Thank you for contacting me about issues facing private hire drivers.
I believe that the taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) sectors provide a vital service to our communities. Every day our hard-working taxi and PHV drivers show up and deliver an excellent service – whether that is taking elderly people to their hospital appointments or making sure that children get to their school on time. The benefits of having a thriving taxi and PHV sector should not be underestimated.
The Government keeps the legislative and regulatory framework for taxis and private hire vehicles under review and I know is aware of the concerns you raise. To increase consistency in standards, the Department for Transport issues guidance to all licensing authorities in England. I am pleased that the Government is considering how to improve regulations whilst still enabling the sector to deliver safe and accessible services that meet a wide range of passenger needs.
Ministers have been clear that all employers must comply with their legal obligations towards those they engage.
I support the Government’s Employment Rights Bill which will upgrade workers’ rights across the UK. The Bill makes good on the Government’s promise to the British people to change their lives for the better and to deliver an economy that works for them. It will end the poor pay, poor working conditions and poor job security that have held too many people back for too long.
As part of this legislation, the Government is committed to creating the Fair Work Agency. It will bring existing functions like minimum wage enforcement into one place and it will also enforce rights such as holiday pay and Statutory Sick Pay. In addition, I welcome the Government’s commitment to consulting on moving towards a simpler two-part framework that differentiates between workers and the genuinely self-employed.
I am pleased that the Government is taking action to support motorists more widely by providing an extra £500 million for local highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year.
Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue.
Kind regards,
Barry Gardiner
Member of Parliament for Brent West