UK Government questioned on plans for fully autonomous taxi services in London

The Government has been pressed in the House of Lords on what assessment it has made of proposals to introduce fully autonomous taxi services in London by late 2026, amid growing debate over safety, regulation and the role of local authorities.

The written question, tabled by Lord Taylor of Warwick, asked ministers to set out how they intend to address regulatory, safety and workforce implications as autonomous vehicle technology moves closer to commercial deployment.

Responding on behalf of the Department for Transport, Minister of State Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill confirmed that the Government plans to introduce a new Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting scheme in Spring 2026. The scheme will regulate self‑driving taxi‑ and private‑hire‑like services, as well as automated bus‑style operations.

Lord Hendy said that any self‑driving vehicles used in commercial APS fleets will be required to undergo assessment by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) to demonstrate that they can safely drive themselves “at all times.” He added that the initial rollout of automated services is expected to be small‑scale and that the Government anticipates automated services “can complement human‑driven services” rather than replace them.

The IoL has welcomed the development of a national permitting framework but has warned that the current proposals do not go far enough to protect local decision‑making or ensure public safety.

In its published position, the IoL argues that automated passenger services must only be permitted where there is clear local consent, emphasising that councils are best placed to understand local transport needs, road layouts and community safety considerations. It also calls for robust safeguards, including:

• Stronger local authority powers to approve, condition or refuse automated service deployments
• Clear accountability structures for operators, manufacturers and software providers
• Transparent safety data reporting
• Assurance that automated services will not undermine existing taxi and private hire licensing regimes or compromise passenger protections