Appendix 1

Oral Update to the Mayor’s Report (Supplementary) [2] Question Number: 2021/0393 21 January 2021 AM

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Can I thank the Assembly Member for writing to me. I also give him the news that I have been in touch with the interim General Secretary for the fantastic trade union GMB, Warren Kenny, and I have also written to British Gas.

The Assembly Member raises some really important issues. What we cannot see is a situation where employers are using the pandemic as an excuse to make changes that, frankly speaking, are unacceptable. What I will do, Chair, is continue to keep the Assembly Member in the loop in relation to representations I have had with British Gas.

Cost of Living (Supplementary) [1] Question Number: 2021/0133 21 January 2021 AM

Keith Prince AM: Mr Mayor, as you know, there is cross-party support for that argument around the VED. I tell you what; I will put a challenge back to you. I will, jointly with you - and I suspect the other Group leaders - write to the Secretary of State [for Transport] asking for the VED to be given to Londoners. How about that?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Chair, can I thank the Member. People think we have knockabout stuff, but this is a really good example of joint working on a cross-party basis. As ever, the Member has risen to the occasion. Chair, with your agreement, the leaders of the various Groups could do a joint letter. Keith Prince, I hope, will speak for the Conservatives, save for their candidate for the mayoral contest. We will see if we can get agreement from cross-party leaders to do a joint letter.

New Years’ Fireworks Display Question Number: 2021/0043 21 January 2021 Peter Whittle AM

Peter Whittle AM: Can I ask a couple of questions to begin with? Can you confirm that the amount of taxpayers’ money used on the fireworks was, as has been reported, £1.5 million?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): I do not have the exact figure, but that sounds about right. I can send the Assembly Member the accurate figure once we have that in.

Net loss of council homes Question Number: 2021/0040 21 January 2021 Sian Berry AM

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Firstly, I am not sure I accept those figures but I am sure that is just a question of dates, not because your figures are not accurate. The figures I have show that the number of council homes demolished is far less than council homes started.

That is one of the reasons we have policies in place now both in the London Plan and in relation to funding. The London Plan is quite clear. If councils, for good reason when it comes to regeneration, want to demolish homes, they must replace each home lost with at least one new home but often more. That is why I referred to density. Secondly, if it is the wish of anybody to receive funding from the GLA when it comes to estate regeneration, there must be an affirmative ballot of those residents living on an estate before regeneration can take place.

Siân Berry AM: I support those policies, Mr Mayor. I am really sorry. I am running out of my time now. I need to leave some for my colleague. I will keep talking to you about this. If I can send you the data, that will probably clarify things for you as well.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): As ever, we are on the same side of the argument here. It is a question of how we get to the end. I am more than happy to work with the Member, who is very constructive on these issues.

Oyster Auto Top-Up Question Number: 2021/0118 21 January 2021 Keith Prince AM

Keith Prince AM: Thank you, Mr Mayor. That was very helpful. It was following a discussion with [London] TravelWatch. They asked me to raise the question and so credit to them. Credit to you and the team for recognising that there are limitations on where you can go cashless, although I understand the reasons for wanting to go cashless.

I would re-emphasise that at this moment in time, if there is not the technological barrier that there was previously on the amount of top-up, if you could reduce it to £10, it would really help and probably would encourage even more people to take that route in using the Oyster card.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Yes. Chair, to reassure the Member, I have seen the letter London TravelWatch wrote to the Commissioner [of TfL]. They make some really good points in the letter. I am sure they shared it with you as well. TfL is planning some changes to the way auto top-up works. To give you the reassurance I am sure you are looking for, TfL is exploring the feasibility of a new £10 top-up option as part of this.

Chair, I agree to keep the Member in the loop and I will keep all of the Assembly in the loop because other Members, I am sure, will be keen to get progress on this.

Action on the cladding and fire safety scandal Question Number: 2021/0057 21 January 2021 MBE AM

Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM: I was also shocked to learn that under current legislation leaseholders have no legal right to see the fire risk assessment for the building in which they live. Will you consider trialling a public register of fire risk assessments in London so would-be renters and owners can check the fire-safety status of their potential new home? Such as the one that is used to register domestic energy performance certificates.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): The Building Safety bill is currently going through Parliament. We are speaking to legislators about tweaks and changes there. That is one of the ideas that we are discussing with them. I am really happy to report back once we have had those discussions. My concern is also the obligations on the firefighters to do the inspections. One of the problems in London is we have more than twice as many of these buildings than the rest of the country put together. But also it is quite difficult to work out who the owners are. It is difficult. So those who manage the building, those who own the building. But I am more than happy to look at this issue in relation to whether the Building Safety bill is the way to force owners to give this information. Because often there is no obligation on them to do so.

