517 / 2004-Maylands Field

GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY

London Assembly

31 March 2004

Report No: 5

Subject: Questions to the Mayor

Report of: Director Of Secretariat

342 / 2004 - Pedicabs Jenny Jones Can you provide us with a timetable for TfL reporting on the registration of Pedicabs, and moving towards their proper regulation?

343 / 2004 - London-wide basis of Olympic Games bid Andrew Pelling While there is very good merit in our Olympic bid owing to the prospective concentration of facilities for athletes at our East London base, I am sure that you would agree with me that a successful Olympic bid will also be secured by emphasising the London-wide nature of the Olympic Games bid. What comments would you like to make about the London-wide basis of our bid?

344 / 2004 - Traffic Signals in Croydon Andrew Pelling As part of the TfL work at the junction of Addington Road and Farleigh Road in Croydon, the decision has been made to remove the traffic lights which used to advise motorists whether or not traffic had been signalled to continue into their path and which were located ahead of motorists turning right at that junction. Please can we have these traffic lights reinstated?

345 / 2004 - Brighton Road, Coulsdon Andrew Pelling Why is it necessary to continue to designate the Brighton Road in the centre of Coulsdon as a Red Route after the construction of the Coulsdon Inner Relief Road?

346 / 2004 - Traffic movements in Upper Norwood Andrew Pelling The unpopular one-way system introduced in Upper Norwood looks like being made permanent by the London Borough of Croydon. The funding for this work came primarily from within the GLA family via the LDA. This decision in favour of permanence is to be made despite the fact that the London Borough of Croydon failed on two occasions in its bid to TfL for money to monitor the effect of the changes in the one-way system in terms of altered traffic movements. My judgement is that the one-way system does not promote good business within the one-way triangle, has introduced at least one unsafe and pedestrian-unfriendly crossing facility and has also redirected much traffic into local residential roads.

What was it in Croydon’s bid that was so ineffective when seeking money to measure the effect of the one-way system on traffic movement?

347 / 2004 - Bus route 455 Andrew Pelling What steps are being taken to improve the timing and performance of the 455 bus route, particularly on the route between Purley town centre and Old Lodge Lane in Purley.

348 / 2004 - A232 Croydon Road cycling facilities Andrew Pelling A very significant sum of money was invested in a heavily bollarded and somewhat confusing semi-segregated cycle lane on the heavily trafficked A232. It is most encouraging to see such a significant investment in promoting cycling but could I ask what decision has been made about the extension of this facility and whether a more effective route could be taken by providing a cycling route away from the A232 Croydon Road via Guy Road down to the aesthetically attractive route by the Wandle?

349 / 2004 - Number of cyclists using cycle route on A232 Croydon Road Andrew Pelling How many cyclists is it estimated use the cycle route on the A232 Croydon Road in between The Plough public house and the Paynes Poppets factory?

350 / 2004 - Bus Drivers and Cyclists Jenny Jones Given that more buses are sharing more bus lanes with more cyclists, what is being done specifically to train bus drivers about the need to co-exist with cyclists?

. 351 / 2004 - Greenwich Reach East Darren Johnson Following the collapse of the proposals to develop the riverside site at the mouth of Deptford Creek what will you do to ensure that the site does not remain a derelict 2 wasteland and that the local community are properly involved in any shaping new proposals?

352 / 2004 - Accidents involving Tramlink from April 2003 to date - follow up query Andrew Pelling Your answer to my question 156/2004 at the Assembly on 25 February 2004 failed to provide the data I requested on the number of accidents that Tramlink had been involved from April 2003 to date, broken down by type of accident and type of collision defined by body with which collision has taken place. Could you please supply this detail in the Mayoral answer?

353 / 2004 - Library Books Darren Johnson Given that significant quantities of old library books are being landfilled each year, rather than being reused or recycled, can the GLA work with Local Authorities to address this?

354 / 2004 - Taxis Jenny Jones What is the estimated average cost of establishing a taxi rank in London at a major transport interchange and/or main road? And the mean average cost of relocating a taxi rank in London?

355 / 2004 - KSIs for taxis and private hire vehichles Jenny Jones Can you provide statistics regarding the number of deaths and injuries to a) drivers; b) passengers and c) pedestrians as a result of road collisions involving London taxis for the last 5 years up to the latest date for which figures are available?

356 / 2004 - KSIs for taxis and private hire vehichles Jenny Jones Can you provide any statistics regarding the number of deaths and injuries to a) drivers; b) passengers and c) pedestrians as a result of road collisions involving converted van/MPV private hire vehicles for the last 5 years up to the latest date for which figures are available?

357 / 2004 - Taxi numbers decline Jenny Jones Is it correct that the net amount of ‘all London’ (‘green badge) taxi drivers has gone down for the last three quarters for which figures are available? Why is this happening when taxis are needed to meet demand as London’s population continues to grow?

3 358 / 2004 - Upper Norwood Triangle Jenny Jones Will you ask Croydon council to fullfil their promise of a full public review of the traffic scheme they imposed upon the triangle in Upper Norwood?

359 / 2004 - Upper Norwood Triangle Jenny Jones Will you ask for this review to form the basis of a public consultation with local people and to include the option of reverting it back to two way?

360 / 2004 - Upper Norwood Triangle Jenny Jones Will you get Croydon council to explain why the London Cycle Network (LCN) route that was removed from the Triangle has not been replaced? Also, can TfL make an independent assessment of whether the problems the scheme was designed to eradicate have in fact disappeared?

361 / 2004 - Thames Gateway Bridge tolling system Jenny Jones According to the TfL traffic model for the TGB, how many of the daily vehicle trips across the bridge in 2016 will be made by residents in the four boroughs: Bexley, Greenwich, Newham and Barking and Dagenham?

362 / 2004 - Thames Gateway Bridge tolling system Jenny Jones What proportion of the traffic will be from vehicles with discounts, and what proportion will be traffic which has a complete exemption?

. 363 / 2004 - Thames Gateway Bridge tolling system Jenny Jones What are the baseline levels of tolls used in the model and can you provide figures on the projected annual split between different types of vehicle (e.g. heavy goods vehicles, cars paying full price, cars with discount) which gives you a projected toll revenue of £27m a year?

364 / 2004 - Thames Gateway Bridge tolling system Jenny Jones You have spent the last two years promoting toll discounts for local people as a crucial part of the Thames Gateway Bridge package. The revenue from the tolls is also a major element of the financing for the bridge. Can you outline the total income expected from the TGB tolls and show how they relate to the traffic forecasts made for 2016, including the 50% discount for local people?

4 .

365 / 2004 - Thames Gateway Bridge tolling system Jenny Jones Has the additional administrative burden of these discounts and exemptions been fully taken into account when calculating the cost of running the tolling system?

366 / 2004 - Thames Gateway Bridge Jenny Jones Based upon TfL's experience of congestion charging, can you outline the administrative costs of registering all the potential drivers within the four boroughs, policing the system to prevent fraud and keeping the database up to date? .

