Question
TfL's March 2016 Board Papers say, "It has always been a requirement for private hire driver applicants to undertake a topographical assessment in English. Throughout summer 2015 we conducted a mystery shopping exercise at all accredited topographical assessment centres. Through this exercise we identified serious issues with the way a test was being conducted at a number of centres, including applicants being given answers and being allowed to take the test in their native language. As a result, to date 15 centres had their accreditation suspended and candidates that had recently passed the assessment at one of those centres had to re-sit the test with TfL invigilating. Of the circa 200 applicants that have now re-taken the test, just 36 per cent passed and a significant number of the applicants that failed was due to their inability to understand the simple questions written in English. It has been observed that many of these candidates were also unable to communicate with TfL in English. TfL outsource vehicle licensing inspections to an external service provider, NSL, and it has been observed that on occasion, licensed drivers bring a translator to the inspection centre". What was the "significant number" of applicants who did not understand English?