On 20 October 2026 the Department for Transport published its reply to the Commons Transport Committee report "Raising the standard: licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles". It answers all 19 of the MPs' recommendations. Some are accepted, some are put out to consultation, and some are turned down. On out-of-area working, the Government says drivers should generally be licensed where they do most of their work. It has not made that a legal rule yet, and will look at the options when the draft Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles Bill is examined. Ministers warned that strict limits on cross-border trips could mean fewer cars and longer waits for passengers. National minimum standards are coming, using powers in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026. A consultation is due before the end of 2026 and will cover in-car CCTV, safeguarding and disability awareness training, and English language requirements. No decision has been made yet on whether CCTV will be compulsory. Councils would also get the power to suspend any licence for public safety, wherever it was issued. Work on a national driver database starts this autumn and runs to spring 2027. The Government turned down national deadlines for processing licences and a national minimum number of wheelchair accessible vehicles. A reply on moving licensing to around 70 larger transport authorities, instead of 263 councils, is due by the end of the year. The difference between taxis and private hire is staying.