367 / 2004 - Thames Gateway Bridge tolling system Jenny Jones Do you agree that it wouldn't be right for TfL to approve the financing of the bridge when the tolling system has not been finalised and the figures are imprecise?

368 / 2004 - Extension to the Congestion Charge Andrew Pelling Why does your consultation on the proposal to extend the Congestion Charge include so many leading questions? Why are there no questions asking whether residents will be less likely to visit the extended zone if the Charge is introduced?

. 369 / 2004 - The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives Darren Johnson Will you sign up to become a Founding Authority of Procura, the new ICLEI Sustainable Procurement Campaign?

370 / 2004 - Dagenham Ferry Darren Johnson What representations have you made regarding the withdrawal of the ferry service for Ford workers between Erith and Dagenham?

371 / 2004 - Arsenal Stadium Darren Johnson Do you still believe that Arsenal's stadium plans offer "enormous benefits to the local community and to London as a whole" in the light of the government inspector's report on the London Borough of Islington (Ashburton Grove and Lough Road) compulsory purchase orders?

5 372 / 2004 - Rail Network Policing Jennette Arnold How much are the suburban train operating companies receiving in public subsidy / and how much of that are they sending on improving safety and security of passengers and staff through policing?

373 / 2004 - Ticket Touts Toby Harris What progress is LU making in their campaign to highlight the link between ticket touting and class A drug use and how many ASBOs have successfully been issued against touts on Brent stations on the North London Line?

. 374 / 2004 - Queen's Park Station Toby Harris Does the Mayor accept that Queen’s Park Station is suffering from many of the problems typical of our over-ground stations and that it urgently needs -

·Staffed barriers at peak travel times ·Improve BTP presence especially in the evenings ·Immediate action to reduce ticket touting? ·Ticket gates on all stations ·Passenger information including countdown for both Bakerloo line and Silverlink services ·Improved signage and lighting

375 / 2004 - Queen's Park Station Toby Harris What work are you doing with Railtrack and the train operators to try and secure station improvements, and will you join with me in asking for these specific improvements at Queen’s Park?

376 / 2004 - British Transport Police Samantha Heath Further to your answer to question 206 / 2004, is TfL aware that the South London Area of BTP predominantly polices overground rail not "street running public transport and highways"?

377 / 2004 - Step Change Roll out Samantha Heath Will the Mayor provide details of those neighbourhoods due to benefit from the first wave of step change in April?

6 378 / 2004 - Policing of Borough boundary areas Valerie Shawcross I often receive comments complaints and concerns from residents and groups living close to the boundaries of 2 or more boroughs such as Herne Hill, Camberwell, Crystal Palace, concerning: -lack of joint patrolling, -lack of ‘joined up’ crime protection activities -CCTV feeding into only 1 borough system.

What guidance does the MPS give to Borough commanders about joint cross border planning?

379 / 2004 - Drugs Jennette Arnold What does the Mayor make of the Simon Hughes's support for the legalisation of hard drugs, as set out in "Time Out" recently?

380 / 2004 - Controlloing Firearms Jennette Arnold Will the Mayor comment on the lack of support for proper gun controls from Simon Hughes MP, as set out in "Time Out" recently?

381 / 2004 - Replica Guns Valerie Shawcross Will the Mayor make a wholehearted commitment to supporting the campaign of ‘Mothers against guns’ and the Union of Youth to see a complete ban on all replica guns in the UK. What action will you take in support the public call for this ban

382 / 2004 - Special Constables Jennette Arnold Will the Mayor provide details by borough of the number of special constables currently attached to OCUs and the numbers in training from each borough?

383 / 2004 - Safer Stations Meg Hillier I understand that TfL is lobbying for more staff at overland stations. What other safety issues at overground stations are you looking at and which lines in North East London will see the improvements?

7 384 / 2004 - Congestion Charging Toby Harris So as to avoid motorists honestly believing that they are entering the zone outside of charging hours but then finding they are just inside the charging period, would it not be fair and make claims indisputable if TfL were to install visible timing indicators, such as clocks or lights, at the entry point to the congestion charge area so that motorists could be sure whether or not the charge was in operation?

. 385 / 2004 - Oystercard on overground rail services Valerie Shawcross Which of the train operating companies serving London have refused to participate in the provision of an integrated ticket system through Oyster card? What further steps will TfL take to press TOCs to participate? What has the response of the SRA been to your representatives on this issue?

386 / 2004 - 42 Bus Valerie Shawcross TfL Buses are currently considering a change to the end of the routing of the 42 bus, because of problems with the bus stand on Sunray Avenue. If the 42 is routed away from Sunray Avenue and Red Post Hill how will the many pensioner passengers in this area be able to get up the extremely steep Red Post Hill to catch a bus along Denmark Hill?

387 / 2004 - Doctor's Parking Permits Valerie Shawcross What discussions are TfL having with the ALG over the issue Health Emergency Badges for doctors?

(Brief: Doctors at Brixton Hill group practice in Lambeth are experiencing considerable difficulty when out on call. Lambeth is virtually meter-parking only and it is often impossible to find a space at all, let alone one near the house being visited.

The ALG used to issue Health Emergency Badges for all doctors, but the number is now restricted. Brixton Hill has nine doctors and is only allowed six HEBs. The ALG expects doctors to share the permits an impractical, time-wasting procedure.

HEBs are anyway only intended for emergency use. The ALG expects doctors on routine calls to park illegally, pay fines and appeal - also an impractical, time-wasting procedure.

Presumably this is not the only practice with problems, nor the only borough.)

8 388 / 2004 - Lordship Lane Bus Lane Valerie Shawcross Southwark Council has recently passed the following resolution:

"Council notes the severe difficulties suffered by small businesses in Lordship Lane due to the restrictions to loading and customer parking since implementation of the 185 bus lane proposals in 2002. Council calls upon the Executive to request that Transport for London, in conjunction with Southwark Council, carry out a full review of the operation of the bus lane along Lordship Lane, in particular whether the restrictions to parking from 4-7pm are necessary, including a consultation of residents and traders as to how its operation can be improved.

Will you respond positively to the call for a review of the operation of the Lordship Lane bus lane given concerns about the impact it is having on small traders locally?

389 / 2004 - Unadopted Roads Samantha Heath Will the Mayor, through TfL, convene discussion with the boroughs over the state of unadopted roads within London, especially those around stations?

. 390 / 2004 - Tramlink Zoning Samantha Heath What analysis has been conducted on the effects on transport patterns of the differential zoning of East Croydon for Tramlink and overland rail networks?

391 / 2004 - DLR 3 Car Public Inquiry John Biggs What objections do you anticipate at the DLR 3 car project public inquiry and what steps are being taken to address known concerns?

392 / 2004 - Yellow Bus pilots John Biggs Do you support the idea of yellow bus pilots in London? What thinking has happened to date on this?

