A REPORT BY THE TASK GROUP SET UP TO REVIEW THE LICENSING PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982
ANNEX 3: OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING REPORT ON THE REGULATION OF LICENSED TAXI AND PHV SERVICES IN THE UK
1. The main recommendations contained in the OFT report were as follows:
- That quality and safety of taxis and private hire cars needs to be regulated by the issue of best practice from central government.
- That quantity controls (numerical limits) on taxis should be abolished.
- That there should be maximum fare levels and that local authorities should act to facilitate competition within that.
2. The Office of Fair Trading's Report - "The Regulation Of Licensed Taxi and PHV Services in the UK", and associated documents, can be viewed online at http://www.oft.gov.uk/business/market+studies/taxis.htm . Alternatively, the report may still be available in hard copy from the OFT by contacting OFT Enquiries on 0845 7222 4499.
3. A copy of Scottish Ministers' response to the recommendations contained in the OFT Report is available online - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/transport/oftresponseltr.pdf or a hard copy can be obtained from the Scottish Executive Transport Group on 0131 244 0866. Broadly speaking, Ministers support the OFT's recommendations regarding the regulation of quality and safety of taxis and private hire cars and regarding regulation of taxi fares, but rejected their recommendation that local authorities' power to impose a limit on the number of licensed taxis operating in their area be removed.