Under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and your Information Access Policy I would like to request the following information. According to your guidance published at https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/private-hire-driver-licence, Private hire applicants are required to undertake a topographical skills assessment as part of their application. However, the following applicants may be exempt. • Previously licensed PHV drivers who have passed a topographical skills test • Licensed London taxi drivers - All London and Suburban • Professional London tourists guides (eg Blue Badge Driver Guide) • An individual who can provide TPH with evidence of a relevant vocational qualification in passenger transport (eg NVQ or equivalent) However your office declines to accept an evidence of a relevant vocational qualification such as L2 BTEC Introduction to the Role of Professional Taxi & Private Hire Driver qualification from the applicants who failed the Topographic Skills Assessment as part of their previous application citing your Internal Business Policy. Can you please provide me a copy of your Internal Business Policy where this rule is stated? I understand that you are required to respond to my request within the 20 working days after you receive this letter. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully Jeny Gautam

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TfL Ref: FOI-3501-1819

Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 20 March 2019, asking for information about the Topographical Skills Assessment.

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 hold the information you require. You asked:

Your office declines to accept an evidence of a relevant vocational qualification such as L2 BTEC Introduction to the Role of Professional Taxi & Private Hire Driver qualification from the applicants who failed the Topographic Skills Assessment as part of their previous application citing your Internal Business Policy. Can you please provide me a copy of your Internal Business Policy where this rule is stated?

If an applicant provides evidence of a vocational qualification in passenger transport (that we recognise), when applying for a private hire driver licence, they will be exempt from passing the topographical assessment. However, if an applicant applies and undergoes the topographical assessment with us and fails, we will no longer accept from them a vocational qualification as evidence that they meet the topographical requirements as part of that application or any future applications they submit to us.

If an applicant fails the topographical assessment, they then need to demonstrate to us directly that they have the relevant topographical skills to be a licensed private hire driver and the only way to do so is to pass the assessment. In exceptional circumstance where evidence is provided following the failure of a topographical test, we will consider this on a case by case basis.

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

Eva Hextall

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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