393 / 2004 - Borough Parking Regulations John Biggs Are individual boroughs parking regulations sufficiently consistent with one another and if not is this a strategic issue for London?

394 / 2004 - Transport Grant John Biggs What is the truth of the allegation that you have handed back some 2 million of transport grant? (Given that this represents less than .2 percent of the grant received while several

9 100s of millions extra were negotiated for the tube, are such allegations at risk of misrepresenting a positive picture)

. 395 / 2004 - West London Tram John Biggs Would you agree that the West London Tram proposal demonstrates that trying to impose a tram scheme along busy narrow urban high streets may well be a serious political misjudgement and do you feel that any principle such as would be expected from a Mayor for all London, lies behind the Liberal Democrat assertion that they do not believe that the A4020 Uxbridge Road, especially at Ealing Broadway and in Acton High Street, is a suitable route for a tram scheme, and we recommend that TfL abandons this proposal. Would this policy not create the situation where trams can only be built in areas without serious congestion, which defeats the object of building them?

396 / 2004 - Bendy Buses John Biggs Will you examine whether bendy buses on longer routes should be fitted with more seating, perhaps as a review of service operation to date?

397 / 2004 - Silvertown Crossing John Biggs What prospect do you see for accelerating consideration of the Silvertown Crossing?

398 / 2004 - PLA Navigation Requirements John Biggs Are the PLA unreasonable in their navigation requirements to be maintained under the Thames Gateway Bridge given that the land take and construction costs will be raised by provision for such large ships when none need to travel so far up river?

399 / 2004 - Signaling Problems- District Line John Biggs Can you give an indication of when the signaling problems on the Eastern part of the District Line will be resolved and what priority is being given to do this?

400 / 2004 - Crossrail John Biggs What news is there on the funding of Crossrail?

401 / 2004 - Government Review of National Rail John Biggs When will your submission to the Government Review of National Rail be submitted?

402 / 2004 - North London Line Toby Harris What is TfL doing to ensure that the SRA and train operating companies improve stations on the on the North London Line and when are the improvements expected to be in place?

403 / 2004 - North London Line Toby Harris How are TfL funds for improvements to the North London Line being spent and what consultation is being planned with passengers and relevant local authorities?

404 / 2004 - Bakerloo Line Toby Harris The Bakerloo Line from Queens Park to Harrow and Wealdstone runs on track operated by Network Rail. Silverlink operates stations on this section of the Underground Line. This section of the Bakerloo line was not included in the PPP and as a consequence none of the stations have upgrades planned as part of the PPP programme. Does the Mayor agree that the passenger experience on this section of the Bakerloo Line should be the same as on other parts of the Underground?

405 / 2004 - 726 Bus Samantha Heath In light of the Mayor’s desire to improve bus links between suburban centres, what plans does TfL have to reinstate the 726 bus service in full?

406 / 2004 - Shuttle Buses Meg Hillier What strategic planning or financial support could TfL provide to boost visitors to hackney Central through their introduction of a shuttle bus between Hackney Empire and Ocean to Liverpool Street? Are there any plans for better signage from Central London bus stops to areas not served by the tube?

. 407 / 2004 - Walthamstow Central Meg Hillier Following on from my last question on ticket touting at Walthamstow Central (331/2004). Can you outline the revised management arrangements at this station? I am glad that National Express has pledged to work with the British Transport Police, but can you tell me how they will work with the BTP? How much funding will National Express contribute to this partnership and what is the likely timetable? 11

408 / 2004 - Rezoning Meg Hillier Please outline progress made by TfL on transport rezoning. In Stamford Hill there has long been a difference between zones for overground rail and buses in the same geographical location. Is it not time this was brought in line?

409 / 2004 - Funding for East London Line Meg Hillier Please detail the work done by TfL or you to progress the funding for the much needed East London Line Extension.

410 / 2004 - Underpass at Angel Meg Hillier Can you reassure Islington residents and me that there are no plans for an underpass at Angel crossing of the main junction.

411 / 2004 - Finsbury Park Meg Hillier Will you write personally to the Strategic Rail Authority to support the bid for funding to complete the £8.3m project for improvements at Finsbury Park which are supported by over £5m of TfL funds?

412 / 2004 - Capital Standards Samantha Heath How many officers from each London borough have so far benefited from the Capital Standard Enforcement Academy?

. 413 / 2004 - Graffiti Samantha Heath Richmond Council are claiming to be launching action against graffiti locally, what support would the Council receive in this endeavour were it a member of Capital Standards?

414 / 2004 - Health and Safety – London’s Building Sites Diana Johnson In light of the tragic recent death on the Wembley construction site, and the average 1 death a week in construction in London, what powers does the Mayor have to ensure that contractors, and more importantly their sub-contractors, on London’s building sites fully comply with their Health and Safety obligations?

415 / 2004 - Health and Safety – London’s Building Sites Diana Johnson Is the Mayor prepared to make Health and Safety a core responsibility of lead contactors for all GLA Family managed construction projects that they cannot contract out to sub-contractors?

12 416 / 2004 - Children and Young Person’s Survey Diana Johnson Can the Mayor detail the nature of the Children and Young Person's Survey as approved by MA1573. What will this survey focus on, how will it be conducted, what does it aim to find out, and how will it add value to the already extensive consultation that has taken place as part of the preparation of the Mayor's Children and Young Person's Strategy.

. 417 / 2004 - Regeneration of the Cray Valley and Penge/Crystal Palace Samantha Heath How does the Mayor react to lack of continued regeneration funding for the Cray Valley and Penge areas following the end of current SRB funding?

418 / 2004 - SRB Funding Diana Johnson What evaluation has the LDA made of the exit strategies made by responsible bodies under the SRB programme?

419 / 2004 - Housing Valerie Shawcross What advice would the Mayor give to my constituent Cheryl Sanchez who has asked me to ask you When will Southwark Council freeze their right to buy policy, until more houses could be built? I certainly live is less than suitable accommodation. As a resident of Southwark for 7 years who is also single, I am not getting any sort of priority on the waiting list, where I have been for the last 3 years. Yet, I am one of the 23% of the employed residents, who regularly pay council tax of £69 per month plus £245 monthly income tax yet, I cannot get suitable housing in my own borough.)Southwark residents unable to afford high mortgage costs who have no immediate prospect of council housing?

420 / 2004 - Affordable Homes Diana Johnson Where are the biggest obstacles to securing more affordable housing in London?

421 / 2004 - Older People Samantha Heath Will the Mayor join me in condemning Conservative councillors in Bexley for branding older people as "mentally infirm"? And does the Mayor believe that there is any place for people who express such derogatory views in the London Assembly?

422 / 2004 - Dorset Road School Samantha Heath In light of the needs identified in the London Plan for additional schools in London, and the decision of the Independent Adjudicator to reject Bromley LEA's plans to close Dorset Road Infants School in Mottingham, SE9, will the Mayor support local campaigners fighting attempts by Bromley Conservatives to challenge the Adjudicator's decision?

