Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 January 2026 · HC 1224

Letter from the Minister for Local Transport, Department for Transport relating to taxis and private hire vehicles licenses, dated 11 December 2025

Inquiry: Licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles

Summary

The Transport Committee writes to the Minister for Local Transport seeking clarification on the Government's plan to legislate for national minimum standards on taxi and private hire vehicle licences via amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The Committee, conducting its own inquiry into PHV licensing, requests details on the scope and timeline of planned consultation, specific reform options under consideration (including reducing licensing authorities from 263 to 70), which standards areas will be covered, retrospective application mechanics, and rationale for introducing provisions as amendment rather than in the original Bill.

Key findings

Government proposes to legislate national minimum standards for taxi and PHV licences through amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, with Secretary of State able to prescribe standards across drivers, vehicles, and operators.
Government considering wider reform to reduce licensing authorities from 263 to 70 and plans 'shortly' to consult on making local transport authorities responsible for taxi and PHV regulation.
Proposed standards could cover suitability requirements, training, vehicle condition, and operator responsibilities, with potential for retrospective application.
Committee seeking clarity on consultation scope, timing, and form; which aspects may attract controversy; and why amendment approach was chosen over inclusion in original Bill.
Government's delegated powers memorandum indicates affirmative procedure for initial regulations (in case controversial issues arise), then negative procedure for subsequent amendments.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

transport-regulationlocal-governmentlicensingtaxis-and-phv

Key actors

Ruth Cadbury MP, Lilian Greenwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed OBE MP, Transport Committee

Notable line

“… the Government will "consult shortly on making local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicles ." We would welcome a …”

Key Quotes

“… consult shortly on making local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicles”
— Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government · Government's stated approach to regulatory responsibility

“… the Committee has gathered extensive written and oral evidence on the question of national standards, including a wide range of views on what form those standards could practically take”
— Ruth Cadbury MP · Transport Committee's inquiry work to date

“The Government considers that the regulations should be subject to the affirmative procedure when the power is first exercised in case controversial issues arise initially and then be subject to the negative procedure when subsequently exercised”
— Government (Delegated Powers Memorandum) · rationale for procedural approach to regulations

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