Request ID: FOI-0578-2425 Date published: 21 June 2024
You asked
I am looking to find out about Staff Nominee passes.
1. The number of active Staff Nominee passes in operation in January 2024, broken down by type (if applicable).
2. The number of journeys taken by Staff Nominees between January 2021 and December 2023 (inclusive), broken down by calendar month and by network type (e.g. Underground, bus, etc.)
3. The approximate value of all Staff Nominee journeys made between January 2021 and December 2023 (inclusive), broken down by calendar month if they were to be made using regular Oyster cards by adults.
4. The number of reviews into improper use of the Staff Nominee passes undertaken by TfL between January 2021 and December 2023 (inclusive), broken down by year.
5. The number of cases of improper use of the Staff Nominee passes in which a sanction was issued by TfL between January 2021 and December 2023 (inclusive), broken down by year, and a scheme of the sanctions enacted.
I would define 'improper use', as any case in which a user has been found to have not abided with the required rules, as set out by TfL:
https://foi.tfl.gov.uk/FOI-1604-2021/CoU-Staff%20nominee%20%20May%202015.pdf
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0578-2425
Thank you for your request received on 17 May 2024 asking for information about staff nominee passes. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.
TfL employees, and employees of its transport operators such as buses, DLR, Overground, Trams and the Elizabeth line are entitled to free travel on TfL operated services (excluding the Thames Clipper and Cable Car). This is a discretionary and long-standing employee benefit given since before TfL was formed in 2000, which is integral to TfL’s employee offering, to enable it to attract and retain staff as part of the overall reward package. TfL employees are eligible for a Retired Staff Oyster if they retire at age 50 or over and have at least 20 years’ service with a participating employer or successor to London Regional Transport. Exceptions to this are Chief Officers and medical retirements.
This benefits extends to one nominated partner or family member living at the same address.
You asked for: 1. The number of active Staff Nominee passes in operation in January 2024, broken down by type (if applicable) Please see the table below:
TfL Nominees
19,415
Third Party Nominees
3,323
Bus Operator Nominees
22,047
Retired Nominees
10,751
Total
55,536
2. The number of journeys taken by Staff Nominees between January 2021 and December 2023 (inclusive), broken down by calendar month and by network type (e.g. Underground, bus, etc.) 3. The approximate value of all Staff Nominee journeys made between January 2021 and December 2023 (inclusive), broken down by calendar month if they were to be made using regular Oyster cards by adults. We do not hold the information you have requested. We only hold data on journeys associated with an individual made using Oyster cards for between eight and nine weeks after the card is used and therefore we cannot provide the information requested on the number or type of journeys made using nominee cards.
Additionally, there is no cost to TfL because the number of journeys made is a tiny proportion of the 13m journeys made every day on TfL-run transport, meaning no additional services need to be operated. All TfL employees and their nominees are expected to act as ambassadors for TfL, helping ensure the security of the system and helping assist our customers where necessary. 4. The number of reviews into improper use of the Staff Nominee passes undertaken by TfL between January 2021 and December 2023 (inclusive), broken down by year. 5. The number of cases of improper use of the Staff Nominee passes in which a sanction was issued by TfL between January 2021 and December 2023 (inclusive), broken down by year, and a scheme of the sanctions enacted. Unfortunately, to provide the above information you have requested would exceed the ‘appropriate limit’ of £450 set by FOI (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. Under section 12 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to comply with a request if we estimate that the cost of determining whether we hold the information, locating and retrieving it and extracting it from other information would exceed the appropriate limit. This is calculated at £25 per hour for every hour spent on the activities described. We have estimated that it would cost over £450 to provide a response to your current request. This is because it is estimated that it would take in excess of 18 working hours to retrieve and compile the information you have requested. We record information on the number of passes that are withdrawn in our system. However, we are not able to report on the reasons for the withdrawal and would have to manually review each of the individual records. If it found that there is misuse by the pass holder then they will have their pass removed.
To help bring the cost of responding to your request within the £450 limit, you may wish to consider narrowing its scope so that we can more easily locate, retrieve and extract the information you are seeking. If you want to refine your request or make a FOI Act request in future, please bear in mind that the FOI Act allows you to request recorded information held by us. You should identify the information that you want as clearly and concisely as you can, specifying the types of document that you are looking for. You might also consider limiting your request to a narrower timeframe. Although your request can take the form of a question, rather than a request for specific documents, we do not have to answer your question if it would require the creation of new information or the provision of a judgement, explanation, advice or opinion that was not already recorded at the time of your request. Please note that we will not be taking further action until we receive your revised request. In the meantime, if you have any queries or would like to discuss your request, please do not hesitate to contact me. 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