423 / 2004 - Kids Swim Free Diana Johnson Will the Mayor update us on the support which he is giving my Kids Swim Free initiative?

424 / 2004 - Barnet FC Jennette Arnold Given that league football clubs are an important part of local communities does the Mayor believe that Barnet Council should be more supportive of Barnet FC?

425 / 2004 - Welsh Harp Youth Sailing Jennette Arnold What is the Mayor's view on the decision of Barnet Council to axe the only facility in London for young people to learn to sail?

426 / 2004 - Football Association Len Duvall Will the Mayor write to the FA's chief executive objecting on the grounds of gross insensitivity to their employment of a man found guilty of the manslaughter by gross negligence of Pierre Bolangi, a young Charlton Athletic FC player on August 9, 2000?

427 / 2004 - Aquarium Campaign John Biggs Will you respond to the (largely mainland Europe based) letter and email campaign against the proposed aquarium?

428 / 2004 - GLA Act John Biggs What steps are being taken to seek amendments to the GLA Act in the impending regional assemblies legislation (only worth asking if something positive to respond)

429 / 2004 - Asylum Seeker Skills Len Duvall What work has the GLA group carried out into the skills-base of asylum seekers and their contribution to the London economy, and to what extent does this bear on the argument that foreign Premiership footballers should be more welcome in London than Somali asylum seekers?

430 / 2004 - London Plan Meg Hillier How does the Mayor plan to ensure that boroughs comply with his target of house building as set out in the London Plan?

431 / 2004 - Affordable Housing Meg Hillier How enforceable is the target of 50% affordable housing in the London Plan?

432 / 2004 - Canal Side Developments Meg Hillier What is the Mayor doing to ensure that canal side developments remain in line with the existing character of the area? What safeguards are in place to protect against new developments having a negative impact on the local amenities and environment?

433 / 2004 - Arsenal Stadium Meg Hillier Do you remain committed to the development of the new Arsenal Stadium?

. 434 / 2004 - Tramlink Claims Andrew Pelling In response to question 255/2004 regarding the Croydon Tram scheme, you advised that there was only one claim for land take not settled. Could you please confirm that all land acquisitions for the scheme - except for that sole residential case - have been concluded and the monies paid? Has the Tram system paid for and own all the land it needs and uses?

435 / 2004 - Tramlink acquisition cases outstanding Andrew Pelling How many Croydon Tramlink land acquisition cases are still outstanding, and how much interest is payable on those cases?

436 / 2004 - Spend on Tramlink land acquisitions Andrew Pelling How much has been spent in total on land acquisitions for the Croydon Tram scheme, and how does the figure compare with the budget figure at the time the Croydon Tramlink Act was given Royal Assent?

437 / 2004 - Interest paid on Tramlink compensation Andrew Pelling How much interest has been paid on the total amount of compensation paid for interests acquired relating to the Croydon Tramlink, and how does the figure compare with the budget figure at the time the Act was given Royal Assent?

438 / 2004 - Mayoral view on interest paid Andrew Pelling Are you content, as Mayor, with the amount of interest paid on compensation paid for interests acquired relating to Croydon Tramlink? Could a better deal have been achieved for Council Tax payers by - for example - employing temporary staff to deal with the land take claims quicker?

439 / 2004 - Timeliness of legal advice on 1973 Land Compensation Act Andrew Pelling How long did it take for the legal advice regarding the validity of the 1973 Land Compensation Act to be received, and would I be correct in thinking that the advice was sought when the scheme was being planned?

If that assumption is not correct, why do you feel such advice was not sought in a timely fashion? Please provide an estimate of the cost of interest due to the delay in seeking and receiving the legal advice which confirmed that the 1973 Act does apply.

440 / 2004 - Parties involved in agreeing claims and timeliness of Andrew Pelling Who has agreed the strategy for agreeing the claims for compensation for loss of value under the 1973 Act? Has the strategy been agreed with the surveyors representing the claimants, and given that those claims were mostly made three years ago, how many properties have now been inspected in order to assess their claims? How many properties have not yet been inspected?

441 / 2004 - Implications of District Valuer Council Tax Band findings Andrew Pelling I understand that whilst claims for compensation have been outstanding with TfL for so long, several properties have sought - and received - reductions in Bandings for Council Tax due to the fact that the District Valuer now feels that the previous assessment was too high, and so will the Mayor agree that those properties have de facto a successful claim? If not, does he feel that the Valuation Office - a recognised independent expert in such matters - has been wrong in granting Council Tax Band Reductions?

16 442 / 2004 - Future good practice regarding Tram land acquisition Andrew Pelling Have any lessons been learnt in respect of land acquisition and compensation for any expansion of the Tram network from the experience with the Croydon Tram system?

443 / 2004 - Housing Requirements Study Mike Tuffrey You provided a written answer to a Mayor’s question in October, commenting that the GLA Housing Requirements Study would be published in early 2004. Given that we are now a quarter of the way through the year, how soon can we expect publication?

. 444 / 2004 - Housing Capacity Study Mike Tuffrey When is the planned Londonwide housing capacity study due to be completed? Why was it not started earlier in the London Plan process, so that its crucial results could inform the targets in the final Plan?

445 / 2004 - Starter Home Initiative Mike Tuffrey Since the start of the scheme in December, how many key workers has the government’s Starter Homes Initiative (SHI) helped to buy a home in London and at what cost?

446 / 2004 - Homelessness and Housing Policy Mike Tuffrey Why had the number of families forced to live in temporary accommodation across London grown by 14,000 in the last three years, now nearing the worrying total of 63,000 households? Why have your housing strategies failed to curb this increase?

447 / 2004 - Meetings with Housing Developers Mike Tuffrey How may meetings have you had with Berkeley Homes or their representatives since you became Mayor - on what dates and for what purposes?

448 / 2004 - Contributions from Housing Developers and others Mike Tuffrey Given that you refuse to publish a list of contributions received during your period as an 'independent' mayor, despite Electoral Commission rules that require such disclosure from a party political mayor, please state what contributions you have received - if any - from house builders, developers, land owners and any others involved in the planning process?

17 449 / 2004 - London Plan Housing Targets Mike Tuffrey You state in a recent letter to the Local Government Chronicle (LGC 12/03/04) that it was the Examination in Public Panel’s ‘own suggestion that 23,000 new homes a year be used as a monitoring target’ by the London Plan for annual housing provision. Could you point me to the exact paragraph where the Panel’s report specifically recommends or suggest this?

450 / 2004 - Affordable Housing Mike Tuffrey What do you see as the main obstacles in achieving the targets for affordable housing?

451 / 2004 - Variance in Housing Targets Mike Tuffrey Do you consider the differences in housing and affordable housing targets in the London Plan and the London Housing Strategy as a potential problem?

