Wear a face covering, under what criteria will the \mayor remove this new condition?
Request ID: FOI-0807-2122 Date published: 12 August 2021
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
The Mayor as of 19th July 2021 has added a requirement to wear a face covering on all London Transport / Transport for London services to the Conditions of Carriage. Under what criteria will he remove this new condition please?
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0807-2122
Thank you for your request received on 18 July 2021 asking for information about the use of face coverings on our network.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Throughout the pandemic, TfL has taken its lead from prevailing UK Government policy, which has been very clear in its communications relating to the ‘Step 4’ changes (introduced in England on 19 July 2021) that, although the legal requirement to wear a face covering has been removed, it (the Government) “still recommends and expects that people wear face coverings in enclosed and crowded spaces where they come into contact with people they don’t normally meet – such as at airports and on public or international transport.” On 14 July, the Secretary of State for Transport stated in a television interview that he “expected, and indeed, wanted” some train, bus and rail companies to insist on mask-wearing on their services and he publicly backed the decision to keep the wearing of them compulsory on London’s public transport services (except for those who are exempt).
On 15 July 2021, TfL decided to retain the requirement, under paragraph 2.4 of its Conditions of Carriage, for customers and passengers to wear a face covering on the TfL network. TfL’s decision on 15 July 2021 was taken under its statutory powers contained in section 173(1), and Schedule 11, paragraphs 1(1) and 32 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (as amended). The Mayor did not direct TfL to take this decision but requested it to do so. The decision is kept under continual review and we will continue to follow the Government advice on the use of face coverings and any future decisions regarding their use will be taken in due course.
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
