I am writing in connection with the use of "Service information" display boards in Underground stations for messages unrelated to travel, for example "thought for the day" type messages or messages intended to be humorous. Examples of the types of communication that this enquiry is intended to cover include those seen at http://www.dayoutinlondon.com/the-best-tube-notice-boards/ as well as the recent widely-reported message at Dollis Hill concerning Rorke's Drift. Please can you confirm whether the staff time associated with displaying these messages (composing and writing the messages and cleaning the boards afterwards) is paid from budgets which derive some or all of their income from public subsidies paid for the purpose of providing a transport service for London (including grants from the DfT and GLA), or whether it is paid wholly from budgets that receive only privately generated income such as advertising revenues. If the staff time for this activity is not separately accounted for, then the question relates to the funding sources for the overall payment of the employees (or contractors) concerned. If, but only if, the cost of answering the above question as stated would exceed the "appropriate limit" referred to in Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act, I ask you to limit the scope of the above to cover only the display board at Dollis Hill station.

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TfL Ref: FOI-4290-1718

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 26 January 2018 asking for information about TfL funding.

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.

The time taken for staff to input messages on service information boards is not separately accounted for. Details of how TfL is funded can be found on our website. Please see the following link for the information you have requested: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/how-we-work/how-we-are-funded

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

Lee Hill

Senior FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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