452 / 2004 - Central Government Funding for Affordable Housing Mike Tuffrey How much funding has the Government provided for affordable and social housing in London through the Approved Development Programme (or equivalent) each year for the past ten years? Do you agree with evidence provided by GLA officers to the Economic and Social Development Committee that to meet targets including the backlog of housing need, London’s ADP funding needs to be virtually doubled?

453 / 2004 - St George’s Day Mike Tuffrey At the last MQT you said that officers would be in a position to announce proposals for St George’s Day celebrations ‘in due course’. When exactly will this be?

454 / 2004 - Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative Mike Tuffrey What criteria are used to distribute the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative funding amongst the boroughs?

455 / 2004 - LDA Mike Tuffrey Who is ultimately responsible for setting the LDA's agenda?

18 456 / 2004 - LDA Performance Mike Tuffrey Why does the business community apparently lack faith in the LDA's direction and openness to consultation, as evidenced by comments made by their representatives at January's Budget Committee meeting? What plans do you have to remedy this?

457 / 2004 - Tube Lines refinancing Lynne Featherstone We are told that the Tube Lines consortium is in process of organising refinancing of the £1.8 billion loan for the project. Is it the case that this will create a financial windfall to the public sector, and if so, can you estimate how TfL and Londoners will benefit?

458 / 2004 - Infracos Lynne Featherstone What would be the effect for LUL/TfL if any partner in the infracos chose to sell all or part of their stake in the consortium?

459 / 2004 - Terrorist threat: safety of over-ground rail passengers Lynne Featherstone With the numbers of British Transport Police actually falling in the last 12 months, are you satisfied that they will be capable of making a significant contribution to the safety of passengers over-ground rail in London?

460 / 2004 - Security on London Underground sites Lynne Featherstone What is being done to upgrade security in sidings and sheds for Underground trains parked overnight - not just to guard against terrorist interference but to prevent damage and graffiti by vandals?

461 / 2004 - Refurbishment and upgrades on London Underground Lynne Featherstone Delays in upgrading and refurbishment projects on the Underground have apparently occurred because changes are brought in to design or engineering standards half way through the work. Is there any way when the infracos are embarking on a refurbishment programme (eg the full modernisation of Elephant and Castle) that they can ensure that they are fully informed from the outset what the standards will require?

. 462 / 2004 - Elephant and Castle modernisation Lynne Featherstone When is the full modernisation of Elephant and Castle station due to start and what is its planned completion date? Given the history of problems, what assurances can TfL give that this will be achieved? What penalties will be paid by Metronet if they fail to meet the deadlines?

19 .

463 / 2004 - Elephant and Castle modernisation Lynne Featherstone There have been very considerable delays following the completion of work on the Northern Line ticket hall at the Elephant and Castle Station. A period of commissioning had to be followed by an inspection by Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate - Tim O’Toole has described the process as "appallingly slow". Has TfL been able to find any ways of shortening the process - because the difficulty is likely to repeat itself on many future occasions as we set about rebuilding the Underground?

464 / 2004 - Modernisation works at Kennington Lynne Featherstone Are the modernisation works at Kennington keeping to schedule? What assurance can TfL give that they will be fully complete by July 2004, as promised? What penalties will be paid by Metronet if they fail to meet the deadline?

465 / 2004 - Stations at Rotherhithe and Wapping Lynne Featherstone Are we any further on in the process of trying to keep the stations at Rotherhithe and Wapping on the East London Line open by finding ways of complying with the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive ?

466 / 2004 - Eurostar International Terminal at Waterloo Lynne Featherstone What would be the effect of Eurostar closing their International Terminal at Waterloo? Does TfL have a view on how this terminal, winner of three architectural awards, might benefit London’s commuters at this very overcrowded station?

. 467 / 2004 - Security on London Underground / Mobile Phones Lynne Featherstone The terrorist attacks in Madrid are believed to have been triggered by detonators wired to mobile phones. At present this would be impossible in the deep tunnels of the London Underground. Will you call on London Underground to scrap their plans to install mobile phone capability in all deep line tunnels?

468 / 2004 - Travel concessions for 16-17 year olds Lynne Featherstone Travel concessions for 16-17 year olds are limited to tickets which are 7 day, monthly or longer. Will you reconsider extending this to shorter period tickets? If not, why not?

20 469 / 2004 - Government powers over Transport for London Sally Hamwee What is your view of Clause 21 of the Government's Traffic Management Bill which gives the Secretary of State for Transport powers to take over Transport for London? What is your view of the successful filibustering by Conservative M.P.s at Report Stage on the Bill which prevented a Liberal Democrat amendment removing these powers from being reached?

470 / 2004 - Capita performance standards Sally Hamwee Will you publish and provide in answer to this question the revised set of performance standards which you previously indicated would be finalised with Capita by March 2004?

471 / 2004 - A2 at Blackheath Hill Lynne Featherstone How much has been the total cost of reconstructing the A2 road at Blackheath Hill? And have shopkeepers and businesses been compensated for the disruption and inconvenience caused?

472 / 2004 - Equalities Graham Tope Please list the posts of those GLA staff employed to deal directly with equalities issues, indicate the level of seniority of each post, and the total cost annually of these posts.

. 473 / 2004 - Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender post Graham Tope How long is it since a member of the GLA staff was employed in a post nominated to deal specifically with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, and at what level of seniority within the organisation? Has this post now been cut from the establishment?

474 / 2004 - MPA meetings Graham Tope Are there any plans to broadcast MPA meetings on City Hall television?

475 / 2004 - ‘Student Londoner’ Sally Hamwee When in the past have you published editions of the ‘Student Londoner’ and when exactly will your four proposed additional editions be published?

21 476 / 2004 - Indian Community Conference Sally Hamwee When exactly will your proposed Indian Community Conference, referred to in your fortieth report to the Assembly, be held? Which persons are expected to address the event, and how will you make sure representatives from across the political spectrum are involved?

477 / 2004 - Advertising campaigns Graham Tope Please provide a full list of all GLA Group funded advertising campaigns in this calendar year, both executed and planned, up until the end of your mayoral term, indicating the name, purpose and cost of each campaign

478 / 2004 - Penalty Charge Notice Bob Neill A constituent of mine is currently in the appeals process with Transport for London over a PCN. My constituent has submitted proof that he was at work at the time, but this was rejected. He has the option of obtaining a photo at the cost of £10, which is not recoverable even if this proves not to be his vehicle. Is it fair that someone should be out of pocket to prove their innocence?

. 479 / 2004 - Minutes of Functional Body meetings Sally Hamwee Following on from your answer to my question 240/2004 last month, will you please explain why the minutes of TfL's Finance Committee meetings are not published? What other committees or meetings of the Functional Bodies do not publish their minutes?

480 / 2004 - Unpaid penalty charge notices Bob Neill Could you give me an exact figure for the current value of unpaid penalty charge notices?

