Please could you provide a full list of all Private Hire Operators currently licensed by your licensing authority (name of operator & applicant name / address / licence number / start-expiry date of licence) If possible, could you provide the number of drivers registered to each operator / by the council

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Our ref: FOI-1865-1718/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 11 October 2017 asking for information about Private Hire Operators.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our Information Access Policy.

Please find attached a list of private hire operators as requested. Details of all currently licensed operators can also be found on our online licence-checker

Please note that email addresses and telephone numbers have not been included, in accordance with TfL’s obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the DPA, specifically the first principle of the DPA which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions of Schedule 2 of the Data Protection Act which would make the processing ‘fair’. This exemption to the right of access to information is an absolute exemption and not subject to an assessment of whether the public interest favours use of the exemption.

In accordance with the FOI Act we are not obliged to supply you with the number of drivers registered to each operator as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2) and section 41 of the FOI Act.

In this instance section 43(2) exemption has been applied to the number of drivers and vehicles registered with any operator, as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of private hire operators. Disclosure of this information would enable rival companies to have an insight into any operator’s business model and undermine their position in the competitive market place.

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.

Section 41 has also been applied as this information was provided to us in confidence by each operator. We consider that this information possesses the necessary quality of confidence as it was submitted under an understanding that it would be held in confidence. As stated above, the information could undermine every operator’s commercial interests if it were to be released into the public domain. It could also have an adverse effect on the flow of accurate information to TfL as private hire companies could be reluctant to provide us with the number of drivers and vehicles registered to them given the likely commercial repercussions to their trade.

Since section 41 is an absolute exemption, as such we have not gone on to consider the balance of the public interest, except to the extent of noting that there is no special public interest in disclosure of this information that would justify a breach of confidence in this case.

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

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