Numbers and break down of cancers and respiratory claims
Request ID: FOI-1284-2122 Date published: 15 October 2021
You asked
how many bus drivers have been medically retired due to cancer/respiratory issues over the last 20 years and also how many cases have been raised by ex-employees against TFL for these two issues.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1284-2122
Thank you for your request clarified on 20 September 2021 asking for information about claims made by bus drivers. 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 we hold some of the information you require. Since the creation of Transport for London (TfL) in 2000, the London bus fleet has constantly been upgraded to harness the cleanest vehicle technologies. Currently, the bus fleet has been raised to the ultra-low emission Euro VI engine emission standard or better and also includes more than 550 zero-emission buses. To improve air quality and decarbonise the fleet, we have plans to make the bus fleet zero-emission not later than 2034 with options to bring this forward if Government support can be provided. Bus drivers also have air conditioning systems in cabs that include dust filtration. You asked: How many bus drivers have been medically retired due to cancer/respiratory issues over the last 20 years and also how many cases have been raised by ex-employees against TFL for these two issues? We do not hold information on the first part of your request. Bus drivers are employed by the operators and not directly by TfL so they would hold this information. A list of bus operators and their contact details can be found on our website: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/who-runs-your-bus. With regard to the second part of your question, any claims to do with bus operation would, in the first instance, be referred to the relevant bus operator as they employ the bus drivers. Unfortunately, to provide the information you have requested would exceed the ‘appropriate limit’ of £450 set by the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. Under section 12 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to comply with a request if we estimate that the cost of determining whether we hold the information, locating and retrieving it and extracting it from other information would exceed the appropriate limit. This is calculated at £25 per hour for every hour spent on the activities described. We have estimated that it would cost over £450 to provide a response to your current request. This is because it is estimated that it would take over 18 working hours to retrieve and compile the information you have requested. We have carried out a search of our raw claims data back to the early 2000s and have found a total of 161 cases relating to claims involving issues such as cancer or respiratory disorders. We do not centrally record whether the claimant was a bus driver or not so we would have to manually review each of these files. Many of these claims will have been handled by external solicitors, using manual files, that will have been archived some time ago. While we are unable to confirm how many of these cases do relate to bus drivers, our claims team have advised that they cannot recall a claim for cancer / respiratory disease from a bus driver. To help bring the cost of responding to your request within the £450 limit, you may wish to consider narrowing its scope so that we can more easily locate, retrieve and extract the information you are seeking. If you want to refine your request or make a Freedom of Information Act request in future, please bear in mind that the Freedom of Information Act allows you to request recorded information held by us. You may want to consider limiting your request to a narrower period of time. Although your request can take the form of a question, rather than a request for specific documents, we do not have to answer your question if it would require the creation of new information or the provision of a judgement, explanation, advice or opinion that was not already recorded at the time of your request. Please note that we will not be taking further action until we receive your revised request. In the meantime, if you have any queries or would like to discuss your request, please do not hesitate 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
