Councils hail Government u-turn on who can drive licensed minicabs off duty

The Government’s decision to ditch plans to allow anyone to drive a licensed minicab when off duty has been welcomed by councils.

The proposal, which was contained in clause 10 of the Deregulation Bill, had attracted strong opposition from the Local Government Association as well as organisations such as NSPCC, Barnardo’s, Victim’s Support and Age UK.

The LGA has now called on ministers to delete the two remaining taxi clauses in the Bill, which would increase the length of driver licences and enable minicab firms to sub-contract bookings to other firms from different areas, without any requirement to tell the person making a booking.

Cllr Ann Lucas OBE, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Councils – alongside children’s charities, personal safety organisations and taxi drivers themselves – have long-warned that this unwanted change [clause 10] would increase the public safety risk to people using minicabs.
 
“When people get into a taxi, they put their trust in the fact that the person driving the car has been vetted and licensed and that it is safe to be in a vehicle with them, especially if they are travelling alone. Anyone getting into a minicab should be assured that the only person allowed to drive the car has had their background checked, and it is right that Government has now agreed to let councils maintain this protection.”

On the remaining clauses in the Bill, she said: “Our own opinion polling shows 80% of women would be concerned if they booked a journey with one firm and a different one turned up. 

“Councils support comprehensive reform of taxi licensing but on the basis of the whole of the recent Law Commission report and not through this unwise piecemeal approach that could have a negative impact on public safety.”
 
The Bill is expected to return to the House of Lords Committee Stage on Tuesday 21 October.