Motor Transport magazine is currently taking a closer look at the FORS accreditation scheme and in this regard we have set out below some questions and requests for information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act 2000. FORS was developed by TfL and launched to improve road safety. We would be grateful if you (via FORS or TfL) could provide us with replies and access to the information sought. If the costs of providing the information are excessive please let us know how best to refine the queries. What is the basis of the scheme and how do FORS describe it to potential members? What benefits does the scheme offer them? How much does it cost to become a member? Are there variations in cost based on criteria etc? If so, please could you let us have access to this information? What information / marketing material do you provide to attract operators to join? Please could we have access to financial information showing annual turnover, revenue, / pre-tax profit for the last three years? How does the FORS scheme make money and where exactly does this money go? How is revenue and profit divided up / distributed? Is it a profit-making scheme and are you on target to achieve or surpass your financial goals? Are you happy with the level of profit the scheme is generating or are you looking for further growth? If so how will you generate this? Is this a compliance scheme or does it have other aims? If so what? Are operators under peer pressure to join the scheme? Who sets the standards required (FORS Bronze, Silver, Gold etc)? Could it be accused of lulling operators into thinking they comply with required standards when in reality they don’t? Thanks in advance to FORS for providing the replies and information. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or phone and I will be very happy to clarify what I am asking for and discuss the requests.

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Our ref:     FOI-3579-1920/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12 February 2020 asking for information about FORS.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. We hold some of the information you require.

1.    What is the basis of the scheme and how do FORS describe it to potential members?

The basis of the scheme and how it is described to potential members can be found here:

https://www.fors-online.org.uk

2.    What benefits does the scheme offer them?

A list of benefits the scheme offers can be found here:

https://www.fors-online.org.uk/cms/operators/#Benefits

3.    How much does it cost to become a member?

Costs associated with becoming a FORS member, can be found here:

https://www.fors-online.org.uk/cms/subscription-fees/

4.    Are there variations in cost based on criteria etc? If so, please could you let us have access to this information?

All costs and variations of becoming a FORS member, can be found here:

https://www.fors-online.org.uk/cms/subscription-fees/

5.    What information / marketing material do you provide to attract operators to join?

All information and marketing used by the scheme to attract new operators is available here:

www.fors-online.org.uk  

In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with the above information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.

6.    Please could we have access to financial information showing annual turnover, revenue, / pre-tax profit for the last three years?

In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the above information as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2).

In this instance the exemption has been applied as disclosure of the information you have requested is would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests. The FORS Governance and Standards Task is currently out to tender and the Administration/concessionaire Contract will be commencing retender at an Early Market Engagement Event later this year. Disclosure of the requested information would prejudice our ability to achieve best value on both contracts.

The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we are able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.

7.    How does the FORS scheme make money and where exactly does this money go?

The scheme makes money through audit/subscription/training fees and affinity partner arrangements

8.    How is revenue and profit divided up / distributed?

All revenue and profit sits with the concessionaire – unless a super profit threshold is met and which point there is a return to TfL. 

9.    Is it a profit-making scheme and are you on target to achieve or surpass your financial goals? 

FORS does make a profit for the concessionaire. TfL have never received any financial return from the scheme and this is in line with our assumptions when the concessionaire contract was awarded.

10. Are you happy with the level of profit the scheme is generating or are you looking for further growth? If so how will you generate this?

11. Are operators under peer pressure to join the scheme?

12. Could it be accused of lulling operators into thinking they comply with required standards when in reality they don’t?

The FOI Act gives a right to individuals to access recorded information held by a public authority at the time the request is received. We do not have to answer your question if this would mean creating new information or giving an opinion or judgment that is not already recorded. We are therefore not able to answer these three questions under FOI as we do not hold information or recorded opinions that would address these questions.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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