SGS United Kingdom has won a seven-year contract to carry out the inspection and licensing of private hire vehicles for Transport for London (TfL).

The contract will start in January 2004 and represents the third and final phase of the Greater London Authority's initiative to improve the safety of London's private hire trade as outlined in the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998.

TfL taxi and private hire director Ed Thompson said: 'This is a crucial stage in the licensing of the private hire industry in London and we look forward to working with the SGS Group. The industry is part-way through a licensing project which will result in better services for the public.'