(Title Image: Unite the Union via Twitter)
- Economy & Transport Minister outlines future changes to the taxi industry following the devolution of the necessary powers in 2017.
- Minister says officials are exploring options for PPE and a dedicated taxi support webpage following a trade union Cathays Park protest (pictured).
- MSs want assurances on upholding of standards and raise the possibility of caps on plates.
Yesterday, the Economy & Transport Minister, Ken Skates (Lab, Clwyd South), updated the Senedd on the Welsh Government’s proposed reforms to the taxi industry in Wales.
The proposed measures include:
- A “try-before-you-buy” pilot for zero-emission taxis.
- Safety, equality, environmental standards and customer service will be the priority for future regulatory reform of the taxi industry – requiring a new law (presumably introduced in the next term) which will create a single taxi regime covering both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.
- Work has started with local authorities on developing a consistent approach to taxi licensing as a stepping stone to an eventual national licensing system, including a national database and register.
The statement was overshadowed by a protest outside the Welsh Government’s Cathays Park HQ by taxi drivers, who called for additional financial support after it was reported many were earning poverty-level wages due to a fall in custom as a result of the pandemic.
With that in mind, the Minister said that many taxi businesses had benefited from Welsh Government business support finance and taxis were eligible for a £25million discretionary support fund administered by local councils.
He also said officials were working on ways to secure “high-quality PPE” for the taxi industry, while a dedicate webpage will advise the industry on how to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic and also will provide pointers to financial support.
Shadow Economy Minister, Russell George MS (Con, Montgomery), was broadly in favour of the reforms. He did, however, question the need to eliminate the two-tier system of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles – though the Minister argued the public may not know of any big difference between the two categories anyway.
Helen Mary Jones MS (Plaid, Mid & West Wales) agreed with the need for legislation and reform but didn’t want to see vetting requirements downgraded should the two-tier system be abolished – particularly to protect women. David Rowlands MS (Ind, South Wales East) added that fit-and-proper person tests should be more strictly adhered to.
Alun Davies MS (Lab, Blaenau Gwent) called for taxis to be properly recognised as part of the public transport network rather than an add-on, while Mick Antoniw MS (Lab, Pontypridd) expressed support for a cap on the number of taxi plates following representations from the industry and to prevent a “race to the bottom”.
