Please provide details of the (a) the budgeted amount and (b) the spend to date for the installation of the passenger lift at Cockfosters Tube Station.

---

Our ref: FOI-1248-2021

Thank you for your request received on 29 September 2020 asking for information about the installation of the passenger lift at Cockfosters tube station.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you requested. You asked:

Please provide details of the (a) the budgeted amount and (b) the spend to date for the installation of the passenger lift at Cockfosters Tube Station.

However, in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to provide the information requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2).

In this instance the exemption has been applied as disclosure of requested budget and spend would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the lift contractor. Disclosing this financial information would be likely to prejudice their commercial interests as it would provide competitors with an advantage by giving an insight into the costs of the lift installation. There is also a commercial harm likely to arise in respect of TfL’s ability to obtain best value for money in relation to future procurement agreements as prospective bidders may use this information to cluster their bids and therefore reduce the competitiveness of the tender process.

The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. TfL recognises the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, particularly where the use of public assets is concerned, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that TfL is able to obtain the best value from public assets, and that the marketplace is able to retain its competitiveness, outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of TfL’s processes.

If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation. 

If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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

Yours sincerely,

Melissa Nichols

FOI Case Officer

General Counsel

Transport for London

Back to top

---