Rough sleeping in the second wave - during winter Question Number: 2021/0360 21 January 2021 Murad Qureshi AM

Murad Qureshi AM: This time of year, as you have said, is a critical time of year and you have had to twice get things into operation because of how cold it is. One of the things you did not quite give us information on is how much of the extra £10 million that the Government has suggested is London getting at all.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): We are getting a portion of that. I do not have the exact figure here but I can write to you in relation to that. The £35 million is national, £10 million plus £25 million. Just for London, we need £24 million. You will be aware that in previous schemes we got a fraction of the amount we need.

Traffic issues at Kew Green Question Number: 2021/0228 21 January 2021 AM

Tony Arbour AM (Deputy Chair): Can I ask you, please, to reconsider your advice to Richmond Council on this one and say to them that the coaches should continue to park in Kew Road? I fear for your reputation on this one, Mr Mayor. It is an unusual thing for me to say. Currently, Richmond Council is getting all the blame for this, quite rightly. But I fear that if you give this one the nod, you will get the blame, the GLA will get the blame and, coincidently, I fear that I may get the blame as well. Can I ask you, please, to look into this one?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Chair, the Member is assiduously raising legitimate concerns from local residents. I always take on board what he says and he is hugely experienced in these issues. He is right to remind me and those watching as to the Richmond Council scheme, but there are concerns. Why do I not ask my Walking and Cycling Commissioner to speak to the Council, Kew Gardens and Assembly Member Arbour - Will Norman does speak to residents as well - to see if there is a way to navigate the various interests here so we can get to a resolution that satisfies as many people as possible?

Rickets in Children Question Number: 2021/0252 21 January 2021 OBE AM

Jennette Arnold OBE AM: Can I urge you to keep the nutritional needs of these vulnerable children and young people on the list of the issues for your meetings with the London Regional Director of Public Health as one way forward would be for the Government to introduce an outstanding 2012 recommendation from the then Chief Medical Officer of Health, who recommended a Healthy Start vitamin programme? This, as we know, would then enable it to be a matter of course rather than something that is just highlighted during a pandemic.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Well, we check, and I thank the Member for raising again an issue that affects the most vulnerable in our city. I have been reading with keen interest recently the excellent work from [The Rt Hon] David Davis MP and [Dr] Rupa Huq MP on a cross-party basis to highlight this issue. She will be aware from her rich experience about how in previous years certain foods were fortified with vitamin D to make sure we got sufficient vitamin D. I am worried. I am speaking to London leaders today from the NHS and I will make sure I mention this to them today in relation to steps that can be taken to make sure we address this issue. It is really important we do and we know for the foreseeable future our children may not be receiving the sunlight they should receive because they have been asked to stay home. That is even more reason to make sure we find other ways for them to receive their vitamin D.

Surface water flooding (Supplementary) [1] Question Number: 2021/0002 21 January 2021 AM

Len Duvall AM: Thank you. Mr Mayor, thank you for your answers and this is a very important debate. Will you commit yourself, GLA officers and TfL officers to sitting round with key members of the to do some verbal work on this? This is a real good example where we can do some joint work. You have a grip of the issue, despite what the Green Group says about you and your targets. We have a plan. It would be really helpful. We in the Labour Group have done a report on flooding. Can we sit round the table with your officers and work through some of these issues to gain a better understanding so that we do not have to answer these questions? It is a yes or a no.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Absolutely.

Oral Update to the Mayor’s Report (Supplementary) [1] Question Number: 2021/0001 17 December 2020 AM

Tony Devenish AM: Mr Mayor, good morning. Will you publish the two engineering reports that Councillor Cowan of Hammersmith and Fulham is hiding from the public and open the Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians before school reopens in January [2021], please?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Chair, as I said in my answer, the DfT has published this in the taskforce material it publishes. It is a DfT report, not ours. I am more than happy, if he does not have it, to speak to colleagues on the taskforce to make sure he is given the material that the DfT has published.

