Appendix 3
Questions to the Mayor
24 June, 2021
WRITTEN ANSWER REPORT
Subject: MQT on 24 June, 2021 Report of: Executive Director of Secretariat
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Health Inequalities Question No: 2021/2586 Onkar Sahota How are you working to address the health inequalities of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in London? Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Health Inequalities The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are known to face some of the most severe health inequalities and poor life outcomes amongst the UK population, even when compared with other socially deprived or excluded groups, and with other ethnic minorities. They are also less likely to access health services, including immunisation services. The London Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community are an important Right to Thrive partner and the Right to Thrive grants programme has supported outreach and engagement with a group of young people in Hounslow. Across 2020/21, the project has provided home- school liaison support to 20 young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to prevent school exclusion that can lead to isolation and poor mental health. Prior to the pandemic, Thrive LDN worked with The Traveller Movement to screen “Never Going to Beat You” and engaged with members of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities around domestic violence. My London Plan includes a commitment to lead a city-wide assessment of the accommodation needs of all Gypsies and Travellers, and my affordable homes programme provides support for better provision of suitable accommodation. My community engagement team also holds regular monthly meetings with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller sector organisations, which have included discussions about vaccine hesitancy through our partnership events programme with PHE and NHS London.
Violence Prevention Programmes Data Sharing with MOPAC Question No: 2021/2212 Caroline Pidgeon Are all the various violence prevention programmes funded and supported by MOPAC and/or the Met in custody suites, A&Es and communities across London providing data and information on details such as the location of crimes and weapons used by the GLA Safe Stats team? Violence Prevention Programmes Data Sharing with MOPAC The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The range of violence prevention programmes funded by the VRU and MOPAC is extensive. There is a balance to be achieved, to enable data sharing in such a way as it does not disclose personal information. There are some funded programmes where data sharing is not appropriate, particularly those that provide individual targeted support such as mentoring or therapeutic support. The VRU works closely with the GLA SafeStats Team and uses comprehensive data to inform its strategic plan and priorities. Core data includes ISTV submissions from A&E’s, as well as police crime data which provides location and weapon related data. Work is currently being undertaken to look at how additional data from funded programmes within A&E’s can be supplied that is legislatively compliant. The datasets available through SafeStats enable the VRU and partners to measure and monitor violence and wider drivers of violence such as employment and deprivation.
Supporting Tech Start-ups with Safeguarding Question No: 2021/2213 Caroline Pidgeon London has a proud reputation for our tech start-ups. However, with increasing reports of online child sexual abuse how are you, through MOPAC and as Chair of the LEAP, working with the tech sector and particularly London’s tech start-ups to promote the importance of safeguarding measures for children and protections against the sharing of child sexual abuse content? Answer for Supporting Tech Start-ups with Safeguarding The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
VAWG and Online Safety (1) Question No: 2021/2214 Caroline Pidgeon The Internet Watch Foundation’s 2020 Annual Report showed a 77% increase in reports of self-generated sexualised material online with analysis showing that in 80% of these cases the victims were 11-13 year-old girls. Of course, this data is not specific to London but it does show a concerning pattern of girls being groomed online. Given the increasingly gendered nature of this issue, what more are you doing through your VAWG programmes to protect and safeguard young girls online? Answer for VAWG and Online Safety (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
VAWG and Online Safety (2) Question No: 2021/2215 Caroline Pidgeon What work is MOPAC undertaking to review its commissioned support services to ensure they are equipped to meet the needs of victims of online offences, particularly children, given the increasing prevalence and concern over online child sexual abuse offences since the beginning of the COVID pandemic? Answer for VAWG and Online Safety (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) Question No: 2021/2216 Caroline Pidgeon Will MOPAC be formally consulting ICVs on whether or not they wish to maintain the option of virtual visits once COVID-19 restrictions are eased, or whether they wish to move back to exclusively conducted in-person visits? Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) Code of Practice, as set down by the Home Office, requires in-person visits and, while the Government have enabled flexibility on this during to the pandemic, there is a requirement to return to physical visits as the circumstances
allow. A significant number of ICVs have maintained in-person visits throughout the pandemic. MOPAC plans for a full return to physical visits in line with the Government’s Roadmap. Given the 4-week pause at Step 3, this had been pushed back to 21 July at time of writing the response to this question. MOPAC officers are engaging with ICVs to provide reassurance and support in returning to normal practices. This includes providing details of the availability of PPE and cleaning facilities, track and trace arrangements and social distancing measures within their designated suite. In addition, all ICVs have been offered the opportunity to make a refamiliarisation visit to their designated custody suite.
Engage Programme in Custody Suites Question No: 2021/2217 Caroline Pidgeon Given the value youth workers can have in custody suites to use the teachable moment of arrest to reduce reoffending, do you have plans to expand the Engage Programme currently being operated in two custody suites in London? Engage Programme in Custody Suites The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 ENGAGE has shown to be an effective programme working in both Holborn and Islington police custody suites. By working collaboratively with Camden Council, the MPS and trained youth workers it has demonstrated strong outcomes working with over 175 10-18 year olds in 2020. The VRU recognises the importance of supporting young people at critical moments in their life and has therefore applied to the Home Office to expand the ENGAGE Programme into two further London Boroughs. The VRU will share best practice to ensure an even greater amount of children that come into police custody are supported. The VRU has also recently invested an additional £907,000 to expand the DIVERT Programme across 12 custody suites across London to help young people aged 18-25.
Rise in Anti-Semitic Incidents Question No: 2021/2218 Caroline Pidgeon In recent weeks we have seen numerous concerning reports of deeply disturbing anti- Semitic incidents in the capital. How will you be increasing your efforts to tackle hate-crime in the capital and ensure communities, such as London’s Jewish community, feel safe? Answer for Rise in Anti-Semitic Incidents
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Collecting Data on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Victims of Hate Crime Question No: 2021/2219 Caroline Pidgeon Will you look to ensure MOPAC collects data on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller hate crimes that take place in London and also ensure that this information is included on the MOPAC Hate crime dashboard? Collecting Data on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Victims of Hate Crime The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 It is important that data on hate crimes against all communities is made publicly available. Hate crimes on the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are small in number and the MOPAC Dashboard provides data at a ward level. There are therefore data protection implications for publicly displaying data at this level of detail as there is a risk it could be personally identifiable. MOPAC will explore with the MPS how data on hate crimes against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities can be made publicly available in a way which is compliant with data protection legislation.
The London Stadium Revenue and Savings (1) Question No: 2021/2220 Caroline Pidgeon I understand some new event space has been created at the London Stadium. In this financial year how much revenue does the stadium expect to make from these new revenue streams? Answer for The London Stadium Revenue and Savings (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
The London Stadium Revenue and Savings (2) Question No: 2021/2221 Caroline Pidgeon I am aware that LLDC has come to an agreement that UK Athletics will use an alternative location to the London Stadium this year for the Muller Anniversary Games. Please provide details on how much money is expected to be saved this financial year as a result of this.
Answer for The London Stadium Revenue and Savings (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Access to IT for Older People through Libraries Question No: 2021/2223 Hina Bokhari Given the impact of the pandemic on older Londoners, what will you be doing to increase and promote adult education access and access to IT equipment and resources in such places as libraries and community centres to help older people back to work? Answer for Access to IT for Older People through Libraries The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Business Support for Women and Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners Question No: 2021/2224 Hina Bokhari The Federation of Small Businesses recently published research showing that only 15% of SMEs are women-led and less than 5% are led by a majority Black and minority ethnic leadership team. As the Chair of the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP) what work are you doing to look at the careers advice, business support and access to finance that is needed to help entrepreneurial women and ethnic minorities that want to start-up on their own micro and small businesses in London? Business Support for Women and Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My London Business Hub supports SMEs across the capital, helping businesses to be more resilient. SMEs continue to make use of our one-to-one-adviser support, helping SME solve problems through peer-to-peer learning; and becoming investment ready. LEAP is also working to improve access to support from underrepresented communities. Actions taken include • Implementing mandatory targets against programmes to ensure support is delivered to underrepresented Londoners; • Working with Funding London to ringfence Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF) funding for underrepresented founders;
• Improving representation of underrepresented Londoners that have started and run businesses via London Business Hub case studies. In my last term LEAP held a series of roundtables with black women, Asian and Middle Eastern and disabled founders, to better understand challenges faced by these communities. Building on this outreach, LEAP hosted two Entrepreneur Summits, featuring businesses supported via our funding, partners we work with to instigate change and LEAP board members. From these events, we welcomed recommendations from SMEs founded by underrepresented Londoners, and continue to use these to shape our business support activity. A breakdown of the number of BAME-owned businesses and women-owned businesses supported through projects delivered by the Business Hub from programme inception until 31 May 2021 indicates that most of our programmes reach a relatively high percentage of women and BAME individuals; by comparison with the research that you highlight.
Supporting Small Businesses in the Supply Chains Question No: 2021/2225 Hina Bokhari The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on London’s businesses, large and small. Yet as we move towards recovery many smaller businesses are struggling as a result of larger businesses delaying payments through supply chains, which is having a crippling impact on many of these small businesses. What work will you undertake to support these small businesses and remind larger companies of their responsibility to smaller companies in supply chains given the importance of small business to London’s economy? Supporting Small Businesses in the Supply Chains The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Organisations in the public and private sector must pay smaller businesses in their supply chain on time. Transport for London (who pay the GLA’s suppliers on our behalf) have signed up to the Prompt Payment Code. The Code, established by the Office of the Small Business Commissioner, commits TfL to pay suppliers promptly, and provides suppliers with clear guidance. I encourage other businesses to sign up to the Code, joining TfL and over 3,000 other buyers who have already made the commitment. My London Business Hub also supports SMEs in accessing supply chain opportunities, and the GLA Group Responsible Procurement Team have produced a Small and Diverse business action plan. The plan reduces barriers faced by such businesses in tendering for and being awarded contracts within the GLA Group supply chain. Our performance against its goals will be monitored through our Responsible Procurement Policy and Implementation Plan.
Making Best Use of the Apprenticeship Levy Question No: 2021/2226 Hina Bokhari What support are you giving to London businesses to ensure they can make best use of the Apprenticeship Levy? Making Best Use of the Apprenticeship Levy The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My London Progression Collaboration (LPC) pilot, a joint initiative between the GLA, Institute for Public Policy Research and JP Morgan Foundation, has shown that it is possible to adapt the levy system to create more apprenticeship opportunities by facilitating the transfer of unspent levy from large levy-paying organisations to non-levy- payers. To date, the LPC has raised over £6m in levy pledges from larger employers, which has been directed to create hundreds of apprenticeships within small businesses in priority sectors. I am pleased that the National Apprenticeship Service has recognised the LPC’s success and is proposing an online function to facilitate the transfer of unspent apprenticeship levy. I continue to lobby government for changes to the apprenticeship funding system to make it easier for employers to make best use of their apprenticeship levy, for example: introducing greater flexibilities in how the levy can be spent, such as allowing the levy to go towards salary costs; and providing pre-employability training for priority groups, such as young people and care leavers.
Apprenticeship Hub Question No: 2021/2227 Hina Bokhari Will you consider creating an ‘Apprenticeship Hub’ which will pull together details of all the apprenticeship opportunities available across London to make it easier for those looking for apprenticeships? Apprenticeship Hub The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Details of live apprenticeship opportunities are already available on the Government’s ‘find an apprenticeship’ website. Rather than duplicate this resource, which has obvious financial implications, my officers have been working with the Education and Skills Funding Agency to ensure the ‘find an apprenticeship’ website is accessible and easier for Londoners to navigate. My officers are
also exploring ways to effectively signpost Londoners interested in an apprenticeship to the government website. My Sector Skills Academies programme will also seek to coordinate and signpost apprenticeship opportunities in priority sectors such as hospitality, green, health and social care, creative and digital. Furthermore, the London Progression Collaboration – a joint pilot between the GLA, IPPR and JP Morgan Foundation - will continue to work with employers this year to promote apprenticeships and facilitate the transfer of unspent levy to create more apprenticeship opportunities in the capital.
