It’s time for Government to act upon taxi reform promise says LTDA boss

The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) General Secretary has stated it’s time for the Government to act upon taxi reform promise.

The Government is yet to commit to any of the recommended changes to current legislation highlighted in the taxi and private hire Task and Finish Group report which was published in 2018.

The report's introduction by its Chair, Professor Mohammed Abdel-Haq, states that any undue delay would risk public safety and that the onus currently falls on the Government to improve legislation.

Some of the issues that require attention in the industry include cross border hiring, national minimum standards and plying for hire.

Steve McNamara, LTDA General Secretary, wrote in the TAXI magazine:

“It was incredibly disappointing to see no mention of taxis at all, never mind legislation, in the post-election Queen’s Speech in December. It has now been almost a year since the Government promised to bring this forward, yet despite words and promises we are still kept waiting. While Parliament last year was dominated by politicians arguing over Brexit, the Government will have no excuse not to bring forward our legislation once the UK leaves the EU at the end of this month.

“It is only a matter of time before the Government’s inaction on bringing taxi and PHV legislation into the 21st century leaves it responsible for another huge scandal.

“The longer it waits to take action on cross border hiring, national minimum standards and plying for hire, the more the safety of the public is put at risk. I have been telling successive transport ministers time and again of the need to act now, and Grant Shapps knows what needs to be done. It is time now for their promises to be put into action.”