Department for Transport written question – answered at on 14 February 2022.
Wera Hobhouse
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Justice), Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Women and Equalities)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to support taxi companies who have driver shortages.
Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which local licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades. The primary function of licensing authorities is to ensure taxi and private hire vehicle services are safe; as regulators they should also consider the regulatory burden on the sector.
The Government is aware of concerns over driver shortages in the sector and that some requirements set by licensing authorities to obtain a licence are perceived to be acting as a barrier to entry. The Government has already set out the high standards it expects the sector to meet to safeguard passengers. The Government supports the proportionate regulation of the sector and will shortly be consulting on guidance to licensing authorities on how they might best achieve that while maintaining high standards in safety and accessibility. The Majority of the sector is self-employed where drivers work with a particular company it is for that company to decide how best to recruit and retain drivers
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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