Dear TfL, I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions. 1) BEFORE granting Uber an operator's license in 2012, did anyone at TfL see Uber's server/booking dispatch system working (in real time) to ensure that bookings were taken at a London office before being forwarded to a driver? 2) SINCE Uber were granted an operator's license in 2012, has anyone at TfL seen Uber's server/booking dispatch system working (in real time) to ensure that bookings are taken at a London office before being forwarded to a driver? 3) If the answer is "yes" to either or both of the above questions, please provide any documentation relating to these inspections including: * Date(s) of Inspection(s) * Name(s) of person(s) carrying out said inspection(s) * All documented conclusions from said Inspection(s)

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TfL Ref:          FOI-0886-1718

Thank you for your email received on 13 July 2017 asking for information relating to Uber London Limited’s (ULL) private hire operator licence. I apologise for the delay in my response.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. You asked:

1)    BEFORE granting Uber an operator's license in 2012, did anyone at TfL see Uber's server/booking dispatch system working (in real time) to ensure that bookings were taken at a London office before being forwarded to a driver?

2)    SINCE Uber were granted an operator's license in 2012, has anyone at TfL seen Uber's server/booking dispatch system working (in real time) to ensure that bookings are taken at a London office before being forwarded to a driver?

3)    If the answer is "yes" to either or both of the above questions, please provide any documentation relating to these inspections including:
* Date(s) of Inspection(s)
* Name(s) of person(s) carrying out said inspection(s)
* All documented conclusions from said Inspection(s)

TfL carried out pre-licensing checks for Uber, as it does for any other applicant for a private hire operator licence in London, including a pre-licensing inspection at Uber’s London office. An inspection, in real time, of Uber’s computer server/booking dispatch system did not form part of those pre-licensing checks.

TfL conducted further investigations in 2014, and engaged extensively with Uber in particular in relation to the mechanisms by which bookings are invited and accepted. A note concerning the outcome of this investigation is publicly available on the Greater London Authority website at the following location: www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/TfL%20Uber%20legal%20advice_0.pdf.

TfL has since made further enquiries about Uber’s booking systems.

However, in accordance with section 31(3) of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to confirm or deny whether we hold any information in relation to question 2, and by extension, question 3.

This is because information of this nature would be held in accordance with our responsibility for regulating the private hire trade in London. The exemption applies to protect our ability to clarify and confirm details on specific issues and disclosure of this information at this time is likely to inhibit our ability to do so.

This benefits the public as it enables greater oversight of private hire operators and better scrutiny of their services by TfL as the regulator and benefits TfL because proactive discussion avoids costly enforcement activity and delayed access to information.

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 that there is significant public interest in this matter, however the balance of the public interest supports the exemption in order to support and enable the effective and timely sharing of information between ourselves and the taxi and private hire trade.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Lee Hill

Senior FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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