-employed drivers have been able to apply to the four rounds of our discretionary grants and we’ve supported businesses through non-domestic relief.

“In terms of wider support, last month we launched a scheme to provide free PPE to drivers. We know everyone wants to make vehicles safe, clean and hygienic and this was a way of making it easier. We worked closely with the WLGA and Lyreco – which distributes the packs – to deliver this scheme.

“Advice and guidance for drivers is available on our website and we encourage people to have a look through if they feel it’d be helpful.”

What measures are currently in place to monitor the ongoing impact and what would you say directly to taxi drivers about the future of their industry in the short and longer term?

“We meet regularly with the unions and the industry as we seek to ensure policy is strongly informed by the situation on the ground.

“We know this has been a difficult time for so many people, both personally and professionally, and we want people to be able to travel freely again as soon as it is safe to do so.

“The public health situation has been improving thanks to everyone’s hard work but we still need people to limit travel to bring down levels of the virus further. Our decisions will always be guided by the latest public evidence but we hope that in the coming months the process of lifting restrictions can accelerate and drivers will see their business pick up.

“Taxi and PHV regulation has been devolved to Welsh Government and we plan to legislate in the early part of the next Senedd to bring the licensing regime up to date and ensure it remains fit for purpose. As part of this process, extensive engagement will take place with the taxi and PHV industry representatives and unions in order to shape the proposals.”