Taxi Driver Online

Nothing much to see here, really, although Taxi Point has headlined it thus:


Government defends current Wolverhampton taxi and PHV safeguarding standards amid national licensing reform plans


Maybe that's overstating it slightly - almost reads like Wolverhampton PR - and it's a pretty straight bat response, and the bit specifically about Wolves is just a few words

But interesting, perhaps, that's a Labour minister asking the question, suggesting it's maybe planted?

And that's presumably also the 2026 taxi stats the transport minister is referring to in her response - can't remember if that sort of stuff was included in the last stats, but for individual council's policy stuff it's normally just a yes or a no, kind of thing, so not much in terms of detail and nuance.


Justin Madders
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the City of Wolverhampton Council's safeguarding standards for obtaining taxi and private hire vehicle licenses.


Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Labour MP for Nottingham South

The Department’s statutory guidance sets out a robust set of measures that taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities should act on to safeguard the most vulnerable in society. This recommends that licensing authorities should require taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers to undertake an enhanced DBS and barred lists check as part of its licensing processes. The City of Wolverhampton Council has advised that it requires this important safeguard and carries out automated criminality checks on a daily basis.

We undertake regular surveys of all licensing authorities to better understand how all licensing authorities ensure the safety of their passengers. Data from the Department’s 2026 survey of licensing authorities in England, which includes details on safeguarding polices, will be published in summer.

The Government is legislating to tackle inconsistencies in taxi and PHV licensing. As a first step, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill seeks a power for the Secretary of State to set national minimum standards. The power was approved by the House of Commons, and the Bill is now being considered by the House of Lords. If passed, this would enable government to set robust standards for licensing right across England, to keep vulnerable children and, indeed, all members of the public safe, wherever they live or travel.

Oh look a government minister helping a friendly council out quelle surprise

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

That's an interesting point.

Can you imagine the utter grief the government would be giving if it were a Reform council?

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IDFIMH