Request ID: FOI-1838-2425 Date published: 22 October 2024
You asked
I believe that tfl set up a reimbursement agreement with NHS Trusts in London in 2020 whereby staff could claim back their Congestion Charge to enable them to safely travel to work to provide critical services during the Covid-19 Pandemic. I also believe that four years on, this agreement is still in place?
Could you provide the cost to tfl year on year for this agreement?
Clarification received 15/09/2024: Thank you for your email requesting further information. To clarify, my request relates solely to the monies that TfL have reimbursed NHS Trusts via their Scheme for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and year to date for 2024.
We answered
TfL Ref: EIR-1838-2425 Thank you again for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 5th September 2024 asking for information about the Congestion Charging scheme. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and our information access policy. Specifically you asked: “I believe that tfl set up a reimbursement agreement with NHS Trusts in London in 2020 whereby staff could claim back their Congestion Charge to enable them to safely travel to work to provide critical services during the Covid-19 Pandemic. I also believe that four years on, this agreement is still in place? Could you provide the cost to tfl year on year for this agreement?”. On 15th September you clarified that “...my request relates solely to the monies that TfL have reimbursed NHS Trusts via their Scheme for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and year to date for 2024.” I can confirm that we hold the information you require. For journeys between 18 May 2020 and 04 September 2024, TfL has reimbursed a total of £1,700,967.10 to staff and patients within participating NHS Trusts for journeys within the Congestion Charge Zone and a reason code of ‘Covid’ (note that it is not possible to separate the data by staff and patients). The breakdown by year is as follows:
From 18th May 2020 = £679,908.10 2021 = £799,434.00 2022 = £ 135,270.00 2023 = £57,225.00 2024 to 04 September = £29,130.00
Full details of the scheme are available on our website at: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/reimbursements-of-the-congestion-charge-and-ulez-charge If this is not the information you are looking for 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, David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
