Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-02-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which local authorities do not require Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for taxis and private hire vehicles; and what representations his Department has made to those local authorities to encourage the use of DBS checks for taxis and private hire vehicles.

Andrew Jones

The Department for Transport does not hold details of the checks that individual local licensing authorities undertake on taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.

All taxi and private hire vehicle drivers can be subject to an enhanced criminal record check, which includes a check of the children’s and adults barred lists, through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). In the Department’s Best Practice Guidance for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing and through engagement with licensing authorities, we strongly encourage licensing authorities to carry out an enhanced DBS check on all applicants.