I was glad to sit on the committee for the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Private Members' Bill sponsored by Peter Gibson MP on Wednesday morning.
This bill importantly seeks to improve the safety of taxi passengers through better licensing provisions which I understand is particularly vital when considering the use of taxis for school transport and ensuring people return home safely at night. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has helpfully supported the aims of this Bill to help improve safety.
The Bill does this by reducing inconsistencies in information gathering to better safeguard passengers.
I particularly welcome provisions in the Bill to mandate local licensing authorities to record taxi licence refusals, revocations and suspensions on a national database, which other local licensing authorities would be required to consult before making licence decisions about the same driver. This prevents someone whose licence is revoked in one LA area from obtaining a licence elsewhere in England.
I am pleased that the Bill passed Committee Stage this week and I look forward supporting its journey in its next stages. You can find out more about the Bill and its journey through Parliament at https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/2904
