EDM 1728: Self-driving vehicles and taxi and private hire drivers

That this House expresses deep concern over the Government-endorsed efforts to increase the prevalence of self-driving vehicles without sufficient consultation from trade unions, legal experts or the 330,000 taxi and private hire vehicle drivers based in the UK; notes with further concern the Department for Transport’s expedited approval of self-driving car pilots on public roads, set to commence in Spring 2026; acknowledges the exploitation experienced specifically by private hire vehicle drivers, including inadequate pay, algorithmic discrimination, poor working conditions and unfair dismissal; and regrets the continued refusal of Uber to carry out court orders to formally recognise private hire drivers working through its app as limb (b) workers, which would ensure private hire vehicle drivers receive guaranteed minimum earnings and holiday pay.