TFL (Transport for London) have prolonged the English Language Requirement target date. The new deadline is now September 2021 for every private hire operator approved in the city.
The transport regulator revealed in a notice declaring the decision to the sector citing the key impact triggered by COVID-19 as the dominant purpose to push back the authorization need by considerably 12 months.
The pandemic has made complying with the English Language Requirement, ELR, harder. Operators have not ben able to take a SELT (Secure English Language Test) in recent months because of the brief closing of the testing hubs. This is as said by TfL’s General Manager Taxi and Private Hire, Graham Robinson.
Further, Robinson admitted that collecting proof of qualifications has been hard due to several academic institutions having momentarily closed in the period.
Also, the SELT which have reopened lately have been discovered to be not able to provide the same amount of tests as they were before the lockdown. This is because of the requirement for social distancing.
The pandemic has had an effect on the resources of TfL. Before the pandemic, TfL was looking for different ways operators could show their English language abilities. These objectives were placed on hold to concentrate on resources on crucial licensing projects and supporting the sector all through the pandemic.
The Department for Transport (DfT) revealed new legal measures for taxi and private hire operators. This includes a necessary for permitting authorities to try English language ability for minicab and private hire operators. This was in July.
“In light of these factors, we have decided to extend the deadline for compliance with the ELR to 30 September 2021, giving drivers a further twelve months to comply. Therefore, anyone whose application for a London PHV driver’s licence (including a renewal) that was received by TfL on or after 14 October 2016 has until 30 September 2021 to provide evidence that they comply with the ELR, either by submitting documentary evidence of qualification or passing a SELT with one of TfL’s appointed providers,” Robinson said.