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Summary of the survey

Transport for Greater Manchester ["TfGM"] is carrying out research to explore resident views on the cost of travelling by bus in Greater Manchester. We need to hear what residents think about the current value for money, and whether you think bus fares are both affordable and simple to understand.

TfGM is the Data Controller for personal information collected in the survey. This means that we decide how your personal data is processed and for what purposes.

Snap Surveys is our Data Processor for personal information collected in the survey.


What information we will collect from you

The survey seeks to understand your use of bus, to hear what you think about the current value for money, and whether you think bus fares are affordable and simple to understand. We will also ask a broader question about whether there is anything you would like to change or improve about bus travel in Greater Manchester. For some people, if they are a parent of a child or young person aged 5-16, we will also ask them to answer some questions on their behalf.

For the survey we ask for some demographic information. These questions are optional and include:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Working status
  • Health and disability
  • Ethnicity
  • Home postcode, in full
  • Are you the parent/carer of any children or young people aged 5-16

This research is confidential and any personal information collected will not be used to identify you.

For customers who sign up to the prize draw, or for future research, we collect the following:

  • First name
  • Email address
  • Phone number (optional)

At the end of the survey, we also ask for your name, telephone number and/or email address. This is for the purposes of entering our prize draw, and to express your interest in participating in future research on this subject. Both are entirely voluntary. TfGM processes data collected as part of the prize draw and future research as it is necessary for the purpose of TfGM's legitimate interests, namely, to encourage participation in the survey and gather as many views as possible.

Any results published from the research will be anonymous, meaning they will not contain any information which could directly or indirectly identify you.

Survey respondents may be contacted as part of our Interviewer Quality Control Scheme (IQCS) checks. This is needed so that TfGM can carry out duties required for it to retain its IQCS accreditation. Those contacted will be asked to provide anonymous feedback on their interview.


How information is collected

Around 1,000 face-to-face interviews are being conducted in and around Greater Manchester.

TfGM staff will also be distributing flyers, in town and city centres, which provides a link to complete the survey online. Posters are also being displayed to promote the online survey link at key bus stops and interchanges.

TfGM uses Snap Surveys data collection software. More information can be found here: https://www.snapsurveys.com/survey-software/privacy-policy-uk/


Our lawful basis for processing personal data under GDPR

Article 6 1(e): the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

For the more sensitive data: Article 9 2(g): the processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest. Namely for the purpose of ensuring equality of opportunity and treatment.

For the prize draw and future research opt-ins:  Article 6 1(f): the processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by TfGM.


How we ensure the security of your data

TfGM comply with their obligations under the GDPR by keeping personal data up to date; by storing and destroying it securely; by not collecting or retaining excessive amounts of data; by protecting personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access and disclosure and by ensuring that appropriate technical measures are in place to protect personal data.

All electronic survey information will be encrypted with a secure password and access will be restricted to the research teams.


Information retention

Contact details collected for the prize draws will be deleted once all winners have been notified and contacted.

Contact details collected for participation in future research will be deleted after 2 years, or sooner if you request that we do so.

TfGM will retain the survey data for as long as it is considered useful for the research objectives.


Transferring data

Data collected and saved by TfGM will be stored primarily in the United Kingdom. To conduct the surveys, TfGM uses Snap Surveys. Snap Surveys may process some survey data in servers based in the US. Whenever data is transferred to the US, appropriate contractual terms including standard contractual clauses are in place.


Data sharing

The information collected as part of this survey will only be used by TfGM for the purposes explained above. TfGM may, in the future, share the results of this survey or aggregated/anonymised data with our research partners, such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), local authorities and universities. You will not be identifiable in any results or data shared.


What rights do individuals have?

Under data protection law, your rights include:

  • Your right of access - You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information
  • Your right to rectification - You have the right to ask us to rectify information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete
  • Your right to erasure - You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances
  • Your right to restriction of processing - You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your information in certain circumstances
  • Your right to object to processing - You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances
  • Your right to data portability - You have the right to ask that we transfer the information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances

You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you wish to make a request, please contact us at: data.protection@tfgm.com


How can I make a complaint?

If you would like to make a complaint regarding how TfGM is processing your personal information, please contact our Data Protection Officer by emailing: data.protection@tfgm.com

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). The ICO can be contacted at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113. Alternatively, via post: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.