Request ID: FOI-0867-2223 Date published: 01 September 2022
You asked
F/on from FOI-0760
Thank you for the reply. In order to shorten the time and content requested could I please amend my FOI as follows:-
“Can you please supply copies of any correspondence (email, letter, text, whatsapp or other electronic communication, between the TPH policy team and any TFL or GLA employee or elected or appointed person concerning the changes to the Taxi and Private Hire driver policy relating to endorsable driving offences or penalty points between 01 June 2021 and 31 December 2021. Can you also supply any correspondence (same definition as above) from any outside person, group or Association relating to the new policy
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0867-2223 Thank you for your request received on 13 July 2022 asking for information about changes to the taxi and private hire driver policy relating to driving offences or penalty points. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
As part of our ongoing engagement with the taxi and private hire trades, we discussed the DfT Statutory Standards with TPH stakeholders regularly, and specifically discussed the Taxi and PHV Driver Policy (and Vehicle Policy) with TPH stakeholders at our fortnightly meeting on 22 December 2021 and 2 February 2022, and emailed all stakeholders following these meetings which included links to the new policies. In both sessions it was highlighted that the policies had been updated to be brought in line with the Statutory Standards recommendations. The documents themselves also include a summary of all of the changes that had been made as part of the version control.
The DfT Statutory Standards contained clear guidance regarding motoring offences – resulting in some of the changes we made to our Taxi and PHV Driver Policy.
Please find the requested correspondence attached.
In accordance with our obligations under Data Protection legislation some personal data has been removed, as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle of Article 5 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.
This exemption to the right of access to information is an absolute exemption and not subject to an assessment of whether the public interest favours use of the exemption.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free 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
