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£1 The official newspaper of the National Private Hire Association


RESOLVED: THAT THIS HOUSE HAS CONSIDERED THE FUTURE OF BLACK CABS IN LONDON


These are the con- cluding words at the bottom of a 19-page document setting out a debate that took place in Westminster Hall on Tuesday, 15 September 2015. Taking part in the debate were: Sir Edward Leigh (in the Chair); the Parliamen- tary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Andrew Jones; six Conservative MPs, four Labour MPs and one SNP Member. The debate was pro- posed by Zac Gold- smith (Con, Rich- mond Park).


The main topics of discussion included TfL and their current approach to licensing issues; the emer- gence of Uber and its effect on both sides of the trade in the capital; reducing the regulation of taxis and heightening that of PHVs; emissions issues; in other words, all the con- cerns voiced by the


trade over the last eighteen months. In response to the question as to how consumers might feel about the current taxi/minicab market in the capital in the face of changing technology, Sadiq Khan (Lab, Tooting) replied: “Consumers may think it is great to get cheap meat, until they realise it is horse meat; they may think it is great to get a cheap builder, until the house falls down; they may think PHVs are cheap but, as the Hon. Member for Rich- mond Park said, they want to feel safe... The key answers that we need are not plati- tudes; we need to know what Govern- ment and those who run TfL can do.” Towards the end of the debate the same Hon. Gentleman made this point to the Transport Minister: “He [the Minister] has heard that black cab


drivers are going out of business every week. He has heard that private hire firms are going out of busi- ness every week. He has confirmed that the legislation and regulations are ‘out- dated’ – made in the 19th century and not fit for purpose in the 21st century. Yet there is no sense of urgency from the Government...” The Minister replied: “...The Government took action by com- missioning this com- plicated work from the Law Commission. That work is currently being digested and the Government will respond shortly. I cannot provide a date for the response... the Government’s response to the Law Commission is still a work in progress.... TfL recently complet- ed its own con- sultation on the regu- lations that govern PHVs in the capital...


The proposed revi- sions to the regul- ations will be known later this year, and some of TfL’s propos- als may address concerns raised this morning.”


The Minister ended the debate: “The Government are fully aware of the changes affecting the taxi and PHV industry in Lon- don and elsewhere in the country. The challenges include not only new technol- ogy and increased competition, but the need to ensure that vehicles play their part in improving air quality....” The Government is now 16 months over- due with its response to the Law Commis- sion; their response to many letters from stakeholder groups all over the country is the same: “We’re working on it.”


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Oct2015


Issue277


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