RELEASE IN ‘DUE COURSE’: New taxi and PHV Best Practice Guidance still being ‘carefully’ considered

The release of brand new taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) guidance for local authorities to follow will be released in ‘due course’ as the Department for Transport (DfT) continues to consider consultation responses ‘carefully’.

In Spring 2022, the Government opened up a 12-week consultation to update vital Taxi and PHV guidance supplied to local authorities to better cope with new digital ways of working following the boom in ride-hailing services.

The Department for Transport (DfT) first issued best practice guidance to licensing authorities in 2006 and this was refreshed in 2010.

It is recognised that much has changed in the taxi and PHV industry and the time has come to update the guidance to ensure it reflects new ways of working, new technology and feedback from interested parties.

The DfT sought the views on new best practice guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities and any evidence that supports them.

Those connected to the taxi industry are keen to view the results of the consultation which closed on 20 June 2022.

Daisy Cooper MP asked the Secretary State for Transport when he plans to publish a response to the consultation entitled Taxi and private hire vehicle best practice guidance.

Richard Holden MP responded: “The consultation on updated Best Practice Guidance for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England closed in June 2022. The Department is considering the responses carefully and will issue its response in due course.”