The Mayor of London has failed to answer whether bus drivers incorrectly paid below the London Living Wage will be compensated.

In 2017 it was discovered some bus companies contracted out by Transport for London (TfL) were not paying some of their trainee drivers the London Living Wage, despite being contractually obliged to do so since 2009.

Since November 2018 Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, has been asking Mayor Sadiq Khan whether these drivers will be compensated for being underpaid.

Now Ms Pidgeon has written a letter to Mr Khan imploring him to make sure trainee drivers who were unfairly paid below the London Living Wage are compensated.

Ms Pidgeon said: “For eight years Transport for London has had contracts with bus companies stating that all drivers must be paid the London Living Wage.

“The failure of TfL to enforce its own contracts cannot be brushed under the carpet and forgotten about.

“It is vital that these contacts are properly enforced and that bus drivers who have been paid less than the London Living Wage are now compensated.”

But Mr Khan has still failed to answer if these drivers will be compensated.

Responding to a question about whether bus drivers paid below the amount between 2009 and 2017, a spokesperson for Mr Khan said: “As TfL has confirmed, everyone who provides bus travel in London is paid at least the London Living Wage.

“When TfL found out that some trainees were being paid less than the London Living Wage they put a stop to it, and TfL continue to ask operators to confirm in writing that they are complying each year when the hourly rate is revised.”

The spokesperson also said from April 2019 bus drivers, once qualified, would receive a minimum wage of £24,711 – up from £799 the previous year.

In the letter, Ms Pidgeon also called on Mr Khan to answer why TfL is not willing to retrospectively enforce these contracts.

She also said it was “vital” that TfL are instructed to address their failure to enforce their contracts with bus companies over this eight-year period.

She estimated as many as 20,000 drivers were underpaid during that time.

Mr Khan has acknowledged he has received the letter but is yet to send an official response.