481 / 2004 - Planning Bill amendment Sally Hamwee Will the Mayor accept that, far from being an attempt to render the London Plan ineffective, the amendment which I tabled and which the House of Lords agreed arose from a real concern to avoid complexity and confusion, a concern shared - indeed drawn to my attention - by boroughs under the administration of all three political parties?

22 482 / 2004 - Correspondence on Greenwich Planning Inquiry Sally Hamwee A Greenwich resident claims to have received no response or acknowledgement to four letters sent to you between December 2003 and February 2004 regarding a Planning Inquiry taking place in Greenwich which, as part of the inquiry, involved evidence interpreting the London Plan. Is it the case that the only communication from your office with a resident was via a BBC London phone-in, by which time the inquiry had concluded? Is it correct that that resident was told that you would have funded an appeal against the Planning Inspector's decision had you known about it earlier, given that you and your officers were apparently aware of the decision and the date by which an appeal would have to be lodged at least two months earlier. Please comment

483 / 2004 - Public Liaison Unit Bob Neill How many officers work in the Public Liaison Unit? What is the cost of the unit? Does the unit have access to a Greater London Street Atlas? . 484 / 2004 - Public Liaison Unit Bob Neill Who is responsible for checking the accuracy of letters sent out by the PLU on behalf of the Mayor?

485 / 2004 - West Wickham High Street Bob Neill Will the Mayor confirm a) That West Wickham High Street is and always has been in the London Borough of Bromley? b) is part of the red route network? C) it is managed by TfL? Will the Mayor pass on this information to the PLU?

486 / 2004 - Road works outside M&S 92-100 West Wickham Bob Neill Is the Mayor aware that TfL were hired as contractors to carry out road works outside M&S 92-100 West Wickham in November 2003, that they or their agents severed an electricity cable and that no work upon the site seems to have taken place since, leaving a waterlogged hole 15ft long in a busy local shopping area, causing danger and nuisance to pedestrians and traffic? What steps will the Mayor take to ensure that TfL rectify this situation as a matter of urgency?

487 / 2004 - 24 hour Bus Stop Clearways. Bob Neill I understand that as part of your Transport Strategy you are introducing 24 hour bus stop clearways. Do you think it is appropriate that a bus stop, such as the bus stop outside St Paul’s church in Beckenham, where the route is not in operation on a Sunday to have a bus stop clearway in use on Sunday?

23 488 / 2004 - TfL Consultation Angie Bray

How closely does TfL follow its own consultation toolkit in the public consultation exercises it has, is and will carry out?

489 / 2004 - Cromwell Road Hanging Baskets Angie Bray

In you answer to my question 1317/2003 given in July 2003, you said that the issue of supplying cheaper hanging baskets on the Cromwell Road in Kensington & Chelsea would be put onto the agenda for the next TfL/RBKC Liaison meeting. Can you tell me when this meeting was held and what the outcomes of the discussion on this subject were?

490 / 2004 - TfL Consultation Angie Bray

How much money has TfL spent overall on public consultations since they came into being?

491 / 2004 - Consultation Methods Angie Bray

Exactly what consultation literature on the westward expansion of the congestion charging zone has been sent to whom, in which postcode areas? How and why were the areas that were delivered to chosen?

492 / 2004 - Consultation Methods Angie Bray

Have all the consultation packs on the proposal to extend the congestion charge scheme now been sent out? What is the response rate currently running at?

493 / 2004 - Congestion Charge problems on Grosvenor Road Angie Bray

Does the Mayor share my concerns about an anomaly affecting the residents of the small parcel of land immediately to the left of Vauxhall Bridge Road, between the North Bank of the Thames and Grosvenor Road; namely, that they will be excluded from the proposed extended congestion charge zone, even though their parking facilities are inside the zone. This means they will not get the residents discount although they will be forced to park inside the zone. They may also face the ridiculous situation where they may be forced to enter the zone just to leave their properties. Will you endeavour to undertake that they are included within the zone in the plans for the extension – should it be forced on western London?

24 494 / 2004 - Congestion Charge Consulting Angie Bray

Can the Mayor explain why a business in Esher has received the (business) consultation leaflet on congestion charging extension?

495 / 2004 - Congestion Charge Consulting Angie Bray

How many businesses within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have been sent the TfL (business) consultation leaflet? How were these businesses chosen?

496 / 2004 - Original Congestion Charge Consultation Angie Bray

Prior to the implementation of the Central London Congestion Charging Scheme in February 2003, how many people were consulted? Of these, how many respondents were: A) in favor of the scheme; and B) Opposed

497 / 2004 - TfL Consultations Angie Bray

Can the Mayor confirm that they are using the polling firm MORI to undertake surveys into the effects of the current Congestion Charge scheme; and in the process of doing so offering people £10 to answer the questions? How much is this surveying costing?

498 / 2004 - TfL Consultations Andrew Pelling

Where and when are MORI undertaking their face-to-face surveying of residents concerning the effects of the current Congestion Charge scheme? Will the information they gather become publicly available?

. 499 / 2004 - Letters Angie Bray

Why do you and Bob Kiley take an unacceptably long time to reply to letters from Assembly Members? Is this same discourtesy offered to everyone who writes to either of you? When does Mr. Kiley intend to reply to my outstanding letter to him?

25 500 / 2004 - Road Safety improvements in Queen’s Grove / Marlborough Place, NW8 Angie Bray

Last year, TfL agreed to implement road safety improvements in the Queen’s Grove/Marlborough Road area in NW8, after a spate of accidents – many involving children from the local school. A few weeks ago, TfL announced that the improvements scheme was now to be scrapped because there was not enough money available to complete it, although they were unable to say where this money had gone. Can the Mayor tell me:

A) where this money, which had been previously agreed, has gone? AND B) Does it have anything to do with the pitifully low amount of money being raised by the congestion charge scheme and the revelation in the 29th July 2003 TfL Board papers that because of this low revenue, over £88million of transport schemes had been scrapped, including £3.9 from road safety plans?

Is it not the case that you are putting the lives of Londoners at risk because your congestion charge scheme has been an abject failure when it comes to raising money?

501 / 2004 - Public Consultations in Queen’s Grove / Marlborough Place, NW8 Angie Bray

In my question above I revealed that the road safety improvements planned in Queen’s Grove / Marlborough Place had been cancelled because not enough money was available to complete them. Prior to this scheme being given the go ahead, a public consultation was undertaken. Now it has emerged that after its postponement, TfL are going to undertake another public consultation. Why is this second consultation going ahead when there is a clear need for these road improvements on an urgent basis. How much is this wasteful consultation set to cost?

502 / 2004 - Online Public Consultations Angie Bray

I have had complaints from residents who have tried to submit their online questionnaires but have not had an email back to ‘validate’ their responses, as indicated by the instructions on the website. Is this an attempt to exclude those who are entering suitably negative responses so that their input can be ignored?

