Request ID: FOI-2293-2324 Date published: 30 October 2023
You asked
Follow-on from FOI-1920-2324:
Please tell me:
1. Between 01 Jan 2023 and 30 Aug 2023
2. How many requests for exemption from ULEZ were received for vehicles which did not pass the ULEZ lookup
3. Which were accompanied by a Certificate of Exemption from the manufacturer, or equivalent document
4. How many of these were approved
Item 2 can be an estimated approximate figure to make things easier for your team
Item 4 can be either a numeric value - again estimated approximate - or a percentage, again estimated approximate.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-2293-2324
Thank you for your request received on 9 October 2023 asking for information about Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) exemption requests.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
Unfortunately, to provide the information you have requested would still exceed the ‘appropriate limit’ of £450 set by the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.
As previously advised, under section 12 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to comply with a request if we estimate that the cost of determining whether we hold the information, locating and retrieving it and extracting it from other information would exceed the appropriate limit. This is calculated at £25 per hour for every hour spent on the activities described. We have estimated that it would still cost over £450 to provide a response to your current request. This is because it is estimated that it would take in excess of 18 working hours to retrieve and compile the information you have requested.
As outlined previously, we are unable to report on the number of people who contact us who are granted an exemption given following receipt of a certificate of conformity. While you have removed the request for the detailed information on manufacturer/model, we would still have to review each application in order to see if an exemption was requested and if a certificate was included.
Due to the way this information is held and our limits on reporting, if you wish to make a further request you may want to consider whether there is any other information we could provide that might assist you with your queries. We will be updating the Scrappage Scheme factsheet in the near future so you may wish to wait until that has been published as it might contain some information that can help frame your request.
Although your request can take the form of a question, rather than a request for specific documents, we do not have to answer your question if it would require the creation of new information or the provision of a judgement, explanation, advice or opinion that was not already recorded at the time of your request.
Please note that we will not be taking further action until we receive your revised request.
In the meantime, if you have any queries or would like to discuss your request, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