Visa Fees for UK Armed Forces Personnel from the Commonwealth Question No: 2021/2228 Hina Bokhari Given the importance of London’s armed forces personnel and community, will you respond to the Government’s consultation on proposals to only exempt UK Armed Forces personnel from the Commonwealth from visa fees after they have completed 12 years of service in the UK Armed Forces? Visa Fees for UK Armed Forces Personnel from the Commonwealth The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I am committed to supporting veterans and on the 24th June 2019 I signed the renewed Armed Forces Covenant which commits the GLA to supporting the armed forces community and includes measures around maintaining free travel across London’s transport network, supporting sustainable accommodation and providing vital employment support for veterans I have consistently called on the Government to scrap the profit element that makes access to residence and citizenship rights prohibitively expensive for many who are entitled to stay in the UK and provide a full fee waiver for indefinite leave to remain on citizenship applications for all children and young people. In June 2019 I committed to supporting the Stop the Service Charge campaign so that veterans can continue to live in the country they have served after they leave the armed forces. I have asked his team to meet with representatives of the Armed Forces community to carefully consider how we can best support veterans and report on our commitments in the Armed Forces Covenant.
Ensuring the Delivery of Culturally Suitable Accommodation for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities Question No: 2021/2229 Hina Bokhari What work are you undertaking with boroughs and others to ensure that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have access to more culturally suitable accommodation and face less poor-quality accommodation in London? Ensuring the Delivery of Culturally Suitable Accommodation for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I understand the urgent need for appropriate Gypsy and Traveller accommodation. In line with London Plan Policy H14 Gypsy and traveller accommodation, a London-wide assessment of the accommodation needs of all Gypsies and Travellers is being carried out to inform borough Local Plans and we are committed to working in partnership with Gypsies, Travellers and their representative organisations to plan and carry out this important research. At a local level, boroughs will continue to be required, when reviewing their Local Plans, to protect existing sites, undertake an audit of existing local authority pitches and plan for the needs of Gypsies and Travellers in line with Policy H14. Capital funding is available through my Affordable Homes Programme to remodel existing Gypsy and Traveller pitches and sites or build new ones. To date we have allocated £1.74m to remodel 37 pitches. My Homes for Londoners team continues to work with local authorities to support the provision of accommodation for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Negotiated stopping as an approach has been found to have positive outcomes for Gypsies and Travellers needing roadside accommodation and the Homes for Londoners team is also progressing work on a negotiated stopping protocol to be implemented on GLA land.
Tactile paving on platforms on the London Underground Question No: 2021/2230 Caroline Pidgeon The TfL publication ‘Your accessible transport network - Our commitment to making it even easier for you to travel around London’ in its May 2015 update states that tactile paving was in place at 695 of 711 platforms on the Tube network. Please provide an update on the current level of provision, stating the remaining London Underground stations which do not have platform tactile paving. Answer for Tactile paving on platforms on the London Underground The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
Officers are drafting a response
Lifts not operating on the London Underground due to an absence of trained staff Question No: 2021/2231 Caroline Pidgeon Please list the dates, length of time of closure, and the name of the Underground Stations for which each lift was out of service solely due to an absence of trained members of staff during 2020. Answer for Lifts not operating on the London Underground due to an absence of trained staff The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Dial-a-Ride Question No: 2021/2232 Caroline Pidgeon In response to question 2021/1423 you stated that around a third of Dial-a-Ride’s operational staff have entered an entirely voluntary Exit Programme for Drivers and other operational colleagues. If demand for Dial-a-Ride trips returns to pre-Covid levels how will Dial-a-Ride cope? Even if allowing for the review of scheduling and efficiencies, can the same level of trips be provided with just two thirds of drivers that existed pre-Covid, or is TfL working on the assumption that demand for trips will never return to pre-Covid levels? Dial-a-Ride The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) does anticipate overall demand for its Dial-a-Ride (DaR) services taking time to recover because, over the course of the pandemic, some customers have made significant lifestyle changes, such as moving to on-line shopping. Nevertheless, DaR will remain a vital service for many Londoners, and TfL is confident that the changes made will allow us to meet passenger demand even if journey requests return to pre-pandemic levels. Moreover, it is important to note that DaR has always delivered some journeys through partners such as Community Transport Organisations and taxi companies. Existing contractual relationships with these delivery partners will allow TfL to cover any increases in demand over the coming year that cannot be accommodated with its current in-house resources. There is sufficient flexibility in these contracts to respond to increases over and above the current projections for returning demand.
Dial-a-Ride new booking system Question No: 2021/2233 Caroline Pidgeon Please state the name of the company TfL is purchasing the new assistant travelling booking and scheduling system from and what has been its cost. Please also state whether TfL designed a bespoke system or alternatively purchased a tailored package to accommodate all their scheduling requirements. Dial-a-Ride new booking system The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As soon as the supplier of the new Assisted Transport Services (ATS) booking and scheduling system has been confirmed, the name of the company and the scheduling system will be announced through the usual channels.
Targets in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy Question No: 2021/2234 Caroline Pidgeon Due to COVID-19 and the stipulations in the latest central government bailout, do you plan to revise targets within the Mayor’s Transport Strategy? In particular is the mode shift target of 80 per cent of all trips being made by foot, cycling, or public transport by 2041, something you are still fully committed to? Targets in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I remain fully committed to all of the aims of my Transport Strategy, including the aim for 80 per cent of trips in London to be made by foot, cycle or public transport by 2041.
Williams-Shapps review Question No: 2021/2235 Caroline Pidgeon The Williams-Shapps review specifically highlighted TfL’s operating model, yet TfL has not been devolved any further powers over rail within greater London. How will you and TfL continue to make the case to government for such powers? Answer for Williams-Shapps review The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
e-scooters (1) Question No: 2021/2236 Caroline Pidgeon Please set out what steps TfL has taken to consult and involve blind and visually impaired people relating to the recently commenced e-scooter hire trial? Answer for e-scooters (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
e-scooters (2) Question No: 2021/2237 Caroline Pidgeon Please state in detail how TfL will publish the information it receives from the e-scooter trial relating to complaints and observations about user behaviour that are obtained via the website link: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/e-scooter-trial Answer for e-scooters (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Delivery of step free access on the London Underground (1) Question No: 2021/2238 Caroline Pidgeon Please provide a timescale with exact details of which London Underground stations will obtain step free access during the calendar years of (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023. Answer for Delivery of step free access on the London Underground (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Delivery of step free access on the London Underground (2) Question No: 2021/2239 Caroline Pidgeon Your Transport Strategy has an aim to deliver step-free access to 40% of the Tube network by 2022. When will this target actually be met?
Answer for Delivery of step free access on the London Underground (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Independent review into the death of London bus drivers. Question No: 2021/2240 Caroline Pidgeon Please provide an update on the level of implementation so far by TfL of every recommendation made in the second report by the UCL Institute of Health Equity report on bus driver mortality from Covid published in March 2021. Please also provide details of the timescale of the final implementation of every recommendation in the report. Answer for Independent review into the death of London bus drivers. The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Monitoring of air pollution from the Silvertown road tunnel Question No: 2021/2241 Caroline Pidgeon In response to question 2020/3799 submitted in November 2020 you finally provided a reply in March 2021 which stated: “TfL does not anticipate that Silvertown will have a significant impact on Particulate Matter, however, given the significance of this pollutant my air quality team is considering options for further PM2.5 monitoring in support of the work already underway on NO2” Please provide a full update on the air monitoring arrangements for the Silvertown Tunnel on all approach roads in the boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham and Greenwich. Please also set out how air monitoring will be undertaken for both Nitrogen Dioxide and particulate matter. Answer for Monitoring of air pollution from the Silvertown road tunnel The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Rapid Charging Points Question No: 2021/2242 Caroline Pidgeon Please provide an update on TfL’s plans to install further rapid electric charging points. Please also set out what steps are being taken to deliver more rapid charging points across London through other suppliers. Rapid Charging Points The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There is a continued need to support the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Transport for London (TfL) is using lessons learned from EV delivery to date to inform the future approach. An in-depth analysis of GLA Group land is being undertaken to assess the viability of individual sites to accommodate London’s EV charging infrastructure needs. The approach to supporting the expansion of charging points will be informed by the EV Infrastructure Strategy that TfL is currently developing and plans to publish later this year. This will provide the latest insights on projected EV charging demand, as well as the anticipated role that TfL and boroughs could play in delivery, alongside private sector provision. The EV Infrastructure Strategy will also consider how different delivery mechanisms, including flexible procurement models, can best facilitate an efficient implementation process across a variety of sites.
Solar energy at Crossrail stations on national rail network Question No: 2021/2243 Caroline Pidgeon What plans does Crossrail have, working with Network Rail, to install UV film on the canopies at the Crossrail stations on the rail network, similar to those recently installed at Denmark Hill station? Answer for Solar energy at Crossrail stations on national rail network The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Hammersmith Bridge Question No: 2021/2244 Caroline Pidgeon Further to the announcement on the 30th March 2021 that TfL has selected Uber Boat by Thames Clippers to run the temporary Hammersmith ferry to take pedestrians and cyclists
over the Thames while Hammersmith Bridge undergoes vital repair and refurbishment works, please provide an update as to when this service will commence this Summer. Please also provide an update as to when, irrespective of full strengthening of Hammersmith Bridge, pedestrians and cyclists will at least be allowed to resume using the bridge. Answer for Hammersmith Bridge The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Supreme Court ruling on Uber drivers Question No: 2021/2245 Caroline Pidgeon The Supreme Court ruling on the 19 February 2021 stated that the employment tribunal was entitled to find the time spent by claimants for Uber was not limited (as Uber argued) to periods when they were actually driving passengers to their destinations, but included any period when the driver was logged into the Uber app within the territory in which the driver was licensed to operate and was ready and willing to accept trips. Please set out in detail how TfL is seeking to ensure this legal ruling is fully enforced and what steps it is taking to monitor its enforcement. Answer for Supreme Court ruling on Uber drivers The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
ESOL for women in London Question No: 2021/2246 Zack Polanski What impact have your three ESOL Plus pilot programmes and 17 ESOL projects run through your Skills for Londoners Innovation Fund had on enabling more women to access ESOL courses? ESOL for women in London The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Over 70% of participants across my English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Plus pilots were women, rising to 95% for ESOL Plus Childcare. The programmes were designed to enable more women to participate as childcare support was provided and there were no eligibility requirements around immigration status. These requirements, such as six months residence for people seeking asylum, can be a significant barrier to accessing Adult
Education Budget (AEB) provision. We are now devising a toolkit to enable more providers to replicate this approach. While the power to widen eligibility based on immigration status for AEB provision remains with Government, we continue to raise this with the Department for Education. Available interim data from my Skills for Londoners Innovation Fund ESOL projects show that women make up 79% of learners engaged so far. Providers indicated that offering informal or unregulated learning through these projects enabled them to better support first time learners. Insights from these programmes are informing future priorities for the AEB. The pilot London Learner Survey which we are introducing will help measure impact for women across AEB provision more broadly.
Supporting summer creativity in London children Question No: 2021/2247 Zack Polanski Last summer the Mayor’s Fund for London helped to support A New Direction to give thousands of London children art packs, to benefit their health, wellbeing and creativity. Will you run or support a similar scheme this summer? Supporting summer creativity in London children The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Mayor’s Fund for London is an independent charity of which the Mayor of London is patron. Since 2017, the Mayor’s Fund has been running a programme, Kitchen Social, which supports local community partners to provide holiday activities and food to children at risk of food insecurity and social isolation during the school holidays. During lockdown, when a lot of provision was closed, Kitchen Social supported community partners to distribute food and supplies of educational resources, such as books and art packs donated by partners, to children in their homes. This summer, children will be supported onsite at the 100 or so Kitchen Social holiday hubs across London. These community hub partners run a mixture of physical activity, creative activity and food education. Please contact [email protected] if you would like further information.