503 / 2004 - Congestion Charge Scheme Finances Angie Bray

How much of the £60million raised from the Current Congestion Charging Scheme is generated from actual charges, and how much from PCNs? Could you also supply this figure in % terms.

26 504 / 2004 - Extra Cars in Congestion Charge Zone Angie Bray

What modelling has been done to show the effect that widening the current congestion charge zone to include the mainly residential area of Kensington & Chelsea and thus the thousands of extra cars within it will have on congestion levels. Surely, is it not the case that congestion will get worse if more cars are allowed to drive freely throughout an extended zone.

505 / 2004 - Two Zone Proposal Angie Bray

Earlier in the year, when we questioned you and Bob Kiley, Mr. Kiley said that there are not too many differences between a one zone or a two zone proposal ‘except at the margins’. What exactly are the differences ‘at the margins’?

506 / 2004 - Simplicity of Congestion Charge Angie Bray

At the meeting with Bob Kiley on 14th January 2004, you said in reference to the Congestion Charge, “simplicity is absolutely crucial in this”. Would you agree that the current congestion charging levy is too difficult for some people to pay, especially those living outside of London who know little or nothing about it?

. 507 / 2004 - Circle Line Problems Angie Bray

What will the Mayor do to assist people living in Pembridge Square and Linden Gardens, whose lives have been blighted because of their long running saga with LUL about work carried out on the Circle Line? I have facilitated meetings between TfL and local residents; although we have now reached the stage when TfL say there is nothing more they can do. Will the Mayor explain how this can be considered reasonable when local residents have had their houses made un-sellable and in some cases unliveable by the vibrations from trains below? In addition, will he accept that there is a very real difference between the LUL measured reductions in noise level and the day to day perceptions of those who live over the top of the affected area? Furthermore, does the Mayor regarded it as incompetence on the part of his organisation that they have ‘lost’ vital paperwork detailing the work which originally caused the problems in 1995?

508 / 2004 - 242N bus route Eric Ollerenshaw

Several months ago enquiries were sent to TfL as a result of local residents complaing about the 242N bus route. These enquiries also included a suggested alternate route that was proposed by one of the residents and user of the 242. Can you please inform me what action, if any, has been taken in regards to this? 27

509 / 2004 - Madrid Eric Ollerenshaw Can the Mayor comment on London's preparedness to deal with a Madrid style terrorist attack?

510 / 2004 - Fires - Bendy Buses Eric Ollerenshaw In view of the continued fires ocurring on his new style "bendy buses" isn't it time to halt the expansion of of these types of bus on further routes and return to the more tried and tested" double decker"?

511 / 2004 - Mobile Phones on the Tube Richard Barnes

Will you be undertaking a review of plans by TfL to allow mobile telephone transmitters in tube tunnels following the use of mobile phone technology in the Madrid bombings?

. 512 / 2004 - West London Tram Richard Barnes

Given the proposals to pedestrianise parts of Acton High Street for the West London Tram project, what compensation will be available to businesses on the High Street for loss of custom?

513 / 2004 - Heathrow City Partnership Richard Barnes

Is the Mayor concerned that funding from the LDA for the Heathrow City Partnership has been slashed by 40% for this financial year?

514 / 2004 - Southall Crossrail Station/Stop Richard Barnes

Has the Mayor received any feedback from the Crossrail team regarding the feasibility of a crossrail station/stop at Southall?

515 / 2004 - Unlicensed minicabs Roger Evans When will the next Transport Operational Command action on unlicensed minicabs operating in Gants Hill take place?

28 516 / 2004 - Underground (escalators) Roger Evans

The Underground Advisory Panel papers for 2nd March 2004 suggest that there percentage of escalators in service on the Jubilee line during the past 14 periods has been significantly above budget, attaining service levels of over 99% in some periods. However, at the same time it is well known that there have been problems with the escalators on the Jubilee Line extension and the same Underground Advisory Panel papers acknowledge that ‘remedial works continued on Jubilee Line escalators’. Could you, therefore, advise me what percentage of escalators were in service on the Jubilee Line extension only during the past 14 periods?

517 / 2004 - Maylands Field Roger Evans

At Mayor’s Question Time on 25th February it was announced that, for ecological reasons, the site at Maylands Field would not be chosen for a Crossrail depot. This site has been the subject of a good deal of controversy in the locality since early 2003 stemming from a variety of proposals which have been put forward for its future use. Given that Mr Livingstone said that one reason for not choosing Maylands Field was to preserve the greenbelt in the area, is the Mayor intending to put measures in place to ensure that Maylands Field will remain a greenbelt site, and if so what would these measures consist of?

518 / 2004 - Declaration of gifts Roger Evans

Could the Mayor tell us how much he paid for the solar panels which have been fitted to his house, and how much he received as grant for this project?

519 / 2004 - East London & the London Plan Roger Evans

Much of the London Plan for East London relates to regeneration which relies on a variety of transport infrastructure projects, notably Crossrail as well as the East London and Greenwich Waterfront Transit schemes. Some of these do not yet have approval and/or funding. How would the Plan for East London be executed if these transport improvements do not finally come to fruition?

520 / 2004 - East London & the London Plan Roger Evans

Paragraph 5.91 of the East London chapter of the London Plan includes the statement ‘In managing industrial land stocks, account should be taken of the need to make provision for waste management in line with the principle of self-sufficiency and taking account of some of central London’s needs.’ Does this imply that more waste management sites will be put into an area of London which already houses the capital’s only landfill site?

521 / 2004 - East London & the London Plan Richard Barnes

29 Among the strategic priorities outlined for East London is to ‘maximise the number of additional homes, including affordable housing, by exceeding the housing provision targets set out in this plan’. How will this be achieved and why has the extra housing implied by this statement not been automatically planned for?

522 / 2004 - East London & the London Plan Roger Evans What strategy does the Mayor have actively to attract a greater number of employers to the Thames Gateway area? Alternatively, given the level of transport provision for the area has been much talked about , what risk is there that the area will become a soulless dormer town for the

. 523 / 2004 - Trams Roger Evans How many times have trams on the Croydon Tramlink derailed in the last 12 months?

524 / 2004 - London Underground Roger Evans

On 10th March the Victoria Line had to be suspended for over 3 hours after a train struck some loose point and crossovers which took the shoes connecting it to the power lines off it. The previous week, the Circle Line had to be suspended until some ballast next to the line was removed. What level of safety breach will have to take place before the Infracos are forced to sack the sub-contractors responsible for these incidents?

525 / 2004 - Bus services Roger Evans

What plans doe the Mayor have to improve bus services to Havering-Atte-Bower?

526 / 2004 - Waterloo Roundabout Jenny Jones Would you ask the TfL engineers to take another look at the layout of the Waterloo Roundabout and approach roads, as the layout has been redesigned in a way that has ignored the comments of cyclists and produced a potentially dangerous situation?

