Questions to the Mayor of London – answered at on 17 December 2020.
Please list the number of meetings held between the Deputy Mayor for Business and the taxi trade since lockdown began in March 2020, the subject of those meetings, and the outcomes of those meetings.
Deputy Mayor for Transport Heidi Alexander is the member of my team who is responsible for engaging with stakeholders representing taxi and private hire drivers alongside TfL. In addition to the frequent conference calls TfL has held with the industry since the pandemic, Heidi met with the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) on 5 June regarding the Streetspace Programme. Heidi most recently met with taxi stakeholders, including the London Cab Drivers Club (LCDC), United Cabbies Group (UCG), RMT Taxi Branch, Unite and the LTDA, on 15 December.
TfL and I recognise the difficulties faced by both taxi and private hire drivers. This is why I have written to the Treasury to ask for the provision of targeted financial support and in the coming weeks TfL will be distributing 1.5 million face masks and 30,000 bottles of hand sanitiser for drivers.