Request ID: FOI-0647-2425 Date published: 18 June 2024
You asked
Please provide copies of all files, documents and correspondence pertaining to a TfL license that was issued on June 6, 2023 (and expires on June 5, 2028) to operate private hire vehicles in London, with the license no. 0106330101 (tier 0-10), including all files relating to the application for the license.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0647-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on23 May 2024 asking for information about a private hire licence.
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 the information you require. However, in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information requested as it is subject to statutory exemptions to the right of access to information under section 41 – information provided in confidence and section 43(2) – prejudice to commercial interests.
In this instance, section 41 has been applied as disclosure of the information you have requested was provided to TfL by a third party (the private hire operator) in confidence.
In addition, Section 43(2) has been applied as disclosure of this information would be likely to prejudice the operator’s commercial interests. Disclosure of this information could be used by competitors to gain insight into the operator’s business model and processes, which would undermine their position in the competitive marketplace.
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 the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that private hire operators can continue to operate effectively without being placed at a commercial advantage outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.
