Plans to Manage Numbers of Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licences Issued

Oral Reply by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow

Mr Vikram Nair asked the Acting Minister for Transport

a.           whether the steady increase in Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence is a sustainable trend; and

b.           whether there are plans to manage the number of private hire car drivers.

Reply by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow:

1.           Mr Speaker, the question is Question No 5, which is on whether or not there is a steady increase in the vocational licences, whether there is a sustainable trend and whether there are plans to manage the number of private hire car (PHC) drivers.

2.           The number of Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licences has continued to be roughly maintained at the same level for the past few years. There are no plans at the moment for us to constrain the total number of drivers. It is important for us to have PHCs continue to be an important mode of transport in our transport system, largely because they provide for people who are unable to drive or are unwilling to own a car but yet would like to have access to private transport on a pay-per-use basis. And I think we want to be able to continue to do that.

3.           The taxi or the point-to-point population has increased from 28,000 10 years ago, to roughly around 70,000 today. That represents a significant increase. But at the same time, I think if you look at the number of total rides, it is about 400,000 a day, that is substantial and it complements our public transport provision, which is still going to be our main focus for our transport policy. So, we have no intention at the moment to curtail the number, but I think the number has stabilised over time.