Government rules out local authority data checks for taxi licensing

The Government has confirmed it will not require local authorities to validate taxi and private hire drivers using council tax, electoral roll, or credit reference data. Instead, ministers are pressing ahead with national minimum standards under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to ensure consistent licensing across England.

The Department for Transport has ruled out proposals that would have required taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers to be validated by their home local authority through checks against council tax records, the electoral roll, or credit reference data.

The issue was raised in Parliament by Labour MP Jim McMahon, who asked whether the Government was considering mandating such checks to strengthen licensing enforcement. In response, Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that the Government is not pursuing this route.

Greenwood explained that national standards would:

• Enhance passenger safety by ensuring consistent requirements across all local authorities.
• Reduce variability in licensing practices, which has been a key factor in drivers working outside their licensing area.
• Provide a framework for further reforms, including addressing out-of-area working and strengthening enforcement powers.