F/on from FOI-1275 Without prejudice to the full terms of my original request (and having obtained this information without difficulty from other licensing authorities who asked a great many questions over a very long period of time), for the time being I would be prepared to limit my request to the questions asked upon the review in 2014 to which you refer. I trust it will take nothing like 18 hours to search for, extract and collate the requested information and to provide it to me. If there is then sufficient time remaining, perhaps we can reconsider whether there is sufficient time to provide the same information in relation to the 2012 application.

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TfL Ref: FOI-1663-1718

Thank you for your email received by us on 27 September 2017 asking for information about questions posed to Uber. Please accept my apologies for the delay in our response.

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 hold some of the information you require.

The 2014 Uber operating model investigation took place over several months and consisted of multiple discussions, meetings, conversations and some exchange of correspondence. However, these in-depth discussions were framed around the below points which were determined to require explanation and/or clarity to further our understanding of the operating model. To confirm, the numbered points below are provided to you verbatim.

1. Clarification of the legal entity between Uber B.V and Uber London Limited.

    

    

2. Which company will be making the provision, acceptance and the undertaking of PHV Bookings, once point 1 has been addressed.

    

    

3. Review of the Uber website to reflect the London legislation

    

    

4. The charging of a fare using a Time x Distance device which is in contravention of the 1998 Act.

    

    

5. Review of your Sub-contracting processes to reflect that all bookings go through the sub-contractor and not directly to the driver.

    

    

6. Whether or not Uber BV, through the use of Uber App or otherwise, is accepting private hire bookings, or making provision for the invitation or acceptance of such bookings. If, as we understand, Uber’s position is that Uber BV is not, please explain;

    

    

7. Whether or not Uber London Limited, through the use of Uber App or otherwise, is accepting private hire bookings, or making provision for the invitation or acceptance of such bookings. If, as we understand, Uber’s position is that they are, please explain;

    

    

8. Whether or not Uber drivers, through the use of Uber App or otherwise, are accepting private hire bookings directly, or making provision for the invitation or acceptance of such bookings. If, as we understand, Uber’s position is that drivers are not, please explain;

    

    

9. What Uber’s position is on where private hire bookings are being accepted by Uber;

    

    

10. If, as we understand, Uber’s position is that its vehicles are not equipped with taximeters (defined in section 11(3) of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 as “a device for calculating the fare to be charged in respect of any journey by reference to the distance travelled or time elapsed since the start of the journey (or a combination of both)”, please explain;

     

     

11. Whether or not Uber is making arrangements (e.g. sub-contracting) with other licensed operators for the provision or acceptance of private hire bookings;

     

     

12. Whether or not all vehicles carrying out bookings accepted by Uber in London have a London private hire vehicle licence in force and are driven at all times by a person holding a London private hire driver’s licence.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Lee Hill

Senior FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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