Dear XX

RE: Private Hire Vehicles – out of area licensing

The issue of private hire vehicles being able to license with authorities which are different to the area in which they operate has been raised for many years by taxi drivers, trade unions and safety campaigners.

Most recently Baroness Louise Casey recommended that out of area licensing should be ended on safeguarding grounds and rightly the Government accepted her recommendation.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill provides an opportunity for this important matter to be addressed now rather than waiting for a specific Bill sometime in the future.

To that end Greater Manchester MP Elsie Blundell has tabled a clause (NC83) which can be found here:

https://bills.parliament.uk/.../20265/amendments/10029945

To amend the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill at Report Stage on Monday or Tuesday next week.

The clause has been legally reviewed and Counsel advice found no faults with it, and flagged no unintended consequences.

We believe that adding a further amendment to expand the intended use policies to all licence types is also very much a key need as a statutory requirement.

We have found it to be extensively effective within the hackney carriage sector, and would be just as effective across the board if such an amendment was added to the one suggested.

The Government have tabled an amendment to bring in national standards, which we all support.

However, the Government’s amendment will fail to effectively empower licensing authorities to enforce those standards by ensuring drivers are licensed locally.

The clause in Elsie’s name will strengthen the Government’s amendment.

However, this amendment requires adjustment as it could be very dangerous as below:

(4) After section 55B (Sub-contracting by operators: criminal liability), 55C Mayoral strategic authority power to regulate bookings:

A mayoral strategic authority may make an order to provide that only a person licenced under section 55 whose operating address is located within its area may *accept and fulfil bookings for journeys that both start and end within that same area*.

An order under subsection (1) may only be made if the relevant mayoral strategic authority —

The ley and crucial term here is "accept and fulfil bookings for journeys that both start and end within that same area*

The most essential word to clarify confusion is the fact that it states "both" start AND end, which means vehicles will not be able to cross boundaries with passengers on board at all, or accept any bookings that could cross over boundaries

The result of this section could very well result in drivers having to stop along the M62 to exchange passenger between vehicles on the motorway if the driver may only start and end within the licensed area where the passenger wants to go from Manchester region to Liverpool airport; or potentially several times along the M6 if going to Birmingham airport.

The potential risks associated with this suggestion simply cannot happen.

The recent transport select committee on taxi and private hire also agreed that the Government needed to address this issue and give national powers of enforcement to all licensing officers.

We are all also very much aware that the DFT and government are very keen to address the cross border issue as stated above,

By "fully implementing the Casey report recommendation 11" which does indeed include ending cross border practices and addressing many more issues with the licensing regime and legislation as is the focus of the transport select committee, and all respondents to the call for evidence.

I am therefore asking you to please support the Clause in Elsie Blundell’s name at Report stage on Monday or Tuesday, so that this loop-hole can be closed and national standards then enforced.

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