Repair, reuse and share Question No: 2021/2248 Zack Polanski As part of your plans to support London’s recovery from the pandemic, will you create a new fund to support: a) councils and local enterprises to use empty high street shops and council buildings (including temporary and meanwhile use) to provide a repair centre on every high street, b) universities and colleges to create reuse and repair workshops, and c)
the establishment of a ‘library of things’ in every borough, where residents can borrow infrequently needed household items, such as power tools, sewing machines, specialist cooking, cleaning and decorating products, electronics, camping equipment and luggage? Answer for Repair, reuse and share The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
London Repair Academy Question No: 2021/2249 Zack Polanski Through the Skills Academies will you help found a London Repair Academy to be a London-wide resource, hub and educational establishment for training and information on repair skills, and training on how to run social enterprises? London Repair Academy The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Sector Skills Academies will deliver high quality training, work experience and wider employment support (e.g. careers advice, mentoring, etc). These will cover sectors of the economy vital to London’s recovery including Green, Hospitality, Health and Social Care, Creative and Digital. The Academies will consist of a number of ‘hubs’, bringing together employers, training providers and other partners, building on the success of my Mayor’s Construction Academy approach. Each hub has the potential to develop a mixed training offer to include technical and wider employability and enterprise skills. The Academies will be established following an open bidding process. We have identified waste reduction, recycling and circular economy as important areas to support through the Academy programme and would welcome applications from London organisations which are interested in delivering repair skills as part of a hub(s), along with Green Construction, Green Spaces and Resilience and Green roles in other sectors.
Climate and ecology assessments on all decisions Question No: 2021/2250 Zack Polanski Will you commit to bringing in impact assessments on climate and ecology for every budget plan and official decision report in City Hall, to help reduce London’s carbon impact every time you make new policies or spending plans? Climate and ecology assessments on all decisions The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
The Greater London Authority Act (1999) requires the Authority to “contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom” in exercising its statutory functions. There is a programme of work to fulfil this duty, including mainstreaming sustainability at the GLA and supporting the work of the Mayor’s London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC). All major strategies and plans have to undergo an Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) and in some cases a strategic environmental assessment (SEA). This assesses the impact of different proposals within strategies against a set of objectives including environmental, social, economic, health, community safety and equalities to ensure they are fully considered. This has been applied successfully to all my major strategies to ensure policies and programmes continue to drive good growth in London. An example is the inclusion of the environmental cross-cutting principle in the London Recovery Board’s mission-based approach to a green and fair recovery.
Climate impact reporting Question No: 2021/2251 Zack Polanski Will you commit to reporting, in writing, the overall carbon impact of decisions and the progress of current carbon reduction policies every quarter to the Assembly? Climate impact reporting The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I report on my main climate and energy programmes through the GLA’s quarterly performance monitoring process, which is shared regularly with the Assembly.
Boroughs that have not declared a climate emergency Question No: 2021/2252 Zack Polanski Will you write ahead of COP26 to boroughs in London that have not followed the lead of other boroughs, and the London Assembly, in declaring a climate emergency to encourage them to do this? Boroughs that have not declared a climate emergency The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Yes. 28 London boroughs have declared a climate emergency. I will be writing to all London boroughs asking them to sign up to Race to Zero, to show the commitment of London to tackling climate change ahead of COP26 plans. As part of this I will encourage the few remaining boroughs who haven’t done so to declare a climate emergency.
Zero Emission Zones Question No: 2021/2253 Zack Polanski I understand that you are now refreshing guidance on Zero Emission Zones (ZEZ) with a view to using these to address future hotspots of pollution. What is the likely scale of future ZEZ areas, and how many do you expect to be proposed? Zero Emission Zones The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 In proposal 35 of my Mayoral Transport Strategy (2018), I outlined an ambition for local Zero Emission Zones (ZEZs) to be implemented from 2020, for there to be a central London ZEZ from 2025 and larger ZEZs in inner London by 2040. In spring 2020, Beech Street in the City of London became London’s first zero emission street. The City is continuing to develop plans for a larger ZEZ, in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) and the European Funded ReVeAL project. These schemes build on the early success of Hackney’s Ultra Low Emission Streets scheme in Shoreditch. TfL is working with local authorities and Business Improvement Districts across London to support the delivery of further local ZEZs, which will vary in size in response to different local circumstances and ambitions. TfL is refreshing the guidance on ZEZs as part of this, including learnings from early ZEZ activity and information about potential funding opportunities.
Compliance with Low Emission Zones Question No: 2021/2254 Zack Polanski What are the current levels of vehicle compliance within the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion area, and how have they changed by year since these schemes were announced? Answer for Compliance with Low Emission Zones The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Cutting waste in the recovery Question No: 2021/2255 Zack Polanski Given the impacts of the pandemic on waste and recycling rates, what actions are you taking in your Recovery missions to increase recycling and cut waste?
Cutting waste in the recovery The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I am focussed on cutting waste and increasing recycling by boosting the circular economy as part of my recovery missions. My Green New Deal is providing £1.8 million of funding to the Better Futures and ReLondon Business Transformation Programmes to support the growth of circular and sustainable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Areas of focus cover key sectors, including food, the built environment, fashion and electronics, as well as disposable items prevalent in London, such as coffee cups, nappies and wipes. Another part of my Green New Deal Fund is the £3m Future Neighbourhoods 2030 Programme which will support boroughs and local communities to drive action across five key sectoral themes including a zero waste, circular economy. I continue to support boroughs to deliver their Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs) to cut waste and increase recycling.
Climate related subsidence threat to London Question No: 2021/2256 Zack Polanski In May 2021, the British Geological Survey (BGS) launched maps that assessed the risk of climate related subsidence to homes and properties in the next 50 years. This research found that as many as 57 per cent of properties in London will be affected by 2070. What actions are you taking to consider this risk to Londoners and prepare strategies to mitigate the risks? Answer for Climate related subsidence threat to London The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Pavement slabs being replaced with asphalt Question No: 2021/2257 Zack Polanski Constituents in Brent have had to a form a campaign group, Brent Residents Against Asphalt Pavements (BRAAP) to attempt to reverse a policy from the council there to rip up pavements with paving slabs and replace them with asphalt. The asphalt used is not permeable, and reduces the environmental quality of the pavement, as well as wasting resources by replacing long-lasting paving slabs. Will you ensure no funds from the Greater London Authority (GLA) or Transport for London (TfL) are funding this work, and write to the borough to ask them to reconsider this policy? Answer for Pavement slabs being replaced with asphalt
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Progress towards targets for waste Question No: 2021/2258 Zack Polanski Your Environment Strategy states that: “By 2026 no biodegradable or recyclable waste will be sent to landfill and by 2030 65 per cent of London’s municipal waste will be recycled.” Could you provide an update on London’s progress toward these targets? Progress towards targets for waste The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 London is the leading region in England in reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. In London, the proportion of waste sent to landfill has dropped from 7.0 per cent in 2018/9 to 2.8 per cent in 2019/20 (comparative rates for England are 10.5 per cent and 8.5 per cent). My 65% recycling target is for municipal waste, which includes household or business waste that is similar in composition. I have approved all 33 borough Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs). Taken together, if implemented in full by the boroughs, RRPs are expected to increase London’s household waste recycling rate from 33% today to 40% in 2022. Achieving the 65% target will also require improvement in recycling from businesses. I have no powers to direct businesses to deliver my strategy but if RRPs are implemented the number of boroughs providing commercial waste recycling services will increase from 29 to 31.
Green infrastructure investment after the coronavirus pandemic Question No: 2021/2259 Zack Polanski The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of London’s green spaces and parks. How will you bring these important pieces of social and community infrastructure into plans for a green recovery, and what are you doing to better maintain and invest in these areas so they can be accessible to all Londoners? Green infrastructure investment after the coronavirus pandemic The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Investing in improving, expanding and increasing access to London’s green spaces, and developing the skills needed to sustain them, is core to my Green New Deal. My London Green Spaces Commission made recommendations on supporting the future management
and funding of park services. Establishing a Centre of Excellence, which I have supported through building capacity in Parks for London, enabling the charity to increase collaboration, improve management, address accessibility challenges and champion the multiple benefits of green space. And developing a future green space skills programme, which is being implemented through plans for my new Green Skills Academy. Significant investment is also needed. My new funding programmes will build on the £14 million I have already invested since 2016 and I have released mapping that will allow us to target the areas of greatest need. Through my green finance work, I will support further research to develop and test mechanisms for leveraging investment for green spaces.
Silvertown Road Tunnel engagement Question No: 2021/2260 Zack Polanski What has Transport for London (TfL) spent on engagement for or promotion of the Silvertown Road Tunnel scheme, by year, since the scheme was first considered? Silvertown Road Tunnel engagement The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) has not spent any money promoting the Silvertown Tunnel scheme, although it has expended significant efforts in engaging and consulting with Londoners throughout the development of the scheme. The costs of this are generally from staff time and it is not possible to extract a specific figure from the wider staff costs for the project. Non-staff costs will also include specific activities attributed to consultations, for example producing leaflets about the consultation, hiring venues, etc. However, it is not possible to extricate the specific costs of the public consultations for the scheme since they took place several years ago and formed part of wider project budgets. Now that construction of the scheme has commenced, some of these activities and costs are also being covered by the private finance raised by Riverlinx. The general costs of the project are published as part of TfL’s usual investment programme reporting.
Silvertown Road Tunnel consultation Question No: 2021/2261 Zack Polanski Could you provide a list, with dates, of each consultation you have carried out on the Silvertown Road Tunnel, along with how many responses you received at each stage? Silvertown Road Tunnel consultation The Mayor
Last updated: 29 June, 2021 This information is publicly available in the Consultation Report published as part of Transport for London’s (TfL’s) application for a Development Consent Order, available online here: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp- content/ipc/uploads/projects/TR010021/TR010021-000254- 5.1%20Consultation%20Report.pdf In summary, TfL carried out a comprehensive consultation on the scheme and analysis found the scheme was generally supported, with the user charging element of the scheme representing the most controversial aspect for respondents.
Silvertown Road Tunnel engagement by Riverlinx Question No: 2021/2262 Zack Polanski Could you obtain and provide a list of attendees from organisations, including educational establishments, companies and residents’ associations, at engagement events held by Riverlinx related to the Silvertown Road Tunnel? Answer for Silvertown Road Tunnel engagement by Riverlinx The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Fire, Safe and Well visits after coronavirus Question No: 2021/2263 Zack Polanski The London Fire Brigade (LFB) piloted Fire, Safe and Well visits from December 2017 to May 2019, and made referrals equivalent to two thirds of the one thousand visits undertaken. Will LFB be restarting these visits in the near future? Fire, Safe and Well visits after coronavirus The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 London Fire Brigade (LFB) piloted Fire Safe and Well visits in five London boroughs, testing concepts and ways of improving Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs). The programme was evaluated with a final report agreed at Commissioners Board in September 2020. The lessons learnt are being taken forward through Making Every Contact Count, which will increase partnership working and referring residents to utilities companies for their Priority Services Register.
During the pandemic LFB staff called 1,200 residents who had previously taken part in the programme, as the Brigade wanted to re-engage with these residents along with those who attend the Brigade’s Older People’s Forum, offering assistance during a very challenging time. The new HFSV Strategy will be produced in 2022 and will take on key benefits from the Fire Safe and Well Visits which will ultimately improve how HFSVs are delivered.
Vaccine support from the Fire Brigade Question No: 2021/2264 Zack Polanski In February the London Fire Brigade (LFB) published a press release which said that the training of LFB staff to give vaccinations was being considered. Given that the Government is now preparing for an unprecedented coronavirus booster jab programme from this Autumn, is the LFB still considering this training? Vaccine support from the Fire Brigade The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 London Fire Brigade (LFB) has prepared a group of officers to become vaccinators, all of whom have commenced the required NHS training. To date, LFB has supported vaccination events across six London boroughs. LFB has also engaged with local charities to make the vaccine more accessible to people who may not regularly visit a GP. These groups include victims of domestic abuse, sex workers, drug users, asylum seekers, rough sleepers or Londoners that may not speak English as a first language. LFB stand ready to support the NHS booster jab programme, should it be required, in the Autumn.
Elders’ Champion for London Question No: 2021/2265 Caroline Russell Will you consider appointing an Elders’ Champion to monitor and co-ordinate the effects of all your policies on older people? Elders’ Champion for London The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I want London to be an age-friendly city whatever people’s circumstances and will continue to draw on older Londoners’ priorities and the expertise of organisations representing older Londoners to help make that happen. My deputy mayor Debbie Weekes-Bernard is the older people’s champion within my office. She is also the deputy mayor with responsibility for delivering my commitment to making London a more age-friendly city.
