Request ID: FOI-0315-2122 Date published: 02 June 2021
You asked
I would like to make a formal request in Freedom of Information of the amount of resident discounts that have been authorised since 1 August 2020 to date and the reasons that the discount was authorised. Could I also know the gender of these customers and race. I understand that you have 30 days to respond to this request.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0315-2122/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 6 May 2021 asking for information about Congestion Charge resident discounts.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require.
The residents discount was temporarily closed to new applications from 31 July 2020. In the interests of fairness and in line with existing policy, we did continue to consider some renewal applications which we received in the three months following the suspension of the discount. This was where a resident previously held the discount but the account had expired and they were now applying for it to be renewed. As the previous discount had expired these are listed as new applications on our system and this is why the figures show new applications being processed in the three months following the temporary closure of the discount. Those new applications in November are primarily renewals received in the three months following the closure of the discount which were not processed until November.
The new applications from December 2020 – March 2021 were processed on a discretionary basis.
The renewal applications are the numbers of current residents who are renewing in line with the usual requirement to renew their discount annually.
We do not record the gender or race of those registered for the discount.
Resident discount new registrations
Resident discount renewal registrations
Aug-20
97
566
Sep-20
59
596
Oct-20
23
486
Nov-20
20
704
Dec-20
6
294
Jan-21
3
617
Feb-21
2
436
Mar-21
1
600
Total
211
4,299
If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
