Our Ref:         FOI-0110-2021
 
Thank you for your request received on 23 April 2020 asking for information about the cost of working from home equipment since the outbreak of coronavirus.
 
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked:
 
1. Please tell me how much was spent on paying for the provision of new items of office furniture and equipment to facilitate staff to work from home during the coronavirus lockdown
 
As of the date of your request, no new office furniture had been purchased. Since 10 March the cost of the requests for laptops has been £401,614.81 and mobiles £181,023.18. However we are unable to state whether these requests were because of the need for equipment to facilitate working from home as these items may have been ordered regardless of the current restrictions in place.
 
We also maintain a stock of IT equipment that can be made available should staff require it, this includes a monitor, keyboard etc. We have placed an order for £96k to hold in stock those IT bundle equipment items. There was a requirement to pre-purchase stock as supply chains were likely to affected by Covid-19. To date there have been seven successful requests for the bundle of equipment.
 
2. Please state how much was spent on paying for the transportation of office furniture and equipment, which was not new but had already been in use, to your staff members’ homes during the coronavirus lockdown
 
At the date of your request, £720.00 had been spent on the transportation of office furniture and equipment.
 
3. Please provide me with the cost and the make and model of the single most expensive item of equipment or furniture that was bought for a staff member to facilitate them working from home during the coronavirus lockdown.
 
No furniture has been purchased for staff. The single most expensive piece of equipment is the Microsoft Surface Pro (12.3" Screen) at a cost of £924.57.
 
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.
 
Please note, the Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the coronavirus. It is essential for London, that we continue to provide a safe transport network for essential journeys.
 
In current circumstances, we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present.
 
Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.
 
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
 
Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]