STILL ‘CONSIDERING OPTIONS’: MP probes government minister on long running taxi ‘cross-border’ issue
- Perry Richardson
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The Government says it is continuing to assess possible changes to taxi and private hire vehicle regulation, following long-standing concern around cross-border hiring.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Mary Foy, Labour MP for City of Durham, the Department for Transport acknowledged the ongoing debate about out-of-area operations. Foy asked what steps the Government was taking to reform the rules that currently allow licensed vehicles to operate beyond the area where their licence was issued.
In response, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood stated that current legislation permits both taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) to work outside their licensing area, provided the jobs are pre-booked. However, only taxis are allowed to pick up passengers at ranks or be hailed in the street, and only within the area where they are licensed.
Lightwood noted that this framework is intended to support flexibility within the sector, allowing it to better respond to customer demand. Despite this, he confirmed that the Government is aware of industry concerns linked to out-of-area working and is actively reviewing regulatory options.
No timeline was given for when any proposals or reforms might be introduced.
The issue of cross-border hiring has been a topic of discussion for some time. In February 2024, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, highlighted the problem of drivers operating outside their licensing areas. He stated that ‘out of area’ taxi working would be banned under a Labour government and mentioned receiving a firm commitment from the shadow transport secretary to address this issue.
The Government’s current review indicates a recognition of these ongoing concerns and suggests that changes to the regulatory framework may be forthcoming, but with no timescales announced.
Lightwood responded to Foy’s written question, saying: “Legislation allows taxis and private hire vehicles to operate outside of the area in which they are licensed. Taxis can only ply for hire (pick up passengers at taxiranks or be hailed in the street) in the area in which they are licensed. Pre-booked work by private hire vehicles and taxis can be undertaken anywhere. This allows the sector to work flexibly to meet the needs of their passengers.
“The Government however recognises concerns around out-of-area working and is considering options to strengthen the regulation of the sector.”
