(1)Section 12 of the TA 1985 (use of taxis in providing local services) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (1) (application by holder of taxi licence for special licence to provide local service by means of licensed taxis)—
(a)after “a taxi licence” insert “or a private hire vehicle licence”;
(b)in paragraph (b) after “licensed taxis” insert “or licensed hire cars”.
(3)In subsection (5)—
(a)after “a taxi licence” insert “or a private hire vehicle licence”;
(b)for “the taxi licence of the vehicle in question” substitute “the relevant licence for that vehicle”.
(4)In subsection (7) for “taxi licences” substitute “relevant licences”.
(5)In subsection (8) after “a licensed taxi” insert “or a licensed hire car”.
(6)In subsection (9) after “a licensed taxi” insert “or a licensed hire car”.
(7)In subsection (10) for the words from “Such provisions” to “being so used;” substitute “At any time when a licensed taxi or a licensed hire car is being so used the prescribed provisions of the taxi code or, as the case may be, the hire car code shall apply in relation to it;”.
(8)After subsection (10) insert—
“(10A)In subsections (9) and (10) “prescribed” means prescribed by the appropriate authority.”.
(9)In consequence of the amendments made by this section, in the heading to section 12 after “taxis” there is inserted “or hire cars”.