527 / 2004 - Road works Roger Evans 30

Could the Mayor explain the reason for the road works in the A12 road tunnel at Wanstead?

528 / 2004 - Crossrail Roger Evans Would the Mayor endorse the view of the Assembly that the Eastern spurs of Crossrail are vital to the regeneration of East London and that, under no circumstances, should the project be restricted only to the stretch between Paddington and Liverpool Street?

. 529 / 2004 - London Underground Roger Evans

In the light of the tragedy in Madrid, and the fact that it was perpetrated through the use of mobile phones, would the Mayor reconsider the current plans to install cables to permit mobile phone reception in Underground tunnels?

530 / 2004 - London Buses Roger Evans

One of my constituents has been complaining for a number of months about the noise from the air brakes on buses running on routes 149 and 279 among others. His life is particularly blighted by this as there is a bus stop outside the house. TfL told him that replacing the noisy brakes would be completed ‘early in the new year’. However, my constituent says he is still experiencing problems with the noise from the brakes. On this basis, can I ask what progress is being made to replace the brakes on the offending buses?

531 / 2004 - Road Layout - Wimbledon Hill Elizabeth Howlett The new road layout now being implemented down Wimbledon Hill and into Wimbledon Town Centre is causing enormous traffic jams and clearly will continue to do so on completion. What fevered brain devised this? Is it not time that you cut down the numbers of staff employed by TfL whose only raison d’être is to cause mayhem to the travelling public?

532 / 2004 - LDA Budget - Barnet Brian Coleman Can the Mayor explain to the residents of Barnet why they have received just £1.9million from the LDA budget during the life-time of his term of office?

533 / 2004 - East London Line Elizabeth Howlett In your last verbal report to the Assembly you stated that, given the borrowing approval that TfL has been granted “TfL would fund and build the East London Line.” Do you agree with me that it is vitally important that there should be a commitment to its construction before the International Olympic Committee’s inspection visit in 2005, and that the final funding package is assured as a matter of urgency so that the project is built by 20012?

. 534 / 2004 - Richmond Tony Arbour Does the Mayor envisage tall buildings for Richmond town as part of his plan to develop Richmond as a ‘Major’ centre?

535 / 2004 - Bid for Cycle Training by LB Barnet Brian Coleman Can the Mayor explain why the London Borough of Barnet’s bid for £50,000 for cycle training was rejected by TfL and only £30,000 awarded?

536 / 2004 - Tall Buildings Tony Arbour In what sort of circumstances would the Mayor accept that construction of tall buildings in the sub-regions is not suitable?

537 / 2004 - State of London Debate Brian Coleman What is the justification for spending £88,950 on the State of London Debate? Can a cheaper alternative not be found?

538 / 2004 - Refunds on congestion charge payments Angie Bray

A member of the public has contacted the Assembly through the website to ask why no refunds are offered if, when paying the congestion charge up-front over the internet, a mistake is made in inputting the date? Doesn't this lack of flexibility mean that people will be deterred from paying the charge in advance? Also, where on the Congestion Charge website does it make clear that no refunds will be issued?

539 / 2004 - 603 Bus Route Brian Coleman Does the Mayor support the view of his Labour colleague Barbara Roche MP, who said of those using the 603 bus route "it may well be that it is only pupils going to private schools in Hampstead and Highgate" and does he agree, like her, that TFL’s trial of this route is unfair?

32 540 / 2004 - Post Offices Brian Coleman Does the Mayor agree that it is regrettable that three further post offices in the Hampstead area are to close? Would he, like local Hampstead MP Glenda Jackson, have voted for the Urban Post Office Reinvention Programme, that is facilitating the decline of these local services?

541 / 2004 - Cycling Safety in Barnet Brian Coleman In the latest Mayor’s report you state: "On 27th February I reiterated my condemnation of Barnet Council’s policies on cycling for putting road users and pedestrians at risk." Can you explain how your view matches statistics that show that Barnet’s safety record as of 2002 has improved greatly, the number of child cyclists casualties has dropped to 18% of the 1980 level?

542 / 2004 - TfL Consultation Brian Coleman Will the Mayor consider pushing for a change to TFL's consultation process concerning the erection of new bus stops to take into account the views of local residents?

543 / 2004 - Cycling Safety in Haringey Brian Coleman The National Cycling Strategy Board recently said of Haringey’s performance on cycling: "The overwhelming sensation one gets in Haringey is of a borough losing its way on cycling provision" and "There is a distinct lack of serious commitment at senior levels of the Council, manifested in a reluctance to commit sufficient staff and other resources". Do these comments concern the Mayor, and will he be using his role at TFL to take further action?

544 / 2004 - Surface Transport (Bendy Buses) Roger Evans

How many of London's bendy buses have caught fire in total?

546 / 2004 - Non-animal medical research Noel Lynch

Would the Mayor back proposals to establish London as a leading centre for non-animal medical research, in line with policy 3B.6 of the London Plan, which states that: “the Mayor will…support the retention and development of London’s leading edge research, and encourage the establishment of new foci for innovation and research excellence”?

33 547 / 2004 - Sustainable construction Noel Lynch

Do you accept that the SPG on Sustainable Design and Construction has been delayed too long, given the urgent need for London-wide enforceable standards for energy efficiency and clean energy, and bearing in mind that housing built today (with a life expectancy of 60+ years) will affect London’s ability to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2050?

548 / 2004 - Public toilets Noel Lynch

Do you agree that the provision of public toilets (including quantity, maintenance, security and accessibility) in London is often woefully inadequate and does not befit a “world class city”? What will you do to improve the situation, for example, through your SPG on Urban Design Principles, your 100 Public Spaces Programme and your powers over planning applications?

549 / 2004 - Reservoirs Noel Lynch

Is it envisaged that London’s growth to 2016 will require the construction of major new reservoirs in the countryside outside London? What can you do to minimise the need for new reservoirs, taking account of the finding of the recent Assembly Scrutiny on London’s Water Supply that “the way to limit the need for new water resources is to tackle leakage levels and so reduce overall consumption, in conjunction with consumer efficiency drives”?

. 550 / 2004 - Smithfield Market Noel Lynch

Do you recognise: · that the Smithfield Market buildings as a whole, including the General Market buildings, are important historically and architecturally (which is why the GLC extended the Smithfield Conservation Area to include the General Market buildings); · that the General Market buildings form part of one of London’s most historic, but least known areas, where there is huge potential for developing visitor interest; · that markets generally bring vitality and attract tourism; that Smithfield Market provides welcome diversity of employment within central London and that these non-office jobs could be substantially increased with the revival and use of the General Market buildings; · that the retention of the Smithfield General Market buildings would enable the adjacent meat market to expand in its central London location and contribute to sustainable distribution in the retail and catering sectors?

551 / 2004 - Thames Gateway Bridge Jenny Jones What proportion of the figure of the annual £5m for running the bridge is for maintenance and how much is for running the tolling system?