I want to apply for my Private Hire Licence but I've been waiting since TfL put new applications on hold due to covid-19. May I know the total number of people to date, that have registered to apply for Private Hire or Taxi licence application via the tph.tfl.gov.uk site since the start of the period that TfL suspended new applications? This will help me decide if it's worth the wait.

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TfL Ref: FOI-1956-2021

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 4 January 2021, asking for information about Taxi and Private Hire licence applications.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:  

I want to apply for my private hire licence but I've been waiting since TfL put new applications on hold due to covid-19.

May I know the total number of people to date, that have registered to apply for Private Hire or Taxi licence application via the tph.tfl.gov.uk site since the start of the period that TfL suspended new applications?

The effect of the coronavirus pandemic has meant that we have had to prioritise our resources on critical activities, such as the continual licensing of renewal applicants and the handling of safety critical information and intelligence. Our ability to carry out driver assessments (to demonstrate a driver’s  topographical skills) at our assessment centres has been severely hindered by the Government restrictions, including the latest lockdown, and the need to introduce and maintain appropriate social distancing measures at each centre when they are allowed to be open. This has meant that a far fewer assessments can be completed.

As a result, we have not been able to process applications for a new London private hire driver’s licence. As of 5 January 2021, we’ve had 2,382 new private hire driver applications that have been received and are waiting to be processed.

We hope to resume the assessment of new private hire driver licence applications, subject to any future restrictions being imposed, as and when the Government restrictions are eased. However, our ability to process applications will be affected by the reduced capacity for driver assessments at the assessment centres. This will unfortunately cause a further delay in the processing of the applications that we currently hold.

If you have a query about an existing licence application or if you wish to withdraw an application, please contact our Taxi & Private Hire licensing team at  [email protected].

If you are considering submitting a further request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI/EIR 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 this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any 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

Eva Hextall

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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