Speeches by Arthur.

“Yes, because you are undercutting them with a cheaper fleet. That is what is happening.”

“Exactly.”

“I think I can predict the answer to my first question. There is evidence that app-based companies are focusing too much on their business model and not enough on compliance. Is there any truth in the suggestion that your business model comes before compliance with your local licensing arrangements?”

“Perhaps a more legitimate concern is that in many jurisdictions you operate, I understand you do not have a physical presence in terms of a contact point. You may have a phone number or an email address but you do not have a physical person. What does that mean for interactions with you? If your customer—or one of your…”

“Are they staffed?”

“Kimberly, I am picking on you but I think others have made the same point. You talked about the lack of incentives and training for drivers of accessible vehicles, but you could provide those incentives and training if you wanted to—as a company.”

“You will say the same, I assume, Emma?”

“Do you have an office in every jurisdiction?”

“Emma, do you think you would benefit from having a physical presence in each licensing authority?”

“That includes vehicle maintenance and it does not include waiting times so that is slightly misleading.”

“So no face-to-face opportunity?”

“So what would one of your customers do, Emma, if they wanted to speak to an Uber member of staff face to face?”

“Emma, it feels like in some parts of the UK there is a real saturation of Uber drivers and there are more and more getting registered all the time. I guess that is good for consumers because it means when they want an Uber there is a 99% chance it will come quite quickly. It is good for you as a company because it mean…”

“I do not hear friends and colleagues telling me they find it difficult to get taxis anywhere.”

“If you include waiting time, are drivers’ earnings rising or coming down in relation to inflation?”

“But waiting time is important, is it not?”

“Thanks for making the point about video, Saskia. I am now kicking myself for not asking this in the previous session where video and audio recording came up. I do not want to lead you too much in your answer, but what access arrangements do you want around that recorded data? If you have a taxi or an Uber where you are…”

“It crossed my mind earlier when Kimberly was speaking, but if a driver is struggling to earn money on your service, do you have limitations on how long they could work on a shift? Is that a limitation you place on your app?”

“That driver could run 10 hours with your app and then switch over to Kimberly’s app.”

“But there is nothing to stop them from doing that?”