TAXI & PRIVATE HIRE STANDARDS


Is the patchwork system of licensing causing confusion or harm?


l Think about how wildly different the rules are from one borough to another


l Should we have national standards to level the playing field?


Q: What would be the practical implications for LAs and operators of more stringent or standardised licensing conditions in respect of safety, accessi- bility, vehicles and driver conduct?


What would national standards mean for you?


l More consistent rules, but potentially stricter requirements


l Think of safety checks, driver conduct, vehicle specs


Q: What steps should the Government take to address the challenges posed by cross-border licensing?


How should cross-border working be controlled?


l A major concern for local operators. l Should out-of-town drivers be allowed to accept work without restrictions?


Q: What would effective reform look like in terms of enforcement, passenger safety and safeguarding, and regulatory consistency? Is there a role for regional transport authorities?


What would real enforcement reform look like?


l Should any officer from any council be able to enforce the rules, regardless of where a driver is licensed?


Q: How are ride-hailing platforms impacting standards and is further regulation in this area required?


Are digital ride-hailing apps playing by the rules? l Uber, Bolt, etc. - should they face tighter oversight?


Q: How effective, accessible, and trusted are complaints and incident reporting systems in the taxi and PHV sector, for passengers and drivers?


Do complaints systems work - for both drivers and passengers?


l Are you being falsely accused?


Q: How effective is the National Register of Licence Revocations and Refusals in supporting consistent licensing decisions across LAs? What barriers, if any, are limiting its use or impact?


Is the national database (NR3S) working?


l Are problem drivers slipping through the cracks? l Are councils actually using it?


Q: What are the implications for taxi/PHV licensing of the future rollout of autonomous vehicles?


What happens when driverless vehicles enter the picture?


lWill you be replaced? l What does licensing look like when there’s no driver?


SUGGESTED POINTS YOU MIGHT INCLUDE:


If you need help writing or structuring your response, NPHTA is happy to assist - just let us know the points you’d like to make, and we can help you draft it.


l Enforce section 75(1)(a): Stop out-of-area PHVs from immediately accepting new bookings until they are back within their licensed district.


l National “intended use” policy rolled out to all licence types: All councils should adopt it.


l Remove outdated vehicle requirements, such as first aid kits and fire extinguishers.


l Age limits on vehicles should be realistic, not arbitrary.


l Training (e.g. safeguarding) should be proportionate - not endless repetitive courses for experienced drivers.


l Wheelchair training only for WAV drivers.


WHY YOU SHOULD RESPOND: This is an urgent plea to all members of our trade - if you have time to comment on Facebook, you have time to respond to the consultation.


This consultation could lead to major changes in the way in which the taxi and private hire industry is regulated across England - changes that could directly affect every stakeholder in the sector: drivers, operators, passengers and licensing authorities alike.


This is your livelihood, your safety and your future. Don’t let others shape it without your input.


Click the link below to submit your response by 11.59pm on 8 September 2025


NB: This must be uploaded as a single file (word, ODT or RTF) under 25mb and with no logos.


https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/3715 PHTM AUGUST 2025 7


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