http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/1946/article/3/made

The Deregulation (Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles) Order 1998

Taxi and minicab licences

Driving licences

Business licences

King's Printer of Acts of Parliament

2011-07-04

DEREGULATION

Section 51 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 precludes the granting of a licence to drive a private hire vehicle in England (excluding London) or Wales except to an applicant who holds, and has held for at least a year, an appropriate driving licence. Such a licence is either a full licence granted under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988 or a licence issued by another state in the European Economic Area. This Order amends Section 51 so as to give equal recognition to a Northern Ireland driving licence. Section 59, which makes equivalent provision with regard to a licence to drive a taxi (a “hackney carriage”) is similarly amended.