In addition, Councillor Ruth Dombey, leader of the London Borough of Sutton, is the older people’s champion on the London Recovery Board. Debbie and Ruth co-chair the social renewal work strand of the recovery programme. I have every confidence that, between them, they will coordinate and monitor my policies and the recovery programme to ensure they have a positive impact on older people and contribute towards making our city more age-friendly.
Older persons’ action plan Question No: 2021/2266 Caroline Russell In your answer to my question 2021/0458, on an older persons’ action plan, you stated that: “equality, diversity and inclusion has been adopted as a cross-cutting principle for the recovery programme,” and you also told me you will be making clear how this work will deliver for a number of different groups, including older Londoners, later in the year. Could you now share this with me? Older persons’ action plan The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Work to improve equality, diversity and inclusion is embedded in the delivery of each of the missions of the London Recovery Programme. Details of these missions can be viewed on London.gov.uk at: https://www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus/londons-recovery- coronavirus-crisis/recovery-context. In addition, at its June meeting, the London Recovery Board agreed to establish a new sub- group to drive further activity to address structural inequality in London. The group will build on the work already underway in response to the pandemic, as a result of the Board’s existing commitment to address inequality. The details of that group’s scope and remit will be agreed in due course. My deputy mayor, Debbie Weekes-Bernard will be meeting with the London Age-friendly Forum and other older people’s organisations in the coming weeks, to discuss how this work can address the needs of older Londoners.
Toilets at TfL stations Question No: 2021/2267 Caroline Russell Could you tell me how many public toilets will be opened at Transport for London (TfL) stations (including Crossrail) in the next three years, and provide details by station of the number and types of facility? Answer for Toilets at TfL stations The Mayor
Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Backlog in medical treatments and operations Question No: 2021/2268 Caroline Russell How will you be working with your strategic partners in healthcare delivery to address the severe backlog in medical treatment and operations that has arisen across London as a result of the coronavirus pandemic? Backlog in medical treatments and operations The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Whilst I have committed to championing the NHS on behalf of all Londoners, I have no responsibility for the delivery of health services, including the management of waiting lists. I will nevertheless continue to work closely with London’s NHS to champion and challenge them to address the backlog in medical treatment and operations. I meet regularly with the leadership of the NHS in London and receive updates on progress.
Incorrect coronavirus charges (1) Question No: 2021/2269 Caroline Russell The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) identified that, from the first year of charges for breaches of coronavirus restrictions legislation, the percentage of incorrect charges was 18 per cent. Could you provide me with London-specific data showing how many incorrect coronavirus charges from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) were identified by the CPS? Answer for Incorrect coronavirus charges (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Incorrect coronavirus charges (2) Question No: 2021/2270 Caroline Russell What are your plans to avoid more Londoners being caught up in the criminal justice system on incorrect coronavirus-related charges? Incorrect coronavirus charges (2)
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 All fixed penalty notices issued by the MPS are subject to an evidential review to ensure the correct offences are considered; that there is sufficient evidence of a breach of the restrictions and it is in the public interest to proceed with issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). The review team also consider whether the national 4E’s strategy was considered by the officer as part of that review: • Engage with the individual(s) • Explain the regulations • Encourage compliance • Enforce where necessary and proportionate. Challenged cases are subject to a further review prior to consideration as to whether the individual should be subject to court proceedings. It was identified initially that a number of people were incorrectly charged in custody with offences under the Coronavirus Act 2020. (Please see 2269/2021). Action was taken immediately to ensure that the correct legislation was applied.
Sexual assaults on public transport (1) Question No: 2021/2271 Caroline Russell Could you provide data on the number of sexual assaults on London public transport that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) responded to during the past three years including a) mode of transport where the assault occurred, b) whether the incident led to a suspect or suspects being charged and, c) whether there was a conviction. Answer for Sexual assaults on public transport (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Sexual assaults on public transport (2) Question No: 2021/2272 Caroline Russell What specific work are you, MOPAC and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) doing to support groups of people who are more at risk of sexual assault, including people who work at night, trans people, people who are homeless or rough sleeping, people with a disability, and African, Caribbean, Asian, Latino and other minority ethnic Londoners? Answer for Sexual assaults on public transport (2) The Mayor
Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Expenses owed to independent custody visitors Question No: 2021/2273 Caroline Russell A constituent has contacted me to raise concerns about outstanding expenses, some dating back to December 2019, due to volunteers who work as independent custody visitors. During the pandemic there were fewer volunteers, and the remaining members increased their number of visits to cover the shortage, however they are now worried they will have to withdraw offers to attend more distant custody suites because they are being left out of pocket. Will you and your Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden, look into this as a matter of urgency? Expenses owed to independent custody visitors The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The work of Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) is invaluable, and no volunteer should be out of pocket for conducting this vital work.
All expense claims submitted to MOPAC by ICVs in 2019 and 2020 have been processed and paid. To date eight claims have been submitted to MOPAC in 2021 and these are currently being processed for payment.
As part of MOPAC’s ongoing work to improve the timeliness of the process a new payment system for volunteer expenses is being implemented over the summer.
A10 road racing Question No: 2021/2274 Caroline Russell A constituent has contacted me concerned about road racing on the A10 by Bury Street West. They are worried about: “the noise of gunning cars” participating in informal road races and feel the problem is increasing. What, if any, enforcement has been undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Roads and Transport Policing Command? A10 road racing The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
The MPS is monitoring a number of locations across London regarding this issue. A multi- agency approach is being taken in North London, including the site at the A10 by Bury Street West, to develop both enforcement and prevention tactics. Informal interventions have been made around this area as part of intelligence led patrols and this area is now high on the MPS list of priority areas. The MPS has assured me that an increase in policing presence will be seen over the coming months. Any local intelligence from residents is welcomed by the police to help build a picture of the dangerous and careless driving, but only if it safe to do so. Any intelligence can be passed through the BCUs to the Proactive Safer Roads Team who will look to prosecute where evidence allows.
Safety of e-scooters Question No: 2021/2275 Caroline Russell Privately owned e-scooters are currently prohibited on public UK roads and pavements. Simon Ovens from Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) was quoted as calling privately owned e-scooters: “death traps” in the Evening Standard on 4 July 2021. Does Transport for London (TfL) have Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) data to back this up? Answer for Safety of e-scooters The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
EWS1 forms Question No: 2021/2276 Siân Berry A constituent has raised the issue with me that their shared ownership home sale has fallen through three times because the lenders are requesting EWS1 forms, despite the fact the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors advice is that their flat does not need one (the flat in question is in a building less than four storeys tall AND remedial work on the cladding already having been carried out). What action are you taking to ensure that lenders are not requesting unnecessary EWS1 forms? EWS1 forms The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I am conscious of the challenges faced by thousands of people, such as your constituent, who are unable to move on with their lives in the absence of an EWS1 form. Unfortunately, the EWS1 process remains industry driven. While the guidance has received government
support, it is not a statutory document and its application is subject to lenders’ risk appetite. Despite having no statutory influence, I am committed to doing what I can to improve the experience for leaseholders. My team has met with lenders to understand the rationale for requests. My Homes for Londoners Board has set up an EWS1 Task and Finish Working Group to support social sector landlords to improve the experience of residents navigating the EWS1 process. We will engage with lenders to understand how they are applying the guidance through this work. Ultimately, as I have repeatedly made clear, a long-term funding solution which protects leaseholders from costs is key to resolving this situation. I will continue to lobby ministers to ensure that leaseholders are protected.
Communal night shelters Question No: 2021/2277 Siân Berry What are you doing to make sure that next winter’s homelessness provision does not include communal night shelters? Communal night shelters The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Before the winter of 2020/21, communal spaces were generally used for Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) accommodation. Given the pandemic, a radically different approach was taken last winter, whereby only en-suite accommodation was used. This winter, the GLA will again only use accommodation that is COVID-secure – subject to sufficient government funding being made available for this purpose. GLA officers will continue to work closely with colleagues in London’s councils to ensure the London’s rough sleepers are kept safe this winter. A network of hubs will provide rapid assessment and intensive casework, and will act as a front door for this COVID-secure accommodation. Also, several of the GLA-procured hotels opened earlier in the the pandemic will remain open until March 2022. They will continue to provide casework to those brought in during Everyone In, as well as being ‘staging post’ accommodation for those moving off the streets over the autumn and winter.
Support for EU migrants Question No: 2021/2278 Siân Berry EU migrants are at particular risk of homelessness already and face new problems as Brexit progresses. Will you create a new team within the homelessness service at City Hall focused specifically on reaching and supporting them?
Support for EU migrants The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There are two members of staff based in my rough sleeping team, but who work jointly with my social integration team, whose roles are focused specifically on rough sleeping and migration, which includes supporting EU nationals rough sleeping in London.
Data on discrimination in housing policies Question No: 2021/2279 Siân Berry Will you use your influence to encourage local authorities in London to automatically record the protected characteristics of those presenting at housing options services, to demonstrate any evidence of discrimination in housing policies? Data on discrimination in housing policies The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Local authorities are required to collect data on statutory homelessness and report it to the Ministry of Communities and Local Government. This data is published quarterly for all local authorities and can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics The data collected by local authorities includes information on age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity and pregnancy. I encourage local authorities to collect the information they need to ensure their housing policies are fair and help those most in need; and I remain committed to making the city for all Londoners to live free from discrimination, as set out in my Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Accessible and supported housing for young people and adults with disabilities Question No: 2021/2280 Siân Berry Local authorities need to make sure they have enough suitable provision for accessible and supported housing for young people who become adults with disabilities. Will you lead on coordinating this at a London-wide level? Accessible and supported housing for young people and adults with disabilities The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My London Plan provides a clear London-wide framework to increase the supply of accessible and supported housing for disabled Londoners, including for young people. London Plan Policy H12 supports the delivery, retention and refurbishment of supported
and specialised housing. As set out in the policy, given the range of specialist needs and existing provision, boroughs are best placed to undertake local needs assessments of supply and demand in their area. In addition, London Plan Policy D7 Accessible Housing requires at least 10 per cent of new dwellings to meet Building Regulation requirement M4(3) ‘wheelchair user dwellings’ and all other new dwellings to meet Building Regulation requirement M4(2) ‘accessible and adaptable dwellings’. I have allocated over £100m of capital funding through my Care and Support Specialised Housing (CASSH) programme to deliver homes for disabled Londoners, including younger people, to meet their specialist housing needs. Funding for this purpose is also available through my Affordable Homes Programme. My Homes for Londoners team continues to work with registered providers and local authorities to develop more homes for Londoners with specialist housing needs.
Supporting owner occupiers to take on lodgers Question No: 2021/2281 Siân Berry To ease London’s overcrowding will you work with local authorities to support owner occupiers to take on lodgers, including advice for potential landlords and lodgers and support for high standards? Supporting owner occupiers to take on lodgers The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I believe that owner occupiers taking on lodgers can often be of mutual benefit, and can help to maximise the efficient use of London’s housing stock. The pandemic has, however, shone a new light on how precarious this arrangement can be. My London Model for tenure reform recognises that there is more work to do to ensure that all lodgings let on licence are fit for purpose, to better support and inform landlords and to ensure that unscrupulous landlords do not provide licences where an Assured Shorthold Tenancy would not be more appropriate. My housing team continues to identify opportunities to raise this with government, including through influencing the contents of the renters’ reforms White Paper. In addition, my housing team is progressing initiatives to support local authorities to crack down on rogue landlords and assure standards, including developing a new accredited qualification for borough housing officers to fully utilise their enforcement powers.
Discounted travel within dynamic fare pricing Question No: 2021/2282 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2021/1467. Will you consider including support for further discounted or free travel for particular groups, such as young care leavers, within your plans for dynamic fare pricing? Discounted travel within dynamic fare pricing The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I have asked Transport for London to explore whether some form of dynamic pricing could be compatible with ensuring that the fares structure that applies on its services is simple, coherent and encourages use of public transport to avoid a car-led recovery. I have also committed in my manifesto to ensure concessions are focussed on those who need it most, for instance maintaining young persons travel concessions and asking TfL to develop plans to introduce half price travel for care leavers.
