KEIGHLEY and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has given his support to a Bill to reform the licensing rules for taxis and private hire vehicles, by encouraging cooperation between local authorities to prevent dangerous drivers obtaining licences.

The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill will introduce a mandatory database of taxi and private hire vehicle driving licence suspensions, refusals and revocations for all licensing authorities in England. The Bill also creates duties on licensing authorities in England to report safeguarding and road safety concerns about drivers licensed by other authorities, and for those authorities to have a duty to take account of those concerns.

Currently, a loophole exists whereby taxi drivers can lose a license from one licensing authority but get a new from another, no matter where the two authorities are located. The mandatory database and duties placed on licensing authorities by this bill will help stop any such incident.

Speaking in the debate, Moore raised concerns about the ease with which some taxi drivers can abuse their position, including in one instance whereby a constituent reported video footage of a local taxi firm distributing drugs to residents. He praised the Bill for getting “to the nub of the issue of safeguarding, ensuring that our constituents are protected when a minority of taxi drivers are not doing the right thing.”

The Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles Bill completed its passage through The House of Commons on Friday, and will now need approval from The House of Lords.

Robbie Moore MP said: “We have so many fantastic taxi drivers across Keighley and Ilkley who provide an important service to local people. By improving the licensing rules for taxis and private hire vehicles, we can ensure that the standards are raised for all taxi drivers.

"Meanwhile, my constituents can have more peace of mind knowing that those unfit to be behind the wheel of a taxi will not be able to do so.

"This new piece of legislation gets to the nub of the issue of safeguarding, ensuring that our constituents are better protected when a minority of taxi drivers are not doing the right thing. It will go a long way to ensure licensing rules are fit for purpose and will improve the taxi system for both drivers and passengers.”