Request ID: FOI-1350-2122 Date published: 21 October 2021
You asked
TfL state that in FOI-0945-1718 "We require them [Bus Operators] to send us copies of their risk assessments so we know they have them in place".
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-0945-1718
Can you please tell me at any time prior to the 7th May 2019 were TfL in receipt of any risk assessments from Uber London Limited prior to TfL issuing them a licence to operate a private hire service in London, or has TfL ever asked Uber London Limited to provide TfL with their risk assessments prior to TfL issuing them with an operators licence?
If the answer to this question yes, can you please send me these risk assessment documents?
If the answer is no, can you please make this clear?
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1350-2122
Thank you for your request received on 25 September 2021 asking for information about risk assessments received from Uber.
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 do hold the information you require. You asked:
Can you please tell me at any time prior to the 7th May 2019 were TfL in receipt of any risk assessments from Uber London Limited prior to TfL issuing them a licence to operate a private hire service in London, or has TfL ever asked Uber London Limited to provide TfL with their risk assessments prior to TfL issuing them with an operators licence?
All Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) Operators licensed by Transport for London (TfL) are required to operate services safely and meet the regulations, licensing requirements and licensing conditions that apply to them.
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.
This is because we sent and received a number of documents from Uber London Limited, on a range of topics, prior to 7 May 2019. In order to identify any “risk assessments” we would have to review each of these documents individually to determine whether it was relevant to your request.
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 in excess of 18 working hours to retrieve and compile the information you have requested.
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 should identify the information that you want as clearly and concisely as you can, specifying the types of document that you are looking for, for example by narrowing your request to a particular safety aspect.
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.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
