TfL Ref: 2197-1819

Thank you for your email received on 21 November 2018 asking about the Knowledge of London (KoL).

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 some of the information you require. You asked for

data relating to how many Applicants to do The Knowledge of London green badge only each year starting from 2012 and also how many applicants put in for their map test each year since 2012. Total number of green badges handed out each year since 2012.
                                                              
We regularly publish information regarding the number of licences we have issued on our website. The number of green badges issued can be found via the following link: www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/licensing-information.

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.

The information you have requested regarding Knowledge of London (KoL) applicants and the number of applicants that have taken Stage 2 written exams, which are also sometimes referred to as map tests, are provided in the tables below.

It is important to note that the KoL application figures for 2018 are provisional and that a number of applicants will still be undergoing regulatory checks to ensure that they meet the required standards to be accepted onto the KoL, these include: medical fitness assessments, DVLA licence checks and awaiting the disclosure and/or results of the Disclosure and Barring Service assessment.

Please also note that we do not hold Stage 2 written test information prior to 9 May 2016.

Year Number of all London (green badge) Applicants accepted onto the KoL
2012 2582
2013 2050
2014 1833
2015 845
2016 501
2017 339
2018 *provisional data up to 31 October 2018 174

Year Number of students that attended a Stage 2 KoL exam
2016 (from 9 May 2016 onwards) 326
2017 571
2018 (As of 5 December 2018) 354

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.

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.

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
Information Governance
Transport For London