Metropolitan Police Question Number: 2020/4321 17 December 2020 AM

David Kurten AM: I would like to ask you about something else before I finish my question, which is even more disturbing. On 14 December, a protester was hit over the head by a policeman wielding a baton, fell to the ground and was hit over the head again by that same policeman. There is clear footage of this happening. Do you ever think that it is right that a policeman should hit or try to punch someone in the face? That is a red zone. If someone is hit over the head with a baton, they could die instantly. Is that ever acceptable, Mr Mayor, do you think?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): You are raising a factual situation and then asking a question that is hypothetical. The police have the equipment to keep themselves safe and to keep the public safe. That includes batons. They also have, for example, the use of taser as well. It is really important that the police are policing by consent and the police in a majority of times do it in a peaceful way. Sometimes, unfortunately, there is a need to use force. I know the Commissioner is examining the use of force in relation to reviews she is undertaking.

The police have to police impartially. They have to police without fear or favour. They are one of the most scrutinised police forces in the world. I speak as somebody who has practised in the area of law around police accountability. Also, I am somebody who, as you remind me, is a Police and Crime Commissioner. If there are concerns that you have or Londoners have or people visiting our city to protest have, then it is important that they raise them through the various channels there are. That includes --

David Kurten AM: Mr Mayor, sorry, I do have to cut you off. I do not have much more time. I am bringing them to you because you are in that position. I will also bring them to [Dame] Cressida Dick [DBE QPM, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis] and the various bodies that are there to scrutinise the police and take action as well --

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): I am really happy, Assembly Member, to raise the particular issues you have raised today with the Commissioner, if you want me to do so, Chair. I will do that.

Air pollution above WHO limits Question Number: 2020/4292 17 December 2020 AM

Caroline Russell AM: Mr Mayor, the conclusions of the TfL independent review say that you should not just investigate a Greater London boundary charge but also a distance-based scheme with new technology, which is something I have long advocated for. To be very clear, all your charges currently are area-based, but that does not help reduce miles driven. Once an area charge is paid, there is no incentive to drive less that day.

Will you look at smart distance-based options, which will actually help reduce pollution, especially for people living by main roads?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): We are in danger of making an argument where there is not one. My Transport Strategy, which I can send to you, already makes it quite clear that we are going to explore those sorts of technologies. I have already made it quite clear that the concern is that we are not quite ready in relation to the technologies.

What we are doing is going on with what we can to make speedy change. You will be aware that because of our policies, we have already reduced the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in our city, particulate matter (PM) and carbon. You have seen the numbers in relation to 94% fewer homes in areas where the air is unlawful and the 97% reduction in relation to schools.

What is wrong is for you to give the impression we are against that technology. We are looking into it and my Transport Strategy is quite clear about that.

Future of City Hall Question Number: 2020/4768 17 December 2020 Tony Arbour AM

Tony Arbour AM (Deputy Chairman): Thank you very much, Mr Mayor. I am extremely disappointed by your answer. Indeed, it is true that it is unusual for a building less than 30 years old to be listed, but there is provision for this to be done if they are of special architectural or historic interest. Nobody could doubt that City Hall is of special architectural interest. Although you and I may be ephemeral players in London government, London government is going to continue and City Hall will be a monument to London government if it survives. The listing of a building will ensure that it does survive. I do not share your confidence that this building - or rather the building where the Chair is, which is the current home of London government - will survive without some sort of protection. This is a relatively small building on an extremely valuable site. If it does not have that protection, there is a risk that it will go.

There cannot be a single person in London - certainly there cannot be a single person who is connected with London government - who does not believe that this is a building of architectural interest. They may not think it is beautiful. Secondly, there is no one who cannot believe that City Hall is already an important part of the landscape and it will be a dereliction of our duty - and I suggest your duty as incumbent Mayor - to ensure that this building survives. I would suggest to you that the way you can see that it survives is to apply to the Department [for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport] for this building to be listed. I have no doubt that a request from you - and, I have no doubt, supported by most Londoners - would be supported. Can I ask you, please, to take action, not hide behind the fact that it is unusual? Something that is unusual, in fact, is something which has considerable merit. Indeed, this may be a way in which you could be remembered.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Can I say, Chair, that the Deputy Chairman raises really powerful points very persuasively. Can I discuss with him after this meeting what we can do working together to address the concerns he has? He raises really powerful points. As often, his experience is useful here. I am more than happy to work with him and the Assembly. He is right. Even though we may be leaving next year, this building has huge significance. Chair, this is a good example of me being persuaded by the Deputy Chairman. Can we take this away, Tony, and work on what we can do together?

