House of Commons · Westminster Hall
16 November 2021 · 2 other contributors · 4,111 words
Opened by Nickie Aiken Con Cities of London and Westminster
Responding minister: Rachel Maclean
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Nickie Aiken raised concerns about pedicabs: women’s safety in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Aiken calls on the Government to close the legal loophole that allows rogue pedicab drivers to operate without regulation. She supports her Pedicabs (London) Bill to introduce a licensing system for pedicabs in London, ensuring passenger safety and accountability for operators.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Nickie Aiken highlights the issue of unregulated pedicabs in London, particularly their impact on women's safety. She mentions aggressive touting and harassment by rogue drivers, who operate without licences or insurance due to a legal loophole. Residents and businesses in her constituency are affected by amplified music and shouting late into the night, which can be extremely stressful for residents, especially when it wakes children up at midnight.
Caroline Ansell supports the call for regulation of pedicabs. She notes that rogue drivers know they are not regulated and can get away with issues such as lack of police checks, raising concerns about passenger safety.
Asked if private hire vehicles, including pedicabs, should be regulated and licensed. Also inquired about the support from the Local Government Association for a national register of licence revocations and refusals to ensure adequate safety checks. Thanking the Minister for her response, Florence Eshalomi expressed concern over harassment by pedicabs outside St Thomas' Hospital in Vauxhall. She urged reform to legislation now as Londoners cannot wait any longer.
Government Response
Rachel MacleanIt is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of Mr Bone. I thank my hon. Friend Nickie Aiken for securing this debate and acknowledge her significant efforts in raising awareness about pedicab safety, especially with regard to women's rights to feel safe in public spaces. The Government recognise that the unregulated nature of pedicabs is a legal anomaly and supports the need for regulation to ensure fairness and safety for all road users. My hon. Friend's Bill, which will have its Second Reading this Friday, aims to introduce a licensing regime with enforcement powers and safety requirements for pedicabs. If her Bill does not proceed beyond Second Reading, the Government are committed to seeking opportunities to bring forward their own legislation. The Home Office has also prioritised tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) through initiatives like the £5 million Safety of Women at Night Fund and an additional £25 million Safer Streets Fund, which includes projects such as a safer travel online platform for reporting incidents and the StreetSafe tool to pinpoint unsafe locations. The Home Office has appointed Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth as the national lead on VAWG in police forces across the country. Anyone who feels unsafe while using public transport or walking home is encouraged to report it to the police.