CROSS BORDER HIRE: DfT ‘aware’ of taxi and private hire concerns and ‘considering ways to support local authorities’
The Department for Transport (DfT) are ‘aware of the concerns’ around out-of-area working, and will be ‘considering ways to support local authorities with the issue’, a local media firm was told.
The ongoing debate surrounding private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing has long taken centre stage, with Labour pledging to crack down on ‘out of area’ working in the lead up to the elections . This practice allows private hire drivers to register their vehicles in one licensing area but operate in another, often far from where they were originally licensed.
The issue has become particularly contentious in regions like Greater Manchester, where it is known as the ‘Wolverhampton Problem’. Here, a significant number of private hire vehicles registered in Wolverhampton and other areas operate in Greater Manchester, leading to concerns about regulatory control and safety.
Critics argue that this cross-border hiring undermines local authorities' ability to manage and enforce standards. It creates disparities between regions, with some areas facing an influx of drivers and vehicles over which they have little oversight. This situation can lead to issues around public safety, driver vetting, and inconsistent service standards.
In response to growing discontent, Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, announced a Labour commitment to ban this practice back in February 2024. Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester, Burnham highlighted his discussions with Labour’s shadow transport secretary, who confirmed the party’s intention to end ‘out of area’ working if they come into power.
Burnham said on BBC Radio Manchester: “Out of area working, the ‘Wolverhampton Problem’. I was in Westminster yesterday, discussing HS2 with the government, but I was also with the shadow transport secretary.
“I got a firm commitment from the shadow transport secretary that out of area working will be stopped under a Labour government.”
This week the Department for Transport (DfT) has acknowledged the concerns surrounding PHV licensing. A spokesperson indicated that the DfT is considering ways to support local authorities in addressing the challenges posed by cross-border hiring.
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson told Manchester Evening News: “We are aware of the concerns around private hire vehicle licensing, including out-of-area working, and will be considering ways to support local authorities with the issue.”