Tony Arbour AM (Deputy Chairman): Thank you very much, Mr Mayor. I am grateful to you.

Travel for vulnerable passengers Question Number: 2020/4247 17 December 2020 Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM

Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM: Are you really satisfied that full consideration has been given to the needs of adults on low incomes, children, people with restricted mobility and those for whom access to banking is restricted?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Not yet. As usual, Mayor’s Question Time and this question from you gives me a chance to look at issues that I do not look at probably in as much detail. I am not satisfied yet.

That is why in preparation for your question, Assembly Member Pidgeon, I have done some work and I have made sure that we are kicking the tyres more to make sure that I have the reassurance that you are rightfully making sure that I have.

Can I communicate with you and others about what further work we are doing to get the reassurance we need? You are spot on. This is an issue that affects a small minority of Londoners but, to them, it is really important.

Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM: Thank you for that. I appreciate that. The changes do seem to rely very heavily on the availability of Oyster Ticket Stops but, as TravelWatch has highlighted, they are not always near stations, fully accessible or even open the same hours as the Tube. For example, there are 17 Underground stations where the nearest Oyster Ticket Stop, if it is open, is more than 400 metres away. Will you, as part of this, give careful consideration to, if you do go ahead with removing cash, not removing it at those particular stations because of that distance? Also, will you agree to a formal and well-publicised consultation if the decision is then made to make it permanent?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): We are in danger of all your points being good points. Yes, I am particularly concerned also. Let us say you have to travel at 6.30am but the nearest Oyster shop does not open until 9.00am. That is a problem. You are highlighting some of the things we have to address because it is these issues that can lead to huge inconvenience for that individual or their family. We have to make sure that we look into the various issues that TravelWatch has raised - that is one of the jobs it has - and that you have raised as well.

What I will ask my team to do is, in addition to meeting TravelWatch, your experience is quite useful and I will ask them to meet with you as well because you may have spotted things that you can ensure that we address in relation to our response as well.

Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM: Will you agree to fully consult if there is a decision in the future to make this permanent?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Yes. Part of the equality impact assessment is making sure that we are looking into these issues and there is a proper consultation taking place. The good news is - and I hate using the phrase ‘opportunity’ or ‘silver lining’ caused by the pandemic - that it has meant that Londoners have found alternative ways, those who have plastic credit cards or debit cards, to use public transport. We are hopeful that that has led to some progress, but we will make sure there is a proper engagement exercise. We will make sure there is a proper equality assessment.

Also, this is not a done deal for the reasons you have said. There could be reasons why there are exceptions made for some stations. I should say that for some stations that adjoin the busiest Overground stations - there are 12 of them - part of our deal with the Government is for them to continue to have certain facilities available. I will make sure we will look additionally at the points you have raised.

Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM: My one final issue: during the pandemic, the Rail Delivery Group has been offering free rail travel to people fleeing domestic abuse. Will you ensure TfL plays its role and looks to provide free travel for the first part of someone’s journey when they are also fleeing domestic abuse?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): I am more than happy to look into that. I will ask my Victims Commissioner and also Heidi Alexander [Deputy Mayor for Transport] to look into this with you.

Green New Deal and the Ten Point Plan (Supplementary) [1] Question Number: 2020/4356 17 December 2020 Tony Arbour AM

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): I am more than happy to raise this with London Power if you would let my office know, because that is disappointing that you could find better offers.

Tony Arbour AM (Deputy Chairman): Mr Mayor, rather than dealing with that, would you answer the point that all over London, on TfL bus shelters, there are advertisements for Octopus Power? Nowhere on any of those advertisements do they say that they have any link with the GLA or any link to the scheme that is being subsidised, in effect, by you and Londoners as a whole. Would you suggest to Octopus, because you are Chairman of TfL, that TfL understand that they are in partnership with Octopus and they should give you due credit, if credit is the appropriate word, for this particular scheme?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Chair, I am in danger of agreeing again with the Member. Can I take that away? I have not been to a bus stop recently, for obvious reasons. I am using the pushbike more than I have in the past. Let me take that away, Assembly Member Arbour, and I will report back to you on the progress we make on that, because you make a very good point again.

