Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed that a new grant scheme has been set up to support local taxi drivers. The scheme is being administered by the City of Wolverhampton Council and will see eligible drivers receive a one-off payment of £2,000. The scheme forms part of a comprehensive package of financial assistance being funded by Government to protect local jobs and livelihoods in light of COVID-19.
Wolverhampton is one of the local authorities with the greatest number of licensed vehicles. This group has seen a significant loss of income during COVID-19. At the same time, this group has also had to spend a considerable amount of money to keep themselves afloat, including on maintenance costs and licence fees.
In November, Stuart wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to call for a dedicated support fund. He then tabled a formal, written question in Parliament and wrote to leaders at the City of Wolverhampton Council to request that greater measures be put in place to support taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.
In his conversations, Stuart has been clear that each vehicle represents a small business which provides constituents with a vital source of income and helps constituents without their own form of transport get the essential items that they have required. At the same time, the local and national restrictions have meant that these businesses have been seriously affected. This is because they would usually transport individuals for a variety of purposes, including attending events in the hospitality, leisure, and culture sector which has itself been disproportionately affected by Covid-19.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “Many local taxi drivers and private hire drivers have been doing a great job in difficult times. Like many other businesses, they have lost income and incurred extra costs as a result of COVID-19. For many months, I have been lobbying the Government and the City of Wolverhampton Council to set up a dedicated grant scheme to help them at this time. I am delighted that the Council has now opened applications for this.”
The Taxi and Private Hire Grant Scheme forms part of the Additional Restriction Grant package and is aimed at Hackney Carriage/Dual and Private Hire Drivers. Drivers must be resident in the city and have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. It is part of a wider package of financial support which includes the extended Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. Roughly 80 per cent of self-employed taxi and private hire drivers can benefit from this. Details of the fourth grant will be announced on the 3rd of March 2021. Owners, operators, and drivers of taxis and PHVs may also be eligible for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) or the Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS).
Constituents can find further details about this scheme and the range of financial assistance available to local businesses at www.stuartanderson.org.uk/business-support and www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/business/wolvesinbusiness/government-business-grants.