MSs highlight absence of taxi licensing reforms in legislative programme

Members of the Senedd raised concern after the Welsh Government’s first legislative programme did not include long‑discussed reforms to taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. During the legislative statement, Ken Skates noted that a previously developed White Paper on modernising the sector had not progressed to a Bill and said the omission leaves longstanding regulatory issues unresolved.

He referenced cross‑border hiring pressures affecting areas such as Cardiff and Newport, and pointed to technological changes in booking platforms that continue to outpace the current licensing framework. Other MSs also queried why the programme prioritised areas such as childcare, public health and tertiary education, but did not address taxi and PHV regulation.