Active travel within dynamic fare pricing Question No: 2021/2283 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2021/1467. Will you consider including support for active travel, such as by including cycle hire charges in fare caps, within your plans for dynamic fare? Answer for Active travel within dynamic fare pricing The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Flattened fares within dynamic fare pricing Question No: 2021/2284 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2021/1467. Will you consider reducing the large differences in the cost of travel between fare zones within your plans for dynamic fare pricing? Answer for Flattened fares within dynamic fare pricing The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Car Free Day 2021 Question No: 2021/2285 Siân Berry Due to the continuing pandemic there are still no confirmed plans for a Car Free Day this year. Will you commit to having a car free day, with events in central London and across the city, as soon as possible after these difficulties have subsided, rather than waiting a whole year until the next international event? Answer for Car Free Day 2021 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Unreliable lifts at Greenwich Foot Tunnel Question No: 2021/2286 Siân Berry Constituents have raised concerns with me that the lifts at the Greenwich Foot Tunnel are now unreliable, with the north lift currently out of service. This leaves people walking and cycling with stairs to climb to exit the tunnel, often whilst carrying bicycles or buggies. Will you invest in improved access at this and other existing crossings now that both your proposed Rotherhithe bridge and replacement ferry have been cancelled? Unreliable lifts at Greenwich Foot Tunnel The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Greenwich Foot Tunnel is managed and maintained by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The borough is aware of the problems with the north lift and it will be repaired and returned to service as soon as possible. Transport for London (TfL) regularly liaises with the boroughs on use of funding allocations – not least in the context of the latest temporary funding settlement from Government. It would be for the borough to consider allocation of funds for improvements to the tunnel and, were that the case, TfL would be happy to discuss the options with them.
Silvertown Road Tunnel construction risk Question No: 2021/2288 Siân Berry In your answer to question 2020/2626 you said that Transport for London (TfL) had transferred a significant proportion of construction risk to Riverlinx. Could you confirm what proportion or level of construction risk TfL considers itself to hold, where this is recorded in any public papers, if any, and what provision TfL is making for this risk?
Silvertown Road Tunnel construction risk The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 In general terms, the construction risk of the project is transferred to Riverlinx, which is responsible for designing and building the new tunnel and funding all of the work involved. Riverlinx is also responsible for maintaining the tunnel for 25 years once it is completed, and it is during this period that it will be repaid by Transport for London (TfL). TfL’s payments to Riverlinx are not affected by how long it takes or how much it costs for Riverlinx to complete the construction to TfL’s specified requirements. The payments can also be reduced if Riverlinx performs unsatisfactorily during the operational stage, further incentivising it to design and build the tunnel to high standards. There are specific events which would result in TfL ‘sharing’ certain construction risks with Riverlinx. These generally relate to low likelihood but high impact events which, if priced within the contract, would represent poor value to TfL. This includes, for example, the discovery of Unexploded Ordnance during tunnelling works. Even then, the risk is shared with Riverlinx, not held completely by TfL. The risk allocation is set out in the Project Agreement between TfL and Riverlinx, which is published online here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/silvertown- tunnel-project-agreement The risks associated with the project were reported to and heavily scrutinised by TfL’s Programmes & Investment Committee in taking the decision to enter into the Project Agreement. The papers are published in the usual manner with certain commercial details withheld from publication and discussed in private as noted in the papers. TfL does hold some risk provision as part of its direct costs for the project which are published as part of TfL’s regular investment programme reporting. Specific details of the risk provision are not published, as their publication could prejudice TfL’s commercial position in negotiating with Riverlinx or other relevant parties should such risks materialise.
Traffic flows at Blackwall Tunnel Question No: 2021/2289 Siân Berry What level of traffic flow has Transport for London (TfL) recorded through the Blackwall Tunnel in annual average daily traffic in each direction, by year and class of vehicle, since the year 2000? Traffic flows at Blackwall Tunnel The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) has two sets of data relating to traffic flow through the Blackwall Tunnel. Since 2012, automatic traffic counters have been used to determine
directional traffic flows. The average traffic flows per day from these counters provide the most reliable indication of usage and are set out in the table below:
The automatic counters are unable to detect vehicle classification so, in order to record this, TfL depends on manual traffic counts. These are undertaken during a single, 12-hour period on a day that is considered representative of overall traffic flows and date back to 2000. This data can be found in the attached spreadsheet. Counts from before 2012 are not direction-specific, and, due to the different methodology used, are not directly comparable to those listed above although there is a close correlation.
Traffic monitoring for the Silvertown Road Tunnel Question No: 2021/2290 Siân Berry The Ernst and Young audit of the Silvertown Road Tunnel says that an average of 91,000 daily trips use the Blackwall Tunnel. Would any increase in traffic above this level be
considered by you to be a worsening of traffic conditions as defined by schedule 2 of The Silvertown Tunnel Order 2018? Answer for Traffic monitoring for the Silvertown Road Tunnel The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Traffic reduction to meet climate agreements Question No: 2021/2291 Siân Berry Transport for West Midlands has published a research review (https://www.tfwm.org.uk/media/64219/tfwm-quarterly-research-paper-issue-8-v2.pdf Issue 8, Sep-Nov 2020) which estimated a need for a 33-58 per cent reduction in car km in that area by 2030-2035 to meet the Paris Climate Change agreement. This has now been confirmed by an analysis by Atkins which found a need for a 58 per cent reduction in car mileage by 2031. For London, what similar estimates do you have for the need for traffic reduction by 2030 to meet climate targets, and how has that estimate changed as climate ambitions have increased? Traffic reduction to meet climate agreements The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My ambition for London to be carbon-neutral by 2030 requires accelerating and intensifying existing work to reduce transport sector carbon emissions. Transport for London (TfL) is currently undertaking work to update the transport projections that were developed as part of my 2018 Transport Strategy, as well as the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. Updating our transport projections to account for, for example, the likely impact of the Government’s planned phase out of petrol and diesel cars sales in 2030, will help us understand what more needs to be done to reduce emissions and help meet my 2030 ambition. It is also why I continue to ask Government to support my aspiration to electrify the bus fleet by 2030 rather than 2037 and continue to call on Government to commit resources to a national scrappage scheme.
Climate impact of July bus service review Question No: 2021/2292 Siân Berry The Transport for London (TfL) funding deal requires you to review bus services by 19 July 2021. Cutting bus services not only removes vital public transport from Londoners but also risks the UK failing to meet international climate agreements. Will you include details of the
potential climate impact of cuts to bus services, including the impact of people moving from bus to car where frequencies reduce or services are withdrawn, in any review? Climate impact of July bus service review The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) will be undertaking a review of bus services by 19 July and again in September as required by the third extraordinary funding and financing agreement with central Government which covers the period to 11 December 2021. TfL’s bus review will include a narrative on the potential climate impact of cuts in bus services. Maintaining frequent and reliable bus services is essential to limit the adverse climate impact of a car-based recovery.
Bus service review delay Question No: 2021/2293 Siân Berry The Transport for London (TfL) funding deal requires you to review bus services by 19 July 2021. Cutting bus services before we have data from term-time demand risks services Londoners have avoided due to Government advice being wrongly removed. Will you press Government to let you pause this review until there is better data on bus demand in the autumn? Answer for Bus service review delay The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
One year of restrictions on travel with a freedom pass Question No: 2021/2294 Siân Berry Next month it will be one year since travel on the TfL network using a Freedom Pass or 60+ Oyster card before 9am on weekdays was suspended. Over 1,000 older Londoners have contacted Age UK London to share the devastating impact this is having on them. Those most affected are low income older Londoners with no choice about when they travel and include carers, patients, volunteers and keyworkers. Now that restrictions are easing and services increasing, when will the suspension, introduced as a ‘temporary’ measure, be lifted? One year of restrictions on travel with a freedom pass The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
The temporary changes to the Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card pass during morning peak travel were introduced in June 2020 to help reduce the risk of crowding, and aid social distancing. Whilst these measures were not taken lightly, they remain in place and will be reviewed alongside any changes to the Government’s wider social distancing rules on all public transport networks. It is worth noting that holders of these cards are eligible for unlimited free travel on Transport for London’s services from 9 a.m. on Mondays-Fridays and any time at weekends and bank holidays. Please also see my answer to Mayor’s Question: 2020/2248.
Tower Hamlets PTS Question No: 2021/2304 Andrew Boff Does Tower Hamlets’ permit transfer scheme (PTS) comply with paragraph 10.6.1 and Policy T6 in the New London Plan? Tower Hamlets PTS The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Policies T6 and paragraph 10.6.1 in the London Plan set out an overall approach to parking, although the London Plan does not specifically address the issue of eligibility for parking permits as this lies outside the planning system. Policies on eligibility, allocation and transfer are determined by individual boroughs. However, the allocation of residents’ parking permits clearly has an impact on the implementation of parking policies at a local and regional level. I understand that an independent review of the proposed PTS was undertaken before its introduction and that council officers estimated that a targeted PTS would be acceptable up to 2020. It was acknowledged that a review of the scheme may be required. Given that the PTS has now been in operation for several years, I would suggest the Council undertakes a review of the impact, need and parameters of the scheme in the light of the clear objectives of my London Plan. This should include identifying a mechanism to ensure the total number of permits does not increase as a result of the PTS.
Affordable housing funds Question No: 2021/2305 Andrew Boff Can you please confirm how and when the £535m unallocated funds from the 2016-23 affordable housing programme will be allocated and spent? Answer for Affordable housing funds The Mayor
Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Council homes Question No: 2021/2306 Andrew Boff How many council homes have been started from the 10,000 council homes programme? Please provide a breakdown by borough and bedroom size. Council homes The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The table below shows the number of affordable homes from projects that started on site that count towards the GLA’s 10,000 council homes target. To note, the submission of bedroom data is not mandatory and therefore the details below only include projects where the bedroom breakdown is available.
Bedroom breakdown (where available)
Affordable Starts 5 delivered by councils Oct- Studio/1 2 3 4 Bed Location 18 to Mar-21 Bed Bed Bed Bed +
Barking and Dagenham 820 256 322 237 5 0
Barnet 197 166 31 0 0 0
Bexley 12 2 6 4 0 0
Brent 710 67 95 0 0 0
Camden 197 8 6 27 16 0
City of London 12 11 1 0 0 0
Croydon 462 45 24 12 0 0
Ealing 205 43 125 22 15 0
Enfield 680 36 64 54 2 0
Greenwich 82 23 7 4 0 0
Hackney 356 81 121 71 3 0
Hammersmith and Fulham 2 1 1 0 0 0
Haringey 377 56 107 38 3 0
Harrow 211 18 58 20 0 0
Havering 149 1 15 7 0 0
Hillingdon 50 21 23 6 0 0
Hounslow 517 93 243 94 6 0
Islington 207 75 67 30 0 2
Kensington and Chelsea 167 26 32 2 0 0
Lambeth 16 0 0 0 0 0
Lewisham 193 59 75 36 7 0
Newham 490 155 105 130 7 0
Redbridge 421 130 173 71 29 0
Richmond upon Thames 1 0 1 0 0 0
Southwark 622 34 63 66 0 109
Tower Hamlets 256 80 78 92 6 0
Waltham Forest 290 110 98 75 7 0
Wandsworth 134 28 51 9 8 0
Westminster 396 51 11 1 0 0
Total: 8,232 1,676 2,003 1,108 114 111
Housing size mix Question No: 2021/2307 Andrew Boff Could you please provide a complete figure for the number of bedrooms for all GLA-funded affordable starts and completions in financial year 2020/21? Housing size mix The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see below two tables. Table 1 shows the number of homes from projects that started on site between April 2020 and March 2021 and table 2 shows the number of homes from projects that completed between April 2020 and March 2021. To note, the submission of bedroom data is not mandatory and therefore has only been provided where it is available.
