Request ID: FOI-1475-2223 Date published: 13 October 2022
You asked
I request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in reference to the attached PHV Operator License for WeKnow:
• which tier/size of operation the above PHV Operator license falls into as per the TFL application guidance below:
Number of
vehicles 5 year fee (£) Licence fee as an
average annual cost (£)
Application Grant of licence Total
0-10 400 1,600 2,000 N/A
11-20 1,200 4,800 6,000 N/A
21-50 3,800 15,200 19,000 3,040
51-100 6,000 24,000 30,000 4,800
101-500 30,000 120,000 150,000 24,000
501-1,000 70,000 280,000 350,000 56,000
1,001-10,000 140,000 560,000 700,000 112,000
10,001+ 580,000 2,320,000 2,900,000 464,000
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1475-2223
Thank you for your request received on 20 September 2022 asking for information about the private hire operator, WeKnow.
Your request has been processed 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 require.
In accordance with the FOI Act we are not obliged to supply information on the operator as this is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2) of the FOI Act.
In this instance section 43(2) exemption has been applied to the information you have requested as it could prejudice their commercial interests. Disclosure of this information would enable rival companies to have an insight into any operator’s business model by allowing them to calculate the size of an operator’s fleet, and thus undermine their position in the competitive market place. Any disclosure under the FOI Act has to be regarded as a disclosure to the public at large.
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 the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance feel that the balance lies in favour of withholding the information to ensure that private hire operators can continue to be able to operate effectively without being placed at a commercial disadvantage. Please refer to the Decision Notice issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office for further details: https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/decision-notices/2017/2172517/fs50676040.pdf.
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free 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
