Under the Freedom of information act 2000 I would like to request information regarding the process in which Bolt were granted a license by TFL to operate as a Private Hire Operator, and why they are entitled to be licensed using a different process from that of London based Private Hire Operators. I also request under the same act you provide the reason a search for the validity of the license granted to Bolt is not enabled on the TFL license checker As a Licensed Private Hire Operator, I have seen no amendments to the "1998 PHV Act" to allow special licensing conditions to Global companies

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Our ref: FOI-1946-2021/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 21 December 2020 asking for information about operator licensing.

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.

All private hire operators that accept bookings in London must first be granted a private hire operator’s licence by Transport for London and in order to do so, they must all meet the same licensing requirements.

The application process to obtain a London private hire operator’s licence is fully detailed on our website: www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/private-hire-operator-licence.

Bolt is the organisation and trading name of Bolt Services UK Limited and is licensed as a private hire operator in London having met the criteria outlined above. This can be confirmed using our online licence checker: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/licence-checker.

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.

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 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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