REGULATION OF BLACK TAXIS AND MINICABS

That this House is concerned that companies such as Uber, that use smartphone apps, continue to entrench their market position while routinely flouting the law governing the taxi and mincab industry; welcomes Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London's position that a statutory definition of plying for hire is needed to remove ambiguity and clearly define the difference between taxi and private hire services; agrees that such a definition is necessary to provide passengers with important safety protections against unregulated drivers; believes that in the absence of a statutory definition of plying for hire, public confidence in a safe and secure licensing regime will be undermined and will ultimately undermine the viability of the current taxi service; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation which provides a clear statutory definition of plying for hire to protect the distinction between taxis and private hire vehicles.