Community led housing (Supplementary) [1] Question Number: 2020/4293 17 December 2020 AM

Andrew Boff AM: I understand it is too difficult for you, Mr Mayor, but what Assembly Member Berry asked is for some investment in order to increase the capacity to take on more community-led housing projects.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): I will ask one of my team to send you a note about the hub because clearly you are not aware of what the hub does. One of the things the hub does is to give this sort of support. It has the flexibility to meet the demands of community groups with a team of specialist advisors. Rather than you trying to help Assembly Member Berry, why does she not advise you on some of the stuff the hub does? I think it is you that needs her help rather than her needing your help.

Exams 2021 Question Number: 2020/4343 17 December 2020 Jennette Arnold OBE AM

Jennette Arnold OBE AM: As you said, and I totally agree, if we do not do something urgently then thousands of children across the city will experience a learning loss which will be added to the disadvantages they already have to deal with, day in, day out, and that will definitely impact on their life chances. Will you look to see if you can write to Government? I know that it takes a long time to get a response back from the Department for Education, but it has to be raised with them that their catch-up fund and some of their packages and measures for supporting disadvantaged children have just not reached the spot. I do hope that you can do this.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Chair, I would just say that the issues raised by the Member are really worrying because they will widen inequalities that exist already in our city. We are all aware of the difference education can make as a social ladder for progression. I will ask my office to liaise with Assembly Member Arnold’s office to get the data and the research she has done, and I will be making urgent representations to [The Rt Hon] Gavin Williamson [CBE MP, Secretary of State for Education] to address this anomaly. We are not against kids in Richmond getting this catch-up support, not at all. The issue is making sure that other children across our city who may not have laptops, may not have decent wi-fi connections, may have missed out on lots of classes because of bubbles being sent home and may do less well in their GCSE exams, A-Levels and other exams than they should do, are getting the help they need. I will make those representations urgently and work with Assembly Member Arnold’s office to get that data to the Government as well, so they can see the inequalities potentially getting worse.

Financial Management Question Number: 2020/4115 19 November 2020 Shaun Bailey AM

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): I recommend all Londoners not to read Conservative propaganda. It makes you go blind. Let me read you the letter. I have the letter here from the Secretary of State dated 1 October 2020. It begins, “Dear Sadiq”, and I will go to the key section:

“Our proposal is that City Hall should raise more from Londoners themselves through a supplement to the council tax. Agreeing this and agreeing to raise meaningful amounts from April 2021 onwards will also be necessary to proceed to a longer-term deal, which could include further financial measures subject to Treasury agreement.”

I am afraid, as is often the case, you are misleading Londoners with inaccuracies. I am more than happy to publish the letter from the Secretary of State to me, which confirms and again says:

“Our proposal is that City Hall should raise more from Londoners themselves through a supplement to the council tax.”

Shaun Bailey AM: This is the question. Why has the Mayor proposed to increase council tax? Will he rule that increase out?

Navin Shah AM (Chair): One final go, Assembly Member.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Chair, I will take this in small Noddy steps so that he can understand. The Government wrote to me on 1 October with a proposal for City Hall to raise more from Londoners themselves through a supplement to the council tax. I am more than happy, Chair, if the Secretary of State wants me to do so, to share that letter with the Assembly Member so that he can have this misunderstanding put right to him. What the letter said from the Secretary of State was:

“Agreeing this and agreeing to raise meaningful amounts from April 2021 onwards will also be necessary to proceed to a longer-term deal, which could include further financial measures subject to Treasury agreement.”

The way it works is this, Assembly Member Bailey. The Government is saying, “You must agree to this. It is necessary to do a deal for the second half of the year but also it is necessary to proceed to a longer-term deal”. These are not my words but those of Grant Shapps [MP], a member of the Government. It also “could include further financial measures subject to Treasury agreement”. I am more than happy to arrange for one of our officers, Chair, to speak to the Assembly Member to explain to him the way this works.

Second Wave and Winter Pressures on NHS Question Number: 2020/4015 19 November 2020 Dr AM

Dr Onkar Sahota AM: Thank you, Mr Mayor. You are very right. The London Assembly Health Committee’s report showed that 25% of people did not want it. It would be good if our Committee and the GLA could put together a programme to get this out and get a positive message out. Mr Mayor, will you support that campaign?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Yes, Chair. I agree now for Dr Sahota to meet with [Dr] [Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience] and my team who are working on the Strategic Coordinating Group (SCG) on this particular issue. We are doing some work, Dr Sahota, on dealing with what is called hesitancy among the 25% you referred to, particularly making sure our messages are culturally competent and there is a role in particular in relation to the lessons we have learned from the flu, from human papillomavirus (HPV), from polio and from smallpox. I will make sure we speak to you to make sure we harness the expertise and knowledge from the Assembly as well.

