Public given say on taxi qualification

A public consultation is under way and Leeds City Council is asking for views on the current need for taxi and private hire drivers to gain an NVQ and VRQ level or equivalent qualification appropriate to the trade before December 2011.

Two years ago members of the council made a decision that required all taxi and private hire drivers, new applicants and existing licence holders to achieve the appropriate qualifications.

At the moment new applications for licences are required to attain the qualifications within 12 months of the licence being granted, with existing licence holders given until the end of December 2011 to attain the qualifications.

John Mulcahy, head of licensing and registration said: "It is important that we gauge the views of the people in our city as well as that of the trade."

For more information visit www. leeds.gov.uk/taxiconsultation. Views can be emailed to [email protected] by October 29.