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Written question asked by Greg Smith (Conservative) on Thursday, 14 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 May 2026. It was answered by Lilian Greenwood (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Taxis: Greater London

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Transport for London on delays arising from the introduction of new licensing software in 2025; what assessment she has made of the impact of the 2024 cyber incident on taxi and private hire licence processing times; how many drivers have received payments under Transport for London’s Goodwill Payment Scheme in 2026; and what the total value of payments made under that scheme has been.

Answer

The Department for Transport is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which local licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades but ultimately the licensing process is left at the discretion of local authorities. We work closely with Transport for London on a range of issues but the operation of private hire driver licensing is a matter solely for them.

The Department does not collect data on the processing times of licence applications but expects authorities to administer the system efficiently, including the processing of all applications when they have the necessary information.

The Department’s best practice guidance to licensing authorities in England makes clear that taxi and private hire vehicle licensing is a statutory function, and it is important for authorities to consider how best to deliver this service in a timely and efficient manner.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
1269
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Licensing Greater London Taxis
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk