TfL Ref: FOI-0403-1718

Thank you for your email received on 23 May 2017 asking for information about licensed private hire operators.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked for:

“1. Please provide an actual (or last available) number of associated vehicles (fleet size) for each private hire operator in London.

2. Also what other general information is able to be obtained by Tfl of private hire operators (such as total jobs, vehicles?          ...”

In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information requested in your first question as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2) of the FOI Act.  In this instance section 43(2) exemption has been applied to the number of vehicles registered with a private hire operator, as disclosure would be likely to prejudice their commercial interests. Disclosure of this information would enable rival companies to have an insight into any operator’s business model and undermine their position in the competitive market place.

The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise that there is a public interest in understanding the scope of our regulatory activity. However, we feel that there is a greater public interest in ensuring that companies are able to compete fairly without being placed at a commercial disadvantage and the balance of the public interest supports the exemption.

Regarding your second question, operators are required to provide us with details of the drivers and vehicles they have used to fulfil private hire bookings, or have had available to them to fulfil bookings in a specified period.

If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Paulina Tuffour
FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London