Exeter taxi firms react to major Government plans for new national licensing standards

The Government has announced plans to overhaul taxi and private-hire vehicle licensing across England, introducing national minimum standards aimed at strengthening passenger safety and closing gaps that have allowed unsafe operators to exploit inconsistencies between local authorities.

The proposals follow Baroness Casey’s audit into group-based child sexual exploitation, published in June, which urged ministers to address uneven licensing rules across the country. 

Under the changes (which were debated in Parliament last week) the Transport Secretary would gain new powers to set consistent licensing requirements for all drivers, vehicles and operators.

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The Department for Transport says the national standards would create a reliable safety baseline for passengers no matter where they travel and ensure more robust checks on drivers. 

The reforms have been welcomed by Baroness Casey, safety campaigners and major operators, including Addison Lee. The Government also plans to consult on reducing the number of licensing authorities from 263 to around 70 to create further consistency.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “While the vast majority of taxi and private hire vehicle drivers are responsible, passenger safety is our top priority. We are therefore working quickly and decisively to address the concerns around taxi and PHV licensing highlighted in Baroness Casey’s report.” 

Adding to this, she said: “this amendment is a first step and shows the Government is committed to delivering robust national minimum standards so passengers can travel with confidence.”

With Exeter likely to be affected by the changes, Apple Taxis has given its reaction. 

General manager Graham Brown told Exeter Today the company “broadly welcomes” the proposals, saying clear and consistent rules are long overdue in the industry.

“Apple has done very well working closely with multiple licensing authorities across the UK, but it is exactly this experience that has opened our eyes to the wider issues,” he said. 

“One set of rules would remove a lot of the problems we see day to day because every operator would be working in the same way and following the same standards.”

Mr Brown said a single national framework could benefit both drivers and passengers in Exeter by removing confusion caused by differing standards in neighbouring areas. 

He also said that mandatory compliance across the board would improve safety and help ensure customers receive consistent service.

However, he warned that the national benchmark must not be set too low, as this could undermine the higher standards already in place in Exeter. 

He also noted that drivers may face new costs if they are required to upgrade vehicles or complete additional training.

“A one-size-fits-all approach may not work perfectly everywhere because each area has different needs,” he said. “There will also be a period of disruption while everyone adjusts to the new rules.”

Despite the concerns, Apple Taxis believes the long-term advantages outweigh the challenges. 

“A more consistent and regulated industry will support passengers, drivers and operators,” Mr Brown said. “We look forward to being part of the conversation as more details are released.”

The national standards will be subject to public consultation and are expected to form part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which ministers hope will become law in 2026.