TfL Ref: FOI-2149-1617
Thank you for your email received by us on 3 February 2017 asking for information about taxi and private hire fares.
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 the information you require. You asked for the following:
Can you please provide copies or web links of legislation that allows Taxi Operators and Private Hire Operators to offer discounted or free fares to customers.
Can I also have a copy or web link of any legislation that allows TFL to reduce Taxi Fares already set by TFL.
Firstly, it is important to note that Transport For London (TfL) does not licence ‘taxi operators’, taxi apps or radio circuits.
I can confirm that the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 and the London Cab and Stage Carriage Act 1907 allows us to make regulations setting taxi fares. TfL may prescribe fares based on time or distance or both and may prescribe different fares for different circumstances.
Please see the following links explaining further:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1869/115/pdfs/ukpga_18690115_en.pdf
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Edw7/7/55/contents
The London Cab Order 1934 (‘the Cab Order’) specifies the fares regime that covers most taxi journeys in London. The Cab Order provides that taximeters must be fitted to cabs to calculate the fare, sets out the fare structure and provides the maximum fare payable. Drivers can charge lower fares if they wish.
Please see link below:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksro/1934/1346/pdfs/uksro_19341346_en.pdf
In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.
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
Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
Information Governance
Transport For London