Table 1: 2020-21 Affordable Starts
Starts Bedroom breakdown (where available) 2020-2021 Location Affordable Starts Studio/1 4 5+ bed 2 bed 3 bed bed beds
Barking and Dagenham 1,069 156 338 444 0 0
Barnet 661 264 185 48 13 0
Bexley 374 62 110 192 6 0
Brent 491 59 106 53 7 0
Bromley 285 0 0 1 0 0
Camden 216 78 36 33 4 0
City of London 6 1 1 0 0 0
Croydon 962 172 254 125 1 0
Ealing 898 268 287 95 17 0
Enfield 512 41 53 71 2 0
Greenwich 423 66 57 60 5 0
Hackney 140 3 5 7 0 0
Hammersmith and Fulham 122 0 11 0 25 0
Haringey 226 10 17 12 0 0
Harrow 120 4 40 11 3 0
Havering 182 1 24 30 0 0
Hillingdon 487 148 176 144 0 1
Hounslow 521 97 242 84 1 0
Islington 79 34 27 11 0 0
Kensington and Chelsea 76 12 15 1 0 0
Kingston upon Thames 110 50 31 23 0 0
Lambeth 275 117 86 41 10 3
Lewisham 468 101 134 50 8 0
Merton 20 12 2 3 0 0
Newham 1,689 325 803 205 7 0
Redbridge 350 81 114 54 29 0
Richmond upon Thames 2 0 0 0 0 0
Southwark 865 148 236 121 9 109
Sutton 91 4 4 2 0 0
Tower Hamlets 816 212 229 115 36 0
Waltham Forest 228 34 86 15 0 0
Wandsworth 301 37 127 19 1 0
Westminster 253 50 17 0 0 0
Total 13,318 2,647 3,853 2,070 184 113
Table 2: 2020-21 Affordable Completions
Completions Bedroom breakdown (where available) 2020-2021 Affordable Studio/1 4 5+ Location Completions bed 2 bed 3 bed bed beds
Barking and Dagenham 498 85 238 166 0 0
Barnet 283 112 132 30 2 0
Bexley 151 21 54 64 1 0
Brent 797 246 378 129 19 0
Bromley 11 1 6 2 0 0
Camden 124 30 28 37 16 0
City of London 4 0 0 0 0 0
Croydon 342 109 81 129 6 0
Ealing 663 185 264 127 13 0
Enfield 273 62 124 71 2 0
Greenwich 247 66 81 47 9 0
Hackney 277 71 98 27 0 0
Hammersmith and Fulham 19 6 6 2 0 0
Haringey 128 40 50 34 0 0
Harrow 33 6 9 0 0 0
Havering 209 13 147 41 6 0
Hillingdon 137 26 37 65 0 1
Hounslow 140 42 59 25 5 0
Islington 329 167 104 24 18 8
Kensington and Chelsea 95 21 40 33 0 0
Kingston upon Thames 39 14 6 1 0 0
Lambeth 380 202 138 16 6 0
Lewisham 47 9 13 10 0 0
Merton 199 64 98 27 5 4
Newham 1,275 221 758 227 9 6
Not Specified 149 0 0 0 0 0
Redbridge 27 0 17 8 0 0
Richmond upon Thames 42 8 27 2 0 0
Southwark 518 147 254 85 14 1
Sutton 46 1 21 5 8 0
Tower Hamlets 762 248 254 138 22 0
Waltham Forest 357 98 171 76 9 0
Wandsworth 294 87 185 13 2 0
Westminster 156 37 30 8 0 0
Total: 9,051 2,445 3,908 1,669 172 20
Planning committee meetings Question No: 2021/2308 Andrew Boff Would you like to see online planning committee meetings reinstated as a means of facilitating broader engagement with communities? Planning committee meetings The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Online planning committees have worked well and business has largely continued effectively, with benefits including cost savings and increased participation rates in the democratic process. Going back to only face-to-face meetings will be a significant retrograde step. It could also slow the decision-making process given many lockdown measures are still in force. RTPI research conducted with Grayling found that more than half of the UK public want to be involved in changes to their local community post-pandemic. The report found that digital engagement could be the key to unlocking participation from a larger, younger and more diverse cohort. Legislation should be passed to allow virtual meetings to continue. I am introducing a hybrid model for my call-in hearings whereby participants will be offered the option of attending via remote means if they prefer. I am keen to capture the benefits from the accelerated use of technology during the pandemic to help make planning meetings accessible to all – including those who are less able to get to physical meetings as well as those who are less digitally focused. Barely a day passes without news of organisations exploring how best to harness digital technology in a post-Covid world. Planning should do the same.
Intermediate housing (1) Question No: 2021/2309 Andrew Boff Further to MD2754 and your intermediate housing consultation, when do you intend to publish your proposed core list of key workers? What will be your criteria for defining roles as “essential to the functioning of London in normal times”? Intermediate housing (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As set out in MD2754 Intermediate Housing Consultation: Part 2 Consultation Response, further analysis and preparation of guidance on the Mayor’s housing policies, including key worker definitions, is underway and will complete by this Autumn.
A key part of this work will be to confirm the parameters for defining a core list of key workers that are outlined in MD2754, including the criteria for defining roles as essential to the functioning of London in normal times.
Intermediate housing (2) Question No: 2021/2310 Andrew Boff Further to MD2754 and your intermediate housing consultation, what will be your approach to the size mix of new intermediate homes? Intermediate housing (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The London Plan 2021 asks planning applicants and decision-makers, for the first time, to have regard to a range of factors when determining the appropriate mix of unit sizes for a scheme, including robust local evidence of need and the requirement to deliver mixed and inclusive neighbourhoods. Instead of setting a top-down London-wide target, this approach provides boroughs with the flexibility to secure size mixes that are appropriate to each scheme and broader needs of their area. The move to negotiated grant rates in the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 will also mean that more funding may be available for larger homes, where these are required.
Fast Track housing Question No: 2021/2311 Emma Best Further to questions 2021/1923 and 2021/1924, could you please therefore confirm that none of the schemes that have qualified for the Fast Track Route have received public funding for affordable homes? Fast Track housing The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Developments are expected to maximise the delivery of affordable housing through grant and public subsidy where available, including Fast Track Route schemes. This includes schemes by approved providers and strategic partners, and developer-led proposals under the 2016-23 Affordable Homes Programme (AHP). Grant programmes sit outside of the planning process, and so developments must commit unconditionally to the threshold level of affordable housing in the planning consent in order to follow the Fast Track Route and increase the level of affordable housing wherever possible. If a planning consent would result in a lower level of affordable housing if grant is not available, it would not qualify for the Fast Track Route.
Health Inequalities Review Timeline Question No: 2021/2312 Emma Best In response to my question 2021/1944 requesting a timeline for your review of “all policies and procedures” to ensure we are doing all possible to tackle health inequalities you stated this work has begun. This is unfortunately not a timeline. Please can you be more specific about milestones, work flows and completion dates of reviews for key documents? Health Inequalities Review Timeline The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Thank you again for your interest in this area. I am keen to work with the London Assembly on matters of interest to Londoners such as this. The Health Inequalities Strategy will be discussed at the next London Health Board (29th June) and we plan to have an updated implementation plan by November 2021. I and my Health Team will keep you and colleagues in the London Assembly updated on progress.
Age-Friendly London Targets Question No: 2021/2313 Emma Best In response to my question 2021/1942 requesting specific targets on making London age- friendly, no specific targets were laid out. Please can you list specific targets and means by which progress will be measured against these? Age-Friendly London Targets The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As I said in response to your original question, actions necessary to deliver on my commitment to make London an age-friendly city will be taken forward through strategies, policies and programmes across the GLA group. I am also pushing for them to be embedded across the recovery programme. To support this, the London Recovery Board recently agreed to set up a sub-group to drive activity to address structural inequality. The group will build on the work already underway in response to the pandemic, as a result of the Board’s existing commitment to address inequality. The details of that group’s scope and remit will be finalised in due course. My deputy mayor, Debbie Weekes-Bernard, will be meeting with the London Age-friendly Forum and other older people’s organisations in the coming weeks, to discuss how our work can address the needs of older Londoners.
Dementia-Friendly Charter Measurables Question No: 2021/2314 Emma Best How will you look to measure the success of the dementia friendly charter? Answer for Dementia-Friendly Charter Measurables The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Wellbeing Ambassadors Targets Question No: 2021/2315 Emma Best In response to my question 2021/1943 you did not provide a number for how many wellbeing ambassadors there will be in London at the end of this mayoral term. Please can you advise how many of the quarter of a million ambassadors will be in place at this point? Wellbeing Ambassadors Targets The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The wellbeing ambassador concept is currently in early development with Londoners and wider partners and milestones are being developed. However, as referenced in Mayor’s Question 2021/1943, we aim to be well on course to reaching the 250,000 target by the end of the current Mayoral term. It is crucial that the wellbeing ambassador scheme is developed in a way and at a pace that ensures it is effective in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of London’s diverse communities. Programme planning and resource development for the scheme will progress over the summer months in partnership with Thrive LDN. We look forward to being able to provide further details in the Autumn.
Root Causes of Childhood Obesity Question No: 2021/2316 Emma Best The root cause of childhood obesity can often be a trauma or adverse childhood experience where poor diet/lack of exercise is simply one symptom of a much wider problem. How will you look to address the root causes of childhood obesity this mayoral term and not just the symptom? Root Causes of Childhood Obesity The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
Obesity is a complex issue and the 2007 Foresight report and system map set out the many drivers including economic, biological, societal influences and individual psychology. The negative impacts that adverse experiences can have on a child’s development are well- documented, but possible associations between adverse childhood experiences and overweight or obesity in childhood are less well-investigated with some disagreement in study outcomes1. My London child obesity taskforce has outlined the importance of a whole system approach and calls on partners across the city to support children to reach a healthy weight. Their call to action can be found at Every Child A Healthy Weight. Through the London Recovery programme and my Health Inequalities Strategy, I will continue to work with partners to support the long-term health and wellbeing of all Londoners, starting with those living in the most challenging circumstances. 1 Adverse Childhood Experiences in London: Investigating ways that Adverse Childhood Experiences and related concepts of vulnerability can help us to understand and improve Londoners’ health. Miriam Bullock, 2019
School Superzones Targets Question No: 2021/2317 Emma Best In response to my question 2021/1938 you advised you would be setting targets in relation to school superzones with borough partners. When do you envision targets will be set? School Superzones Targets The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As outlined in Mayor’s Question 2021/1938, expanding School Superzones to more areas across London is an important way in which to improve children’s health. It is closely linked to the Healthy Food Healthy Weight recovery mission as well as the Green New Deal and a number of other recovery missions. Following the election, work with partners is now underway to re-engage with boroughs and to review learning from the first phase of the School Superzones programme. This will help ensure a good understanding of both the key success factors and the barriers to establishing them that were experienced in some areas. Over the coming months my team will work with boroughs to develop a range of options for supporting boroughs, schools and communities to implement the School Superzones approach more widely, and will develop targets at this point.
MedCity Funding Commitments Question No: 2021/2318 Emma Best In response to my question 2021/1929 you advised MedCity would receive £200,000 Mayoral funding for the 2021-2022 financial year. I had asked what funding you would be committing for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Please can you advise on this point also? MedCity Funding Commitments The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I have not committed any funding for future years beyond £200,000 for the 2021-22 financial year, which remains subject to approval by Mayoral Decision.
Euro 2020 Impact Question No: 2021/2319 Emma Best How will you look to use EURO 2020 to empower fantastic London-based football and sports charities to use this platform to expand their work? Euro 2020 Impact The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Alongside the UEFA EURO 2020 tournament, I have commissioned a community organisation called Big Ideas to deliver their schools engagement project, No Barriers. Big Ideas have recruited 121 schools across London to deliver workshops focused on young people overcoming barriers, using inspiring professional footballers as No Barriers Champions. This project empowers young Londoners to connect with the tournament in a positive way. Please see Mayor’s Question 2021/1928 for more information on the EURO2020 community engagement programme. To recognise the fantastic work of the community sports sector over the last year, my officers have made tickets available to Fan Zone screenings of EURO 2020 matches in Trafalgar Square. More than sixty community sport organisations will each receive a set of tickets for seated and socially distanced viewing for them and the people they serve. I am also currently working with the Women’s FA to support their community engagement in London alongside next year’s UEFA Women’s EUROs tournament and expand the reach of football in London’s communities.