Dr Onkar Sahota AM: Thank you, Mr Mayor.

Metropolitan Police Question Number: 2020/4036 19 November 2020 Peter Whittle AM

Peter Whittle AM: On the weekend, somebody at Speakers’ Corner was stopped from speaking and bundled into a police van. Yet last week we had an Extinction Rebellion protest at the Cenotaph, which somehow went unchallenged.

Can you see how people’s fear about selective policing is growing when you see examples such as that?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): No, Chair. I can understand the point being made by Assembly Member Whittle. One of the reasons why I have always been keen, aside from the legal reasons, to stay off operational policing is not to allow an impression to be created that my own prejudices cloud what the police do. It is really important there is an arms-length relationship between politicians and police officers. However, I can understand the general point you are making, which is about the perception people have about some things being, in inverted commas, ‘overpoliced’ and other things not being policed.

In relation to the incident on Armistice Day, the Commissioner [of Police of the Metropolis, Dame Cressida Dick DBE QPM] herself said - to you, maybe, Assembly Member Whittle - that she was having that reviewed because she was not happy, as indeed neither are you nor I - about what we saw happen on Armistice Day. I understand the general point. All I would say to reassure you is that we do have extremely well-qualified and trained Commanders in the MPS. A lot of these decisions are taken based on the intelligence and what is going on on the ground. It is open to members of the public, thankfully, in our society to complain if they are unhappy with any particular incident and then the Directorate of Professional Standards or the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) can look into any particular matter.

You will appreciate that I cannot comment on any particular incident because there are so many happening every day and it would be impossible for me to keep abreast of every single one.

Peter Whittle AM: That all sounds very nice and reasonable, Mr Mayor, but the fact is that, yes, you are quite right that I did ask the Commissioner about it. She said there was going to be a review into it. That was over a week ago. Has there been any result from that?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Chair, what I am happy to do is to get the Commissioner’s office to contact the Assembly Member to give him an update in relation to that review. I can also, Chair, let Assembly Members be copied into the response so that they are aware. I am not sure of the answer as we speak, but I can make sure he is brought up to speed on that. Online Threats Question Number: 2020/4230 19 November 2020 Tony Devenish AM

Tony Devenish AM: Good morning, Mr Mayor. For once, I agree with every word you say. Can I ask two things, please?

At the end of this ongoing investigation, if they do not succeed, will you contact Twitter to insist that they co-operate urgently with the police investigation? This disgusting incitement- to-murder tweet was so-called ‘liked’ by 12,000 people.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Thank you for raising this and thank you very much for the way you have raised it as well. This affects all of us, in public life in particular.

Yes, I will. Just to reassure you, Assembly Member Devenish, I feel so strongly about this that a couple of years ago I made public some of the threats I received and also raised it with the social media companies, not just Twitter but Facebook, Google and the others, to explain the responsibility upon them.

There is some good news, though, which is the Government’s White Paper. What the Government is saying - and I agree with them - is, “Unless you sort it out, we will do it for you”. I am paraphrasing. The Online Harms White Paper talks about the statutory duty of care. It talks about a regulator and it talks about a code of practice. Some of the issues that concern you and concern me are in the Government’s Online Harms White Paper. We just need to get that going into legislation. You are spot on.

Tony Devenish AM: Thank you, Mr Mayor. This is a really great example of the way we can work together. This could be the line in the sand where we could really stop this criminal activity. If we do not get anywhere with this police investigation, can I encourage you to even consider using your office to encourage crowd funding to mount both a civil and a criminal case against Twitter? This kind of thing cannot be accepted. Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): There are two separate issues. Again, thank you for raising the two separate issues. One is the behaviour of the individual committing criminal acts. Two is the responsibility of the platform to share with investigators conducting an inquiry. The problem here was - and David Lammy [MP] brought this to our attention - was that it was Twitter’s action that made it difficult for the investigation to take place. You are spot on to remind the platforms of their responsibility. I will of course look into all options at our disposal. To reassure you, we at City Hall now have very good relations with all these companies, if for no other reason that they help us in relation to violent crime. You will be aware of the issue in relation to some provocative inciteful videos from gangs being kept up for too long. We have also been working with Google, which has given us some funding to train youth leaders to spot some of this stuff by educating youth workers and young people as well. We will continue to build on the good relations. If it is needed, we will look at other things we can do to put pressure on them as well.

