Request ID: FOI-1728-2223 Date published: 10 November 2022
You asked
Under the freedom of Information Act, I would like the following information:
1. What is the average time frame for a licence to be issued. Taking into account the applicant paid all relevant fees, submitted all correct paperwork and passed the topographical test. The period of 2021 and 2022.
2. How many Private Hire Driver's licenses have been issued to persons who applied as of 2021?
3. How many Private Hire driver's licenses have been issued to persons who successfully passed the Topographical assessment from the beginning of 2022 and to date?
4. The department for taxi and private hire vehicles is not accessible by telephone and neither a office site. TFL claim they can be contacted via a telephone contact number but this information is incorrect and misleading on the website. And there is no available telephone line to contact TFL.
5. All emails are a standard format of COPY AND PASTE. “ your application is undergoing a full assessment” please provide the relevant departments contact information to escalate all complaints.
6. My last email regarding an update on my application the response received “we endeavour to process applications on time but are affected by limited resources during these challenging times”
TFL generated revenue exceeds billions of pounds annually. This revenue is based on millions of passengers using the current day to day travel facilities. TFL revenue generated through the operation of congestion charges, ULEZ charges and various commercial activities. TFL employs tens of thousands of employees running the day day operation based internal and external.
TFL this is unacceptable I will be escalating this matter further. my complaint about this unfair situation and which authority is overseeing /regulating the specific department. I await your response with all information requested.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-1728-2223/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 17 October 2022 asking for information about Private Hire driver licences.
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 do hold some of the information you require. You asked:
Under the freedom of Information Act, I would like the following information: 1. What is the average time frame for a licence to be issued. Taking into account the applicant paid all relevant fees, submitted all correct paperwork and passed the topographical test. The period of 2021 and 2022. 2. How many Private Hire Driver's licenses have been issued to persons who applied as of 2021? 3. How many Private Hire driver's licenses have been issued to persons who successfully passed the Topographical assessment from the beginning of 2022 and to date? 4. The department for taxi and private hire vehicles is not accessible by telephone and neither a office site. TFL claim they can be contacted via a telephone contact number but this information is incorrect and misleading on the website. And there is no available telephone line to contact TFL. 5. All emails are a standard format of COPY AND PASTE. “ your application is undergoing a full assessment” please provide the relevant departments contact information to escalate all complaints. 6. My last email regarding an update on my application the response received “we endeavour to process applications on time but are affected by limited resources during these challenging times” TFL generated revenue exceeds billions of pounds annually. This revenue is based on millions of passengers using the current day to day travel facilities. TFL revenue generated through the operation of congestion charges, ULEZ charges and various commercial activities. TFL employs tens of thousands of employees running the day day operation based internal and external. TFL this is unacceptable I will be escalating this matter further. my complaint about this unfair situation and which authority is overseeing /regulating the specific department. I await your response with all information requested. Given the volume of applications we receive, the fact that each one differs depending on the individual circumstances of the applicant, that aspects of the licensing process are outside of TfL’s control and that each application is considered on a case-by-case basis, there is no specific timeframe for processing an application. We also do not record information in a way which would enable us to answer your third question.
We have issued 55,097 private hire driver licenses to persons who applied as of the beginning of 2021.
Once we receive a private hire driver application an initial assessment takes place to ensure the required documents have been provided and that the mandatory requirements for licensing are met. This stage also includes ensuring an enhanced DBS check has been undertaken by the applicant, which is undertaken by a third party and is outside of the applicant’s or TfL’s control. At this stage there may also be a process of requesting and receiving any missing materials until the application is deemed to be fully complete.
An applicant is then invited to apply for a topographical skills assessment and a safety, equality and regulatory understanding (SERU) assessment (for applications submitted from 1 October 2021). The time taken to complete the assessments depends on a number of factors, including how quickly an applicant books an assessment, the availability of assessments (which have been impacted by nationwide COVID lockdowns) and the applicants’ ability to meet the required standard, or whether any retest of an assessment is required.
The licence application process is complex, multi-staged and often iterative, which can involve requests for further information or clarity from applicants. There are also a number of elements in the licensing process that are outside of TfL’s control, such as the completion of a DBS check and submission of any required medical information. Therefore, there is no target for when licensing decisions are taken and this depends on individual applications. In each case we need to ensure that an applicant is ‘fit and proper’ to ensure the continued safety of the travelling public.
For example, the time required to process an application may increase as a consequence of:
Applications being submitted but found to be incomplete or inaccurate
Checking that an applicant meets the mandatory requirements for licensing, such as the right to work in the UK, and that they hold the relevant driving licence and driving experience
Consideration of the applicant’s medical fitness and whether they meet the DVLA’s Group 2 standard of medical fitness to drive. This may include a full review of the applicant’s medical history by our medical advisors
Ensuring that the applicant’s character meets the required standard, including a review of the results of an enhanced DBS check
The candidate successfully completing the required topographical skills and safety, equality and regulatory understanding (SERU) assessments
You can complain about the services provided by the TPH Licensing team by sending an email to: [email protected].
I apologise that this process took longer than anticipated and that you did not receive a more comprehensive response following your contact with us. I understand that since making your Freedom of Information Act request your licence has been granted.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
