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Request ID: FOI-0365-2021
Date published: 11 June 2020
You asked
Please can I have a CD copy for the London overground announcements, and a CD copy of the - Piccadilly line announcements CD - Central Line Announcements CD - Jubilee Line Announcements CD - Bakerloo line announcements CD - Nothern Line Announcements CD - DLR Announcements CD - Hammersmith and City Line Announcements CD - Circle Line Announcements CD - Victoria Line Announcements CD - District line Announcements CD - Tramlink Announcements CD - iBus Announcements on route 8,10,11,88 My Address is XXXXXXXXX Please could I also ask for a copy of the tube map poster used in tube stations. and the the next bus stop closed .I would also like a TFL pen if that available
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0365-2021
Thank you for your requests received by Transport for London (TfL) on 10th June 2020 asking for CDs of announcements on various TfL services.
Your requests has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
By email - “hi can i have a ibus cd because i am doing a road safety show on buses”;
And;
Via our online FOI form - “Please can I have a CD copy for the London overground announcements, and a CD copy of the - Piccadilly line announcements CD - Central Line Announcements CD - Jubilee Line Announcements CD - Bakerloo line announcements CD - Nothern Line Announcements CD - DLR Announcements CD - Hammersmith and City Line Announcements CD - Circle Line Announcements CD - Victoria Line Announcements CD - District line Announcements CD - Tramlink Announcements CD - iBus Announcements on route 8,10,11,88 My Address is XXXXXXXXX Please could I also ask for a copy of the tube map poster used in tube stations. and the next bus stop closed .I would also like a TFL pen if that available.”
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Note that the FOI Act covers recorded information only. Therefore your request for assets (such as posters and pens) is not covered by the Act. I woud advise that you visit the TfL shop where such items may be available for purchase: https://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/clothing?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItYT5za_56QIVQuvtCh1aIwf6EAAYASAAEgKTmfD_BwE
In terms of the request for announcements, I am afraid at the current time we are having to refuse such requests under section 14(1) of the Act. We consider that providing the requested information would place an unreasonable burden on us at this time. As you will be aware, it is essential for London, and in particular for all critical workers, that we continue to provide a safe transport network that enables them to make the journeys they need to and our staff are working hard to support them and protect all Londoners. We consider that answering this request would represent a disproportionate effort and would require the redirection of limited specialist resources and the attention of staff away from their core functions who could be supporting other essential activity.
We do wish to clarify that whilst we consider that your request falls under section 14(1) of the FOI Act, this does not reflect a conclusion that it has been your intention to place an undue burden on our resources.
On the specific application of section 14(1) we have been steered by the ICO guidance on the use of that exemption that can be found on its website here: https://ico.org.uk/media/1198/dealing-with-vexatious-requests.pdf
To be clear, it is the current context in which the request has been made that is central to our decision to apply the exemption set out in section 14(1) in response to your request. We have responded to several hundred requests for audio recordings over many years. However, due to alternative working arrangements aligned with the Government’s measures to tackle the coronavirus, the FOI Case Management Team do not currently have access to the necessary hardware required to create CDs of audio announcements in response to FOI requests and so we are unable to process these requests remotely.
Additionally, whilst we have also explored alternative technological solutions, it is an unavoidable consequence that processing requests of this nature would require critical employees to be diverted from their operational responsibilities and, in the current circumstances, we consider that our priority must remain on providing and maintaining an effective transport system to essential workers across the capital and that our limited resources are utilised as effectively as possible to ensure that happens. Therefore we are refusing your request under s14 of the FOI Act.
The Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the coronavirus. It is essential for London, and in particular for all critical workers, that we continue to provide a safe transport network that enables them to make the journeys they need to. 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. Should you wish to submit a revised request please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation and so you may wish to reconsider the timing of this request.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
David Wells
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
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