Despite the fall of the Rutte IV cabinet, the planning for the new Onboard Computer Taxi (BCT) continues to proceed according to schedule. The fall of the cabinet is no obstacle for this project, which is led by Henri van der Heijden. When a cabinet becomes outgoing, the Senate, on the proposal of one or more members, determines which bills and subjects are deemed controversial. This procedure has been in force in the Netherlands since September 10, 2010. It concerns bills and subjects of which it can reasonably be expected that treatment with a different cabinet may lead to a different outcome.

There are a number of reasons that the project may not have been declared controversial and will therefore not be subject to political changes. The introduction of the BCT is always one bone of contention been in the taxi sector. Proponents and opponents often had strong opinions about the device. However, the project for its replacement is not a controversial topic. This is because the discussion is primarily a political consideration, with both the majority and a significant minority of MPs having the right to express their point of view.

In the past, there have been some controversial subjects that were killed by the change of cabinet. One such example was the so-called 'pension agreement' in 2010, which was declared controversial after the fall of the Balkenende IV cabinet. When the Rutte I cabinet subsequently came to power, important changes were made to the original plan.

challenge

Back to the current situation with the BCT, Van der Heijden explains: “A challenge in this project is ensuring sufficient support among the dozens of involved and interested parties. We want a solution that helps us improve our supervision and at the same time costs the taxi industry less hassle and money.”

The current BCT cards, which are necessary to ensure the reliability of the data in the current BCT, have security certificates with limited validity. The periodic large-scale exchange of these cards is very precious for the government.

The Eindhoven software company Pitane Mobility is already developing a new one on-board computer which will use mobile devices such as tablets. They also plan, together with the ILT, to carry out the first tests with the interface at the beginning of August. The intention is for all agreements, working methods, regulations and (ICT) facilities to be ready by 2024. After this, a transition period will apply until 2028, in which the sector will have time to switch from the old BCT to suitable alternatives.

The reform of the BCT, regardless of the caretaker status of the current cabinet, shows that essential projects can continue in times of political uncertainty. This example may serve as a precedent for future projects and legislative proposals.