Licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles

Status / emerging findings

• 270+ licensing authorities operate under ~230 different rulebooks, creating a 'postcode lottery' where drivers refused licences in one area shop for licences elsewhere—Suzy Lamplugh Trust found 90+ active taxi licences held by drivers with violent/sexual convictions across just 28 authorities
• Wolverhampton licenses 96% of out-of-area drivers at fees 60% below national average (£69 vs £255), creating what unions call a 'licence factory' that undercuts other authorities and enables regulatory arbitrage
• All major digital operators (Bolt, Uber) support national minimum standards; traditional operators (Vokes Taxis) oppose them, citing enforcement costs and preference for restored local control
• Government confirmed national minimum standards will be introduced first (safeguarding, DBS checks, English language, accessibility training), with potential movement toward absolute standards later; comprehensive legislative reform acknowledged as needed
• NR3S national database exists but is underutilised—authorities cannot enforce against out-of-borough licences and lack full conviction information due to DBS filtering

Why it matters

Millions of passengers use taxis weekly with minimal assurance they're vetted to the same standard; the current system lets drivers convicted of sexual assault operate legally in some areas, while oversaturation is pushing drivers into poverty—reform affects public safety, worker rights, and competition fairness.

Tone arc

Started procedural (drivers' earnings crisis, outdated 1976 legislation) and shifted to safety-focused after Suzy Lamplugh Trust evidence revealed 90+ drivers with violent convictions still licensed; by final session, became outcome-oriented with government laying out interim national standards before full legislative reform.

Key witnesses

Lilian Greenwood MP (Minister for Local Transport), Liz Wilson (Deputy Director, Department for Transport), Helen Chapman (Transport for London), David Pattison (Wolverhampton City Council licensing), Saskia Garner (Suzy Lamplugh Trust), Emma O'Dwyer (Bolt), Andrew Wescott (Uber), David Lawrie (Unite union)