Member

We know that out-of-area working creates concerns in some authorities about the safeguarding standards applied to some of the drivers operating in their area. That problem was highlighted by Baroness Casey in her recent national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse. By taking a power for the Secretary of State to set national minimum standards for the licensing of drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles, we can begin to tackle some of these inconsistencies. The powers sought are necessarily broad, so that we can make sure that they catch all the complexities of the current legislative framework.