Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Unsuccessful Applications for Private Hire Care Driver's Vocational Licence Due to Past Criminal History and Disbarment Period

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Transport

a.     since 2018, how many applicants for Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence (PDVL) have been unsuccessful because of past criminal history;

b.     how many of them are barred from applying for PDVLs because of their convictions of less serious offences; and

c.     what is the average period of disbarment of such applicants before they are successful in attaining the PDVL.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     In the past year, LTA did not accede to about 70 applications for the Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence (PDVL) in view of applicants' past criminal records. This is about 1.4% of all applications.

2.     The Government takes a calibrated approach. Applicants with less serious offences may have their applications considered after the completion of their sentence and debarment period. However, applicants with past offences which pose a risk to passengers in the vocational driving context or repeat offenders may be debarred for periods longer than three years. This approach balances the need to maintain public confidence in the safety of ride-hail services, while providing ex-offenders a second chance.