Counter Terrorism Policing Question Number: 2020/4155 19 November 2020 Steve O’Connell AM

Steve O’Connell AM: I am pleased you said that there are more officers going into terrorism positions because one of my questions was a little bit about the COVID period that we find ourselves in and how COVID is affecting the tactics around antiterrorism and also the potential abstraction of officers to do other duties. Can you confirm, therefore, that in COVID there is no abstraction of officers and people are concentrating on their tasks?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): That is a really important point you raise, Assembly Member O’Connell. Firstly, in all policing, including counterterrorism, there was a difference in patterns of behaviour. There were fewer people out and about during the first lockdown. That led to a concern that a lot of bad people were doing stuff online and so there was some pivoting of policing work towards policing online stuff. I am sure you know the sorts of things I am talking to.

Separately, just to reassure you, one of the great things about the MPS’s close relationship with the national counterterror team is that they do share expertise. Just to reassure you, there are no extractions in the sense of people not doing counterterror when they should be, but there is shared expertise. Some of the expertise that [Assistant Commissioner] Neil Basu’s team has learned from doing counterterror work has been fed over to other policing, which has led to some really good results. I am really happy for you to receive a briefing from the Deputy Mayor [for Policing and Crime], Neil Basu or [Sir] Stephen House [QPM, Deputy Commissioner, MPS] about some of the fruits of that cross working.

Access to public transport for disabled people (Supplementary) [1] Question Number: 2020/3784 19 November 2020 Andrew Boff AM

Andrew Boff AM: The London Recovery Board has a board of 30 members yet there is no disabled representation. Will you ensure that there is representation for the disabled on that board to ensure that we build back better for everyone?

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Chair, if that is the case that there is not a disabled person on the London Recovery Board, that should not be the case. If that is the case - I am not accepting it is - I am really pleased it has been raised. Can I take that away and get back to you because that is not good enough?

Andrew Boff AM: Certainly, Mr Mayor.

Education inequalities Question Number: 2020/3860 19 November 2020 Jennette Arnold OBE AM

Jennette Arnold OBE AM: Would you agree to write to the Prime Minister or his ineffectual Education Secretary of State echoing my concerns - and I am sure yours - and include a request for an update on how many young Londoners have benefited from this national big catch-up plan that he announced? Thank you.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Chair, can I thank the Assembly Member for once again being an advocate and a champion for children who do not have a voice? What I am happy to do is to liaise with London Councils as well, because like the Member and like many teachers, who work incredibly hard at the coalface, councils will know what is going on. What I will do is write to the Secretary of State after speaking to colleagues in relation to the so-called catch-up fund and the plans that the Government has got to address this issue. Just to remind colleagues, some children were out of school from March until the middle of September and some of those who are back in school have not just lost eight or nine months’ worth of education, but are really struggling with the catch-up they have got to do, with the possibility of further lockdowns in the future because of the way the Government has dealt with this. I am more than happy to write to the Government. What I will do is ensure a copy is sent to the Assembly Member and colleagues in the Assembly as well.

Proposed Infrastructure Levy impact on affordable housing delivery in London Question Number: 2020/3988 19 November 2020 AM

Nicky Gavron AM: I do not know if the Mayor will remember what I was asking, but it really is concerning the impact of the loss of community engagement and also council engagement in shaping their neighbourhoods, and not just their neighbourhoods, details of applications and developments.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): Again, this is another example, Chair, of silence from the Conservative Group on the Assembly. These plans are taking away residents’ rights. These plans are taking away powers from locally elected councillors. These plans mean the Government can impose housing in parts of our city without benefits in the form of GPs, schools, affordable housing and the social infrastructure that communities need. Where is them supporting us in relation to lobbying the Government not to do this? Silence. What I will do, Chair, is to make sure that I copy in Members of the Assembly to the lobbying we are doing in response to this White Paper.

Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London): OK. Chair, the Deputy Mayor is listening now. We will look into that.