Request ID: FOI-0453-2425 Date published: 28 May 2024
You asked
Dear Transport for London (TfL) Team,
I kindly request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:
What is the average processing time for issuing a license to an applicant who has submitted all necessary elements and fees on time, and has passed the topographical test? While it is advertised online that this process can take up to 16 weeks, I have surpassed this timeframe considerably.
We answered
TfL Ref: 0453-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 8 May 2024 asking for information about private hire licence applications.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked: What is the average processing time for issuing a license to an applicant who has submitted all necessary elements and fees on time, and has passed the topographical test? While it is advertised online that this process can take up to 16 weeks, I have surpassed this timeframe considerably.
I can confirm that we hold the information to calculate the average processing times, at least in theory. However, I am afraid that in practice it is not possible to provide an answer within the costs limit for responding to FOI cases, as set out under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act. Under section 12, TfL is not required to provide information if it would cost more than £450 to determine if the requested information is held, and to then locate, retrieve or extract it from elsewhere. This is calculated at a rate of £25 per hour, equivalent to 18 hours work.
In this instance the exemption applies because there is no quick, efficient or automated way of calculating the average time to process applications. Rather, we would have to manually review each individual application to ascertain when it was submitted and when it was completed, and work out how long each such application took, and then calculate the average of all such applications combined. Given the numbers involved (we receive around 1,000 applications a week) it is not possible to achieve this within the costs limit for any reasonable time period (noting there is no timeframe given in your request). Even for a relatively short period such as the last month, this would equate to around 4,000 applications. It is not possible to review that number of applications individually, extract the necessary information, and then carry out the necessary calculations within 18 hours (even at an ambitious rate of one application every two minutes, reviewing 4,000 cases would take over 130 hours, vastly in excess of the 18 hour threshold).
The licence application process is multi-staged and often iterative, which can involve requests for further information or clarity from applicants.
There are also a number of elements in the licensing process that are outside of TfL’s control, such as the completion of an enhanced DBS check and submission of any required medical information. Note that there are a number of reasons why the processing of applications may take longer than expected. For example, the time required to process an application may increase as a consequence of any of the following, many of which are outside of TfL’s control:
Applications being submitted but found to be incomplete or inaccurate
Checking that an applicant meets the mandatory requirements for licensing, such as the right to work in the U.K, and that they hold the relevant driving licence and driving experience
Consideration of the applicant’s medical fitness and whether they meet the DVLA’s Group 2 standard of medical fitness to drive. This may include a full review of the applicant’s medical history by our medical advisors
Ensuring that the applicant’s character meets the required standard, including a review of the results of an enhanced DBS check
The candidate successfully completing the required assessments of their topographical skills and safety, equality and regulatory understanding (SERU) and completed of an English language speaking and listening test
Further information on the requirements for licensing can be found at the following location: www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing For questions about the application process or further information about the status of your specific application you can contact our Taxi and Private Hire Team at [email protected]
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Sara Thomas FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