Fertility Treatment Lottery Question No: 2021/2320 Emma Best How will the Mayor look to work with NHS London this term to end one of London’s largest health inequalities; the fertility treatment lottery? Fertility Treatment Lottery The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Whilst I have no direct responsibility for the commissioning or delivery of NHS services, Londoners should expect to be able to access the healthcare services they need, where and when they need them. I am committed to making London a healthier, fairer city, where nobody’s health suffers because of who they are, or where they live. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated existing health inequalities and increased waiting times for NHS treatment. A postcode lottery in access to IVF treatment is one symptom of the pressures the NHS faces. I have forged ever closer working relationships with the NHS and other public bodies as we have responded together to the pandemic. As part of my commitment to champion and challenge the NHS, I raise a range of NHS issues in my regular meetings with London’s health leaders and I will continue to advocate for better access to healthcare for all Londoners.
Waste and Recycling Question No: 2021/2322 Emma Best You wish London to be a zero-waste city. Please can you outline your year-on-year recycling rate targets for the rest of your mayoral term to ensure we are on track to hit this ambition? Waste and Recycling The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 In order for London to become a zero-waste city, which makes best use of all its waste where market opportunities exist to recover value from it, we need to reduce waste, increase recycling and move towards a more circular economy. My London Environment Strategy sets out how I plan to achieve this and sets ambitious targets beyond those set nationally by the Government. This includes my target of 65% recycling of municipal waste by 2030 which will require improvement in both household and business waste recycling and my London Environment Strategy sets out interventions required, including achieving 50 per cent of Local Authority Collected Waste (LACW) being recycled by 2025 and a minimum of 75 per cent recycling of business waste by 2030.
I am supporting boroughs directly and through Relondon to deliver the interventions they have identified in their Reduction and Recycling Plans and achieve their waste targets.
London Power Question No: 2021/2323 Emma Best In my view, London Power consistently offers one of the least competitive rates for energy in London, no matter the region, property size or billing method. How do you propose to improve the competitiveness of London Power over the next 3 years? London Power The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 London Power has a range of competitive energy offers. A search on the independent Citizens Advice energy comparison service showed the headline my london carbon neutral plan was in the lowest quartile of fixed price plans on 15 June 2021 , and the pre-payment tariff was the second cheapest in the market, offering customers a £111 saving per year against the price cap. London Power prices are benchmarked to the market, and profit margins are contractually capped, to ensure they are always competitive and fairly priced. Unlike competitors’ ‘tease and squeeze’ tactics – where a low price for the first year is followed by a high-cost variable tariff – London Power’s rate rollover guarantee ensure customers automatically switch to the cheapest similar tariff when their contract expires.
ULEZ Question No: 2021/2324 Emma Best Does the Mayor recognise the disproportionality in charging a disabled pensioner, in an outer London area, with poor public transport links, £12.50 to drive two miles to their local hospital once a week while a large commercial delivery vehicle can travel 1,000s of miles a week without charge? This is the reality of the current ULEZ proposals. Will the Mayor think again about how we can make the policy fairer for the most vulnerable Londoners? Answer for ULEZ The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Deep Tube Reconditioning Question No: 2021/2326 Emma Best In response to my question 2021/1936 you stated Deep Tube Reconditioning had been explored for sections of the Victoria Line through Islington where residential noise impacts are particularly bad. Please could you confirm the estimated cost of this option? Answer for Deep Tube Reconditioning The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Rail Grinding Costs (1) Question No: 2021/2327 Emma Best Please advise what the rail grinding costs over the approximately 3,500 metres of track between Highbury & Islington and King’s Cross St. Pancras Victoria Line were over the past 5 years? Rail Grinding Costs (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Since 2016, the total cost of rail grinding in this area has been approximately £1.15 million.
Rail Grinding Costs (2) Question No: 2021/2328 Emma Best Please advise the projected rail grinding costs on the approximately 3,500 metres of track between Highbury & Islington and King’s Cross St. Pancras Victoria Line over the next 5 years? Rail Grinding Costs (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Over the next five years, Transport for London expects that the total cost of rail grinding in this area will be approximately £1.9 million. This figure does not take into account inflation.
Tube Map Changes (1) Question No: 2021/2329 Emma Best How many Tube Maps will TfL need to replace in order to reflect the introduction of Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station as Zone 1 stations and the re-zoning of Kennington as Zone 1/2? Tube Map Changes (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) produces several different Tube maps, from the ones customers see in stations through to maps providing additional information, for example Step Free maps. All maps will be updated. Some maps are printed and available in stations while others are available on-line. It is difficult to give an exact number for each type of map as the number of maps on display varies across each station and includes new maps for all TfL Tube and Rail services. The Tube map is updated twice a year, in Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter and the Northern Line extension and re-zoning of Kennington will be part of the Autumn/Winter update.
Tube Map Changes (2) Question No: 2021/2330 Emma Best How much will it cost TfL to design and replace sufficient Tube Maps in order to reflect the introduction of Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station as Zone 1 stations and the re- zoning of Kennington as Zone 1/2? Tube Map Changes (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) updates the Tube map twice a year, in Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter and the Northern Line extension and re-zoning of Kennington will be part of the standard Autumn/Winter update. As a result, no extra cost will be incurred by TfL.
Stop and search Question No: 2021/2331 Emma Best What plans, if any, does the Mayor have to look at new initiatives that could limit the perception of unfair targeting of Stop & Search or the invasive nature of searches without limiting the vital work they do? For example implementing new technology such as body scanners at busy locations or issuing handheld metal detection scanners. Answer for Stop and search
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Stop & Search Question No: 2021/2332 Emma Best How does the Mayor plan to use Stop & Search powers effectively over the next three years? Stop & Search The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I support the use of targeted, intelligence lead stop and search. The MPS continues to improve its use through enhanced training which has included greater community involvement, lived experience sessions and unconscious bias training, with a greater focus on the quality of the encounter. The MPS has also strengthened its supervision of stops, with Body Worn Video footage reviewed by line managers and any learning reflected back to officers. Community Monitoring Groups already provide scrutiny of the use of stop and search powers at a local level, including reviewing body worn video footage. As set out in my Action Plan for Transparency, Accountability and Trust in Policing, further work is underway to ensure that the MPS is more transparent and accountable to the communities it serves than ever before.
Community policing Question No: 2021/2333 Emma Best How will the Mayor be looking to strengthen community policing over his next term? Community policing The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As I have set out in my manifesto, I am committed to increasing visible neighbourhood policing – bobbies on the beat – in high crime areas and town centres. The detailed plans for these town centre teams are still being finalised by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The new teams will work in collaboration with existing ward officers and violence suppression units.
Every Basic Command Unit (BCU) will receive at least one new team and the MPS will be prioritising those areas with the highest demands and associated risks.
SNT Ward Panels Question No: 2021/2334 Emma Best How many wards in London have a functioning SNT Ward Panel? Answer for SNT Ward Panels The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
SNT Ward Panels (2) Question No: 2021/2335 Emma Best Will the Mayor commit to reviewing how well SNT Ward Panels function and engage with local communities? Answer for SNT Ward Panels (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Protecting police officers? Question No: 2021/2336 Emma Best What plans does the Mayor have over the next three years to better protect police officers? Protecting police officers? The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Police officers perform an invaluable role to keep us all safe and in turn I am committed to ensuring they are properly protected. I have supported the provisions in the forthcoming Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to increase protection for police officers by doubling the maximum sentence for assaulting emergency workers from 12 months to 2 years. I take my operational advice on the equipping of officers from the Commissioner and have supported her in the provisioning of Body Worn Video, Spit & Bite Guards and increased
roll out of Taser. I will continue to listen to her concerns and recommendations for the protection of officers.
HIV Diagnosis and Treatment Question No: 2021/2337 Emma Best In response to my question 2021/1940, you said “I will support the urgent work to find those living with HIV who are undiagnosed and get them onto treatment.” Please can you provide more details of how you plan to support his work? HIV Diagnosis and Treatment The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Thank you for your second question. One example would be through joint working with the Fast Track Cities Initiative (FTCI) of which I am a co-signatory. We worked in partnership with FTCI during lockdown, using the opportunity of temporarily housing rough sleepers in hotels to offer testing to this group for HIV alongside a holistic health needs assessment. 36 diagnoses were identified who all are now engaged or reengaged in treatment. A London Improvement Collaborative has been established by FTCI that brings together 12 improvement projects working with 22 local charities and 9 NHS Trusts into one community of practice. These include projects to increase HIV testing and ensure more people with HIV stay on treatment and aim to support many of the more complex, vulnerable or marginalised groups such as migrants, homeless people, people with substance misuse issues, as well as people from Black and minority ethnic populations and women.
HIV Priorities Question No: 2021/2338 Emma Best In response to my question 2021/1940, you said your “priorities will be to continue to work with the most excluded groups; to tackle stigma at both the internal and societal levels as well as in the NHS; and planning for the future of HIV care to meet the needs of people living with HIV alongside other complex health conditions.” What immediate actions will you be taking to address these and what targets have you set? HIV Priorities The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I am a co-signatory to London’s Fast Track Cities Initiative (FTCI). The FTCI programme has adopted the new UNAIDS Global Strategy (2021–2026) which seeks to reduce the inequalities that drive the AIDS epidemic and get the world on track to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
For internal stigma, a community of practice is co-creating a framework for delivering self- stigma programmes for different population groups. Once the framework is ready it will be used to deliver these programmes, with a common evaluation framework to measure the impact. A working group is currently being put together to design and then pilot an HIV friendly charter in the NHS. This charter will have specific criteria NHS organisations must meet in order to be recognised as HIV friendly. Fast-Track Cities London is supporting HIV clinicians, services, charities and people living with HIV to consider how HIV care in London should evolve over the coming years in order to support patients to live well. The ‘Evolving HIV care in London’ framework is being developed to support Integrated Care Systems to understand future opportunities for sustaining and evolving HIV care in London. London’s FTCI will also be supporting ICSs to implement the recommendations that have been made. All these workstreams have detailed project plans and deliverables.
