F/O from 1203-2021 Dear FOI, I appreciate that if you approach answering my original request in the way you have outlined that this would be very time consuming. I would therefore like to rephrase my request as follows. Please provide copies or summaries of those parts of any papers submitted by TfL to the London COVID Transport Task Force since 1st April 2020 until 13th October 2020, and copies of those parts of the minutes of meetings of the London COVID Transport Task Force since 1st April 2020 until 13th October 2020, which in each case discuss how long the temporary suspension of free travel for Freedom Pass and 60 plus card holders is anticipated or planned to last, including (but not being limited to) when the temporary suspension referred to will or may end, and on what basis. Other documents and other parts of any documents within scope but not discussing these issues should not be copied or summarised to me.

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TfL Ref  1358-2021 

 

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 14 October 2020 asking for  'copies or summaries of those parts of any papers submitted by TfL to the London COVID Transport Task Force since 1st April 2020 until 13th October 2020, and copies of those parts of the minutes of meetings of the London COVID Transport Task Force since 1st April 2020 until 13th October 2020, which in each case discuss how long the temporary suspension of free travel for Freedom Pass and 60 plus card holders is anticipated or planned to last, including (but not being limited to) when the temporary suspension referred to will or may end, and on what basis'. 

 

We do not hold any documents which we’ve submitted or any minutes from the meetings which specifically relate to when the suspension may end.  As we stated in our previous response, the temporary suspension of free travel for Freedom Pass and 60 plus card holders during peak times was a condition of the funding agreement with the Government in May. The agreement does not specify for how long the temporary suspension is to remain in place and the discussions around future funding are still ongoing. The most recent funding letter from the Government of 31 October 2020 which explains the current position can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/931802/transport-for-london-settlement-letter.pdf (see, in particular, the references in paragraphs 12 and 13(n)). 

 

The Department for Transport (DfT) provides the secretariat to the Taskforce. You may want to contact the DfT if you would like further information on this:  https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport 

 

You may also be interested in reading TfL’s latest statement on the Government funding agreement and the Government’s most recent update which can be found at the following links:  

 

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/update-on-government-funding-agreement-for-tfl

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/local-transport-update-2-november-2020 

 

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, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

 

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

 

Yours sincerely  

 

 

Sara Thomas 

FOI Case Management Team 

General Counsel 

Transport for London 

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