PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
VALUING SAFE AND SECURE TAXIS (5 June 2019)

That this House values the role that taxis play in providing safe and secure publicly hired transport to a high standard; is concerned that this is being undermined by less regulated Privately Hired Vehicles (PHVs), not licensed to ply for hire; believes that the problem is exacerbated by the fact that legislation covering taxis and PHVs is outdated, has not kept pace with technology and has led to poor regulation of taxi and private hire apps; is further concerned that this has enabled PHVs to make themselves available for hire in ways which may have previously been considered unlawful; notes recent High Court judgments confirm this and a need for statutory clarification; also notes the view of the Government-appointed Task and Finish Group that as the law stands such plying for hire by PHVs is difficult to prove, requires significant enforcement resources and that technological advancement has blurred the distinction between taxi and PHV Licensing; welcomes the Taskforce's recommendation that the law needs to be modernised with a new statutory definition of plying for hire; also welcomes this is the view of Transport for London, the UK's largest taxi and PHV licensing authority, whose duty is to ensure the comparative roles of taxis and PHVs do not become blurred; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals at the earliest opportunity, to provide for the fullest possible public confidence in a safe and viable Hackney Carriage licensing regime.

Sponsored by:
Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated)