The Institute of Licensing (IoL) and the Local Government Association (LGA) has published training standard guidance setting out the basic level of licensing committee member training. Additionally, the guidance provides information on further development that members of licensing committees can consider.

The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has announced that the Department for Transport (DfT) has reaffirmed its commitment to legislate against inconsistent taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing standards, with Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood confirming a consultation will be launched on transferring licensing responsibilities to local transport authorities. The government is reviewing options including out-of-area working, national standards and enforcement to improve consistency and passenger safety across England.

The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has announced that the UK Government intends to introduce national minimum standards for taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing through amendments to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Clauses NC49 to NC57, tabled at Report Stage in the House of Commons, would create a single national framework for licensing across England, replacing the current system of varied local requirements. Under the proposed standards, all drivers, vehicles and operators would be required to meet consistent baseline standards and licensing authorities would be obliged to refuse, suspend or revoke licences where those standards are not met. The measures could also apply retrospectively to existing licence-holders, as well as to new applicants.

The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has published a Private Hire Passenger Contract Guidance Note, which explains recent legal developments affecting passenger contracts in the private hire sector. The guidance examines court decisions concerning the contractual relationships between private hire operators, passengers and drivers, outlines the differing legal positions in London and elsewhere in England and Wales, and considers the implications of these developments for licensing authorities, operators and passengers. It also highlights issues relating to compliance, regulation and enforcement and is intended as a reference resource for applicants, licence holders, licensing officers, councillors and legal professionals. The IoL states that the guidance is designed to support understanding of the current legal framework and does not constitute legal advice.

The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has reported that Manchester Magistrates’ Court has convicted Mr Guru Fatay Ronuk Singh, a taxi driver licensed by Manchester City Council, of illegally plying for hire without insurance in Trafford. The offence followed an undercover enforcement operation after a Manchester United fixture at Old Trafford on 19 January last year. Officers observed him parked in a bus stop with his ‘for hire’ sign illuminated, and he admitted using it to attract customers. The court imposed a £180 fine, a £48 victim surcharge and £180 in costs and endorsed his licence with six penalty points.

The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has reported that a private hire driver from Cheltenham Borough Council has lost a Crown Court appeal against the revocation of their licence. In April 2025 Cheltenham Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee revoked the licence on public safety grounds after an inspection identified two tyres on their vehicle to be below the legal limit. Additionally undisclosed motoring offences, including false statements on licence applications, were identified. The Crown Court upheld that decision, ruling that the sub-committee was justified in concluding that the driver was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence, noting six offences over an 11-year period and a pattern of dishonesty. Furthermore, the driver was ordered to pay costs of £4,180.50 to the council.

An ion can be described as an atom that has too many or too few electrons, causing it to have an electrical charge and, therefore, be electrochemically active.

The process of adding or removing one or more electrons from atoms or molecules, thereby creating ions. Ionisation can occur because of high temperatures, electrical discharges or nuclear radiations.

Any radiation capable of displacing electrons from atoms or molecules, thereby producing ions. High doses of ionising radiation may produce severe skin or tissue damage. Some examples are alpha, beta, gamma, x-rays, neutrons, and ultraviolet light.

Clauses providing for termination on the occurrence of certain events eg insolvency or negotiations with creditors.

Law360, London: The US-Israel conflict with Iran may give rise to complex commercial disputes in England similar to those following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine, according to lawyers reporting increased client demand for advice over the evolving conflict.

1. Have there been any recent developments regarding the Iran merger control regime and are any updates/developments expected in the coming year? Are there any other ‘hot’ merger control issues in Iran? The competition regulations in Iran are primarily governed by Chapter 9 of the Law on the Implementation of General Policies of Principle 44 of the Constitution 2007 (the Law), titled Facilitating Competition and Prohibiting Monopoly, which encompasses Articles 43–84. In addition, an Implementing Directive for Articles 47, 48, and 49 (the Directive) directly affects merger control. Notably, the Directive, Art 2 defines the concept of a concentration and sets out the framework for assessing whether a merger may result in excessive market concentration, potentially leading to its prohibition. This framework forms a central component of the Iranian merger control regime. A notable precedent in Iranian merger control is the Netbarg–Takhfifan merger, one of the most controversial cases to date. The merger occurred in early 2020, and after more than two years of review, on 20 December 2022, the Competition Council (Council) ruled that it had significantly