Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers Covid-19

2020-12-03

View full transcript on Parliament.uk -->

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer

Cambridge

▸ Context

The MP noted the significant impact of the pandemic on this workforce, emphasizing that they are one of the largest employment groups in the transport sector. He highlighted specific issues such as finance deals for electric cabs being returned and vehicles being laid up.

What assessment has been made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on taxi and private hire vehicle drivers? With over 350,000 licensed taxi and private hire drivers, this is the biggest employment group in the transport sector. In every constituency, there will be hundreds of drivers laying up their vehicles due to inflexible finance deals for electric cabs.

Robert Courts

The Government continue to engage with the sector to understand the effects of the covid-19 outbreak. Several support measures are available, such as the self-employment income support scheme. I acknowledge that this is an exceptionally challenging time for the industry and draw attention to an online support finder tool to assist those in difficulty.

▸ Assessment & feedback

Did not provide a specific impact assessment or timeline for action.

Response accuracy

Feedback type

Comment (optional)

Q2 Partial Answer

Daniel Zeichner Lab

Cambridge

▸ Context

The MP highlighted the significant impact of the pandemic on taxi and private hire vehicle drivers, noting that they are one of the largest employment groups in the transport sector. He pointed out issues such as vehicles being laid up due to inflexible finance deals for electric cabs.

What assessment has been made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on taxi and private hire vehicle drivers? In every constituency, there will be hundreds of drivers laying up their vehicles because of inflexible finance deals. What impact assessment have the Government actually done and when are they going to act?

Robert Courts

The Government continue to engage with the sector to understand how there may be some assistance. There is an online support finder tool that will assist those in difficulty.