Active taxi driver numbers in Northern Ireland drop to 5,719 amid VAT fears

The number of active taxi drivers in Northern Ireland has dropped to 5,719 while a proposed legislative change could increase fares and put firms out of business, a Stormont committee has heard.

The Department of Infrastructure has proposed changing taxi operator licensing regulation following court cases in England and Wales.

Appearing before the Stormont Infrastructure Committee, Stephen Anton of the Licensed Taxi Operators Association outlined that in 2014 there were nearly 16,000 taxi