GOVERNMENT NEWS GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS PLANS


FOR TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE BILL


The Government has reaffirmed its intention to introduce a draft Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) Bill, with improved accessibility for disabled passengers identified as a key objective. In a written Parliamentary answer published on 7 September 2026, Transport Minister, Simon Light- wood, confirmed the DfT is continuing to consider how taxi and PHV regulation should be reformed, and that a draft Bill would be brought forward for pre- legislative scrutiny.


The Minister highlighted the importance of taxis and PHVs to disabled people, especially in rural or coastal areas where alternative public transport may be limited. The proposed legislation is expected to include measures for delivering more accessible services for disabled passengers, strength- ening existing protections and removing barriers to travel. The announcement provides further confirmation of the Government’s plans to reform the taxi and PHV regulatory framework,


although the detailed provisions of the Bill have yet to be published. Accessibility is likely to be a significant element of the reforms. Existing legal protections already require taxi and PHV drivers to provide certain forms of assistance to disabled passengers and prohibit additional charges for that assistance. However, concerns remain about the availability of accessible vehicles and the consistency of accessibility standards across the sector.


WARNING TO ALL PH OPERATORS! NEW RIGHT TO WORK ENFORCEMENT DUTIES FROM 1 OCT 2026


New right to work requirements for private hire drivers came into force on 1 October 2026, placing a statutory duty on operators to verify a driver’s immigration status before allowing them to work. The change, confirmed in a recent parliamentary written question and highlighted in sector briefings, represents a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for taxi and private hire licensing. The Home Office said the expanded Right to Work Scheme will apply to “organisations engaging people to provide work or services under their company name”, explicitly including private hire operators. Ministers noted that relying solely on council licensing checks


has not provided


sufficiently clear accountability when illegal working is identified, particularly in cases involving platform-based or intermediary


26


business models. Enforcement teams have


repeatedly found


responsibility for preventing illegal working was unclear once drivers began working through operators. Licensing authorities will continue to carry out right-to-work checks as part of the badge-issuing process, but operators will now be required to complete their own verification before engaging a driver. The new duty is intended to create a shared compliance framework, ensuring both licensing authorities and operators hold responsibility if illegal working is later detected. The Home Office confirmed it will monitor the impact of the change and publish further assessments as the scheme is implemented. Sector sources, have warned that operators who fail to meet the new duty could face severe civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker for repeat breaches


(£45,000 for a first breach). The requirement applies to all PH operators, including large national platforms, which the Home Office identified as presenting particular challenges under the previous system. The change forms part of wider employment reforms being introduced throughout 2026. Government guidance


for


employers emphasises the need to update internal processes ahead of statutory changes, including right to work compliance. For PH operators, this includes l revising onboarding procedures l ensuring staff understand acceptable documentation and


l keeping clear records demon- strating compliance


Licensing authorities are expected to issue updated guidance to operators in the coming weeks to support consistent implement- ation across local areas.


OCTOBER 2026 PHTM


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