Grant Shapps, who took on the post as Transport Secretary in Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle, was responding to calls for stricter rules on where Minicab drivers obtain their licences.
Mr Shapps said there have been "too many cases where minicab drivers have used their job to prey on vulnerable people".
The call had been sparked by a case involving a Telford taxi driver who was jailed last month for sexually assaulting a female passenger.
It emerged that the driver had not been licensed by Telford & Wrekin Council, and had instead secured his driver's permit in another council area. A situation all to common around the UK. PH vehicles with TfL roundels can be found working all over the UK.
There are calls now for the rules to be tightened up, so drivers can only work in the area where they obtain their licence.
Mr Schapps, said the government had been consulting on new measures and would announce its decision in the future.
He said: “We know that the vast majority of drivers are safe and act responsibly, but we have seen too many cases where minicab drivers have used their job to prey on vulnerable people.
“The Government has consulted on a wide range of measures including new driver safety standards and harnessing new technologies to ensure passenger safety, and will publish its response in due course.”
TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT
Arriving back in at Stanstead Airport last Wednesday, we were met with a slight delay for transfer to our off airport parking.
While waiting, I was amazed at the amount of Uber style cars, with TfL roundels picking up people who had been on my flight.
I spoke to a few people asking if they had made bookings and how long they had waited for the car, supposedly to have come from it’s licensing area and was told their requests were being met almost immediately.
As my mini bus took us to the car park, we passed hundreds of Prius with TfL roundels, waiting to be hired.
Why have TfL let this situation get so out of hand?