Assistance dogs play a crucial role in enabling their owners to live independently, safely and with dignity, and it is right that the penalties for refusing their carriage in a taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) reflect this.

Taxi and PHV drivers convicted of illegally refusing the carriage of assistance dogs already face fines of up to £1,000 in addition to costs, and may also have their license suspended or revoked by the respective local licensing authority.

We know however that assistance dog owners still face discrimination when using taxi and PHV services, and plan to investigate why this happens, and what Government and other bodies can do to prevent such unacceptable behaviour.

It is illegal for drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) to refuse the carriage of an assistance dog or to charge their owner extra.

Responsibility for investigating and, where appropriate, prosecuting drivers alleged to have refused an assistance dog illegally rests with local licensing authorities, and we encourage them to take effective action to eliminate such unacceptable behaviour.

We do not currently collect statistics on refusal incidents on board local public transport services.

Sections 68 and 70 of the Equality Act 2010 confirm the right of assistance dog owners to travel by taxi or private hire vehicle free from the fear of discrimination.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Taxis) (Carrying of Guide Dogs etc) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Private Hire Vehicles) (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003 specify the form of exemption notices displayed by taxsi and private hire vehicle drivers who are medically unfit to fulfil the related duties.

I understand that it can be difficult for visually impaired people to identify genuine exemption notices presented to them, and officials have discussed with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association alternative options, including the provision by licensing authorities of an additional non-statutory notice in Braille and large print.

We currently have no plans to amend Regulations.

Taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services must be accessible to those who rely upon them, and disability awareness training can be effective in equipping drivers with the skills and knowledge to provide all passengers with the assistance they require. The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on the draft Accessibility Action Plan which will inform the updated Best Practice Guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities. It is the Department’s expectation that the guidance will include a recommendation that authorities should use their existing powers to require prospective drivers to complete disability awareness and equality training.

There are however no existing powers to give this guidance statutory status.

I announced in a Westminster Hall debate that I would be setting up a working group to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing. That group will report its findings to me in the new year.

Local licensing authorities can already require the installation of CCTV in all taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) and a number already do so. The Department for Transport has, however, considered the potential benefits to passengers and drivers of CCTV, with and without audio recording, to inform the Statutory Guidance for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities that will be consulted on in the New Year.

My Right Honourable Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, announced in a Westminster Hall debate that he would be setting up a working group to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing like this one. It will be reporting its findings in the new year, informing the consultation on Statutory Guidance.

Taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services must be accessible to those who rely upon them, and disability awareness training can be effective in equipping drivers with the skills and knowledge to provide all passengers with the assistance they require. The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on the draft Accessibility Action Plan which will inform the updated Best Practice Guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities.

It is the Department’s expectation that the guidance will include a recommendation that authorities should use their existing powers to require prospective drivers to complete disability awareness and equality training. There are however no existing powers to give this guidance statutory status.

In addition, my Right Honourable Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, announced in a Westminster Hall debate that he would be setting up a working group to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing such as this and it will be reporting its findings in the New Year.

The Department for Transport does not hold data in a form that enables an estimation of the use of private hire vehicles by the individual groups identified.

The Department for Transport does not hold data in a form that enables an estimation of the use of private hire vehicles by the individual groups identified.

My hon. Friend is right that that matters to taxi drivers. A legal change is required to allow the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to identify electric taxis as separate from cars and vans in order to apply the exemption. I wrote to the Exchequer Secretary

to the Treasury—I emphasise for the record that he is my former PPS—on 25 October, and I am meeting him on 12 December to discuss exactly the issue my hon. Friend raises.

What assurances can Ministers give to help taxi drivers who buy the new electric taxi before the vehicle excise duty change comes into force?

Taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services must be accessible to those who rely upon them, and disability awareness training can be effective in equipping drivers with the skills and knowledge to provide all passengers with the assistance they require. The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on the draft Accessibility Action Plan which will inform the updated Best Practice Guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities. It is the Department’s expectation that the guidance will include a recommendation that authorities should use their existing powers to require prospective drivers to complete disability awareness and equality training.

I announced in a Westminster Hall debate that I would be setting up a working group to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing, reporting its findings to me in the new year.

There are certain circumstances, such as undertaking specific contracted work driving children, which fall into the definition of a regulated activity. The definitions of regulated activity that apply to work with children or work with adults are set out in legislation and such activities include teaching or supervision of children and the provision of health or personal care services.

In addition, all licensing authorities currently require an enhanced DBS check for drivers of taxis and PHV, and are able to request a barred list check alongside this. Consequently designating taxi and PHV driving as a regulated activity would not mean any additional information would be disclosed. The Government considers that it would be disproportionate to designate taxi and PHV driving as regulated activity because not all taxi or PHV drivers take on such work with children or vulnerable adults.

I announced in a Westminster Hall debate that I would be setting up a working group to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing, reporting its findings to me in the new year.

The Department for Transport does not currently hold any data on the number of taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers who have been reported for offences against passengers.

I am glad that my honourable Friend has agreed to be a member of my Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licensing, which is considering cross-border working, enforcement and passenger safety as key areas for discussion. I have tasked the group with providing focused recommendations for action, which I look forward to receiving for consideration in the New Year.

The Department for Transport does not currently hold any data on the number of taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers who have been reported for offences against passengers.

I am glad that my honourable Friend has agreed to be a member of my Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licensing, which is considering cross-border working, enforcement and passenger safety as key areas for discussion. I have tasked the group with providing focused recommendations for action, which I look forward to receiving for consideration in the New Year.

For the purposes of the statutory guidance to be issued under 177 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017, the Department intends to use the definition of a vulnerable adult in section 42 of the Care Act 2014, that such a person:

(a) has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs),

(b) is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and

(c) as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.

The safeguarding measures in the statutory guidance are aimed at helping the range of vulnerable people and will be consulted upon.

At the request of the Department for Transport, the Law Commission undertook a comprehensive review of taxi and private hire regulation in England and Wales.

Since this report the sector has undergone profound and rapid change. At a Westminster Hall Debate on 5 July, my Rt Hon Friend, the Minister of State for Transport (John Hayes MP) announced the formation of a working group which is considering regulatory issues and remedies, including the Commission’s recommendations. The group will report in the New Year.