Government reaffirms plans for Taxi and PHV Bill

The Government has reaffirmed its intention to introduce a draft Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) Bill, with improved accessibility for disabled passengers identified as one of the key objectives of the proposed legislation.

In a written Parliamentary answer published on 7 September, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said the Government was continuing to consider how taxi and PHV regulation should be reformed. He confirmed that a draft Bill would be brought forward for pre-legislative scrutiny.

The Minister highlighted the particular importance of taxis and PHVs to disabled people, particularly in rural and coastal areas where alternative public transport may be limited. The proposed legislation is expected to include measures aimed at providing more accessible services for disabled passengers, strengthening existing protections and removing barriers to travel.

The announcement provides further confirmation of the Government’s plans to reform the taxi and PHV regulatory framework, although the detailed provisions of the Bill have yet to be published.

Accessibility is likely to be a significant element of the reforms. Existing legal protections already require taxi and PHV drivers to provide certain forms of assistance to disabled passengers and prohibit additional charges for that assistance. However, concerns remain about the availability of accessible vehicles and the consistency of accessibility standards across the sector.