ULEZ Expansion (1) Question No: 2021/2340 Keith Prince A constituent has asked me to table this question: The new twin-bore tunnel at Silvertown, within the extended ULEZ, will effectively eliminate congestion and improve air quality around the Blackwall Tunnel approach, with no increase in carbon emissions. This has not been taken into account in the Aether specialist reports’ predictions that the forward effects of ULEZ and its expansion have been based on. Does the Mayor agree that the Silvertown Tunnel will further reduce pollution levels and the need for ULEZ extension from 25th October? Answer for ULEZ Expansion (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
ULEZ Expansion (2) Question No: 2021/2341 Keith Prince A constituent has asked me to table this question: The Mayor claims that specialist Aether pollution level reports guide his decision to go ahead with the expansion of the ULEZ to cover 132 extra square miles on October 25th. But Aether state in their original 2013 report and confirm in their 2017 review that by 2025
only 72,000 of London’s 9¼ million estimated (2021) population will be subject to levels of pollution greater than maximum EU recommended levels, and by 2030 none at all. With 60 percent of those 72,000 residents in Tower Hamlets, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham would the Mayor agree that following the success of the original ULEZ there’s now no need to expand the ULEZ? Answer for ULEZ Expansion (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
ULEZ Expansion (3) Question No: 2021/2342 Keith Prince A constituent has asked me to table this question: Given the Covid-related reduction in traffic levels, improvements in vehicle technology, the success of plug-in hybrid and plug-in electric vehicle sales and thus increasing numbers of non-Euro4 and Euro6 vehicles being taken off the road, would the Mayor keep the air quality situation under review and delay the expansion of ULEZ by a further 132 square miles to the North and South Circulars until further data is collected and collated? Answer for ULEZ Expansion (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
ULEZ Expansion (4) Question No: 2021/2343 Keith Prince A constituent has asked me to table this question: Given that this expansion was a matter of recent political debate, and the impossibility of the motor trade dealing with a potential 15,500 vehicles per month being scrapped or traded in without further polluting consequences, will the Mayor give residents affected by the ULEZ expansion a period beyond 25th October to adjust? Answer for ULEZ Expansion (4) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
ULEZ Expansion (5) Question No: 2021/2344 Keith Prince A constituent has asked me to table this question: Vehicles constructed three years or more before the date of their annual “MOT” inspection have to pass a strict emissions test every year. Does the Mayor believe that his non-Euro4 (non-Euro6 for diesels) qualification for not having to pay the ULEZ polluters’ fine to be somehow superior to the MOT test? Answer for ULEZ Expansion (5) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
ULEZ Expansion (6) Question No: 2021/2345 Keith Prince A constituent has asked me to table this question: Information from the Bond Owners’ Club, the Bond Bug Club, the Mini Owners’ Club of Great Britain, and the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club all point to vehicles with a Historic Class or registered before 1973 being charged the ULEZ polluters’ “fine” in flagrant disregard of the Mayor’s oft-published policy that these few vehicles would not be subject to the £12.50 daily charge. Will he pause the expansion of ULEZ to the North and South Circulars until such time as TfL’s monitoring cameras and charging systems are fit for purpose and will he halt all further prosecutions for non-payment given that TfL’s systems cannot be relied on? Answer for ULEZ Expansion (6) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Social Distancing on the Tube (1) Question No: 2021/2346 Keith Prince During the course of the Pandemic, TfL Rail employees have used handheld devices to count safe numbers onto their platforms to ensure safe numbers of passengers board their trains. What steps have you taken to ensure that passengers have sufficient space to socially distance on the London Underground trains that you directly control? Social Distancing on the Tube (1)
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Throughout the pandemic, Transport for London (TfL) has done everything it can to help ensure that those travelling on the Tube can maintain social distancing. TfL has continued to run as many trains as possible to make social distancing easier, as well as installing signage on all of its trains to remind passengers to socially distance. At stations, TfL has implemented one-way systems with supporting signage, deployed stewards to manage crowding, and installed barriers at the entrances to key stations to remind customers about social distancing and mask wearing. Where necessary, staff have held customers outside when a station is too busy. Intelligence-led, targeted BTP operations have also been deployed to encourage face covering compliance and social distancing. TfL has also used Travel Demand Management tools such as the TfL Go app to help advise customers on quiet times to travel and identify quieter stations for interchange. The use of Travel Demand Management has been particularly targeted at interchange stations, as it can be challenging to manage the flow of customers across a platform or through connecting tunnels to another line. Customer demand and the impact on stations is reviewed daily. Reporting tools are used to understand the times and locations where crowding may occur, with targeted action taken as appropriate.
Social Distancing on the Tube (2) Question No: 2021/2347 Keith Prince Do you recognise that if TfL has taken insufficient steps to ensure passengers have sufficient space to socially distance on London Underground trains, responsibility for that failing would ultimately rest with you as Chairman of the TfL Board? Answer for Social Distancing on the Tube (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
2016 Taxi & Private Hire Action Plan Question No: 2021/2348 Keith Prince Is the Mayor still committed to his 2016 Taxi & Private Hire action plan and, if so, which of the yet to be completed proposals does he intend to implement this year? Answer for 2016 Taxi & Private Hire Action Plan
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
2025 Emissions Target and Taxis Question No: 2021/2349 Keith Prince Factoring in the number of taxi vehicles permanently delicensed & those that ‘may’ return, will the Mayor concede that his 2025 emission target reduction will be met without the need for further age reduction beyond the current 14 years? Answer for 2025 Emissions Target and Taxis The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
E-Taxi Charging Points (1) Question No: 2021/2350 Keith Prince Has the Mayor agreed any cost cap with suppliers, ensuring reasonable fees for taxi drivers, using dedicated e-taxi charge points? Answer for E-Taxi Charging Points (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
E-Taxi Charging Points (2) Question No: 2021/2351 Keith Prince Is the Mayor concerned that private hire vehicles abusing dedicated e-taxi charge points may give members of the public the wrong impression that they are taxis plying for hire on taxi ranks? Answer for E-Taxi Charging Points (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
World Leading’ Bus Safety Programme: Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) installation Question No: 2021/2352 Keith Prince In your response to Question 2021/1987, you stated that “19 per cent of the total fleet have Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA)”. As you know, TfL announced the completion of ISA Trials on 16 March 2016: based on the current rate of ISA installation (less than 5% per year), I estimate that every TfL Bus will have ISA installed sometime after 2041. Can you assure me that this goal of TfL’s ‘world leading’ Bus Safety Programme announced 1 February 2016 will be achieved earlier than the 2040s? Answer for World Leading’ Bus Safety Programme: Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) installation The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
World Leading’ Bus Safety Standard: Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) installation Question No: 2021/2353 Keith Prince In your response to Question 2021/1987 you state that “343 buses now have AVAS [Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), which is around four per cent of the total fleet.” As you know, TfL announced AVAS as part of its ‘World Leading’ Bus Safety Standard on 16 October 2018: based on the current rate of AVAS installation, can we really expect all of London’s buses to have AVAS installed by 2096? Can you assure me that this key goal of TfL’s ‘world leading’ Bus Safety Standard will be achieved earlier than the eve of next century? Answer for World Leading’ Bus Safety Standard: Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) installation The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Safety Accreditations of TfL Chief Safety Officer Question No: 2021/2354 Keith Prince Further to your response to Question 2019/21052, can you confirm if TfL’s Chief Safety Officer has gained basic National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) and Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) accreditations that
ideally should have been a pre-requisite for any professional considered to fill such an important post? Answer for Safety Accreditations of TfL Chief Safety Officer The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
TfL’s Decision to create Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Directorate in 2019 Question No: 2021/2355 Keith Prince Further to your response to Question 2019/21051, can you provide me with any documentation (briefing notes, decision memorandums) relating to the Transport Commissioner’s seemingly-impetuous decision to create a new Safety, Health and Environment directorate (SHE) in September 2019? Answer for TfL’s Decision to create Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Directorate in 2019 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Director of Bus Operations Question No: 2021/2356 Keith Prince Further to your response to Question 2021/1982, who is TfL’s new Director of Bus Operations? Was this appointment an internal hire or was there a competitive search conducted of suitable external candidates? Answer for Director of Bus Operations The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
TfL’s Obligation to Monitor and Act on the Health & Safety Performance of its Transport Contractors Question No: 2021/2357 Keith Prince Given your responses to Question 2021/1981, in which you stated “it is not for TfL to dictate their [contractors’] workplace risk assessment arrangements”, and Question 2021/1962, in which you stated “As companies set the terms and conditions of their staff employment and are directly responsible for their health and safety at work, this is not an area where Transport for London (TfL) can direct them”, do you believe that TfL – as the sole contractor of London’s public Surface Transport Services – has any legal obligation to (a) monitor (b) audit and (c) act on its contractors’ Health and Safety Performance? Answer for TfL’s Obligation to Monitor and Act on the Health & Safety Performance of its Transport Contractors The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Remote Sign On Question No: 2021/2358 Keith Prince In your response to Questions 2020/1960, 2021/1961, and 2021/1962 you’ve confirmed that Remote Sign-On was an “operator-led initiative” that’s been in place on London Bus Routes since 2005 and no documentation exists for it ever having been assessed or approved by TfL for its safety implications (or any other issues) for drivers. Given TfL’s 26 March 2021 Decision to impose a moratorium on the roll-out of Remote Sign On on Metroline’s operations and your recognition that the issue is “complicated”, do you accept that TfL’s failure to approve and/or conduct any analysis of Remote Sign On’s implications is an institutional failure, which in my view, borders on negligence? Answer for Remote Sign On The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Unaudited, Unapproved “Operator-Led” Initiatives Question No: 2021/2359 Keith Prince Given the inconvenience imposed on Londoners by the recent Unite the Union strikes over Remote Sign On at Metroline, can you identify any other unapproved, unaudited
“operator-led initiatives” that impact upon London Bus Driver working conditions of which TfL is aware? Answer for Unaudited, Unapproved “Operator-Led” Initiatives The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
TfL’s Failure to Collect Covid-19 Case Data from Depots until October 2020 Question No: 2021/2360 Keith Prince Further to your lack of response to Question 2021/1968, can you shed some light as to why TfL claims Bus Driver Covid-19 Data by Bus Depot “has only been reported to TfL since October 2020”? Answer for TfL’s Failure to Collect Covid-19 Case Data from Depots until October 2020 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Citing “Middle Door Boarding” as a bona fide Covid-19 Risk Reduction Measure Question No: 2021/2361 Keith Prince Given your admission in Question 2021/1965 that TfL’s decision to introduce Middle Door Boarding on 17 April (a) lacked any evidential basis and (b) was only taken in response to pressure from Unite the Union, will you instruct your officers to refrain from citing this manifestly political decision as a bona fide Covid-19 Risk Reduction measure? You make this same assertion in your response to Question 2021/1966. Answer for TfL Citing “Middle Door Boarding” as a bona fide Covid-19 Risk Reduction Measure The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Effective Help For Rough Sleepers Question No: 2021/2362 Keith Prince Is your ‘No Night Out’ promise being met? Effective Help For Rough Sleepers The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Since 2016, City Hall programmes have helped 11,000 rough sleepers, 80% of whom are no longer on the streets. Most recently, in an immediate and world-beating response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GLA pioneered the ‘Everyone In’ initiative, working alongside London boroughs, central government, partners in health, voluntary sector and others. This ensured that COVID-secure accommodation was available to anyone rough sleeping in London. Our charity partners have supported around 1,300 of the 2,634 people we have accommodated to positively move on. Regrettably, many of the 577 currently in our hotels are unable to move on because their status as non-UK nationals severely limits their options. I am pressing the government to take action to ensure options for this group. Without this, these people are at high risk of returning to rough sleeping.
Contribution of older Londoners Question No: 2021/2363 Neil Garratt Will you celebrate the contribution of older Londoners? Contribution of older Londoners The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I am extremely grateful to older Londoners who make a huge contribution to London in so many ways. They played a massive role as volunteers at community hubs during the pandemic and currently are as stewards at Covid-19 vaccination sites. Older Londoners form the backbone of our Team London Ambassador volunteering programme each year, with nearly 40 per cent of participants currently over 65 years of age. I have been pleased to recognise the valuable work of older volunteers, as recipients of my Volunteering Awards. Many older people are still working, whilst many of those who aren’t are looking after their grandchildren, so that their parents can work. All are making valuable contributions to London’s economy. Each year I use the International Older People’s Day (1 October) to draw attention to the fantastic contributions of our older Londoners and will continue to do so.
Combatting ageism Question No: 2021/2364 Neil Garratt How will you ensure that ageism has no place in London? Combatting ageism The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Ageism has no place in London and I am addressing it wherever I can. My skills and housing programmes are considering the specific needs of older workers and the housing needs of people as they grow older and I am encouraging all London employees to tackle ageism in the workplace through my Good Work Standard. I am also addressing ageism directly through the Recovery programme through the Digital Access for All recovery mission, which alongside partners, aims to address ageism in the digital world My step-free programme and bus driver training programmes are also improving access and providing a more positive travelling experience for older Londoners. I will continue to engage with older Londoners and the organisations that support them to identify ageism and to address it with partners across London.
Inclusion of older Londoners Question No: 2021/2365 Neil Garratt Please outline how your strategies, action plans & activities meaningfully include older Londoners. Inclusion of older Londoners The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My new London Plan meets the needs of older Londoners with policies on inclusive design and the increased provision of toilets available to the public. My transport strategy provides more step-free access and an improved Dial-a-ride service. Since the pandemic I have defended the Freedom Pass. My housing strategy promotes the development of adapted and accessible homes, and my economic strategy provides skills for older workers and promotes age-inclusive employment practices. I will continue to engage with older Londoners and the organisations that represent them to co-produce how my future strategies, action plans and activities and those of the recovery programme will meaningfully include older Londoners.
Age-friendly London programme Question No: 2021/2366 Neil Garratt Will you ensure demonstrable progress is made on the Age-friendly London programme, with the use of a published timetable? Age-friendly London programme The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I and London partners have already made significant progress on the Age-friendly London programme, since I signed London up to the WHO’s global network of age-friendly communities in 2018. In line with the network’s expectations my officers gathered evidence of how age-friendly London is currently and engaged with older Londoners to identify their priorities for making our city more age-friendly. In 2019 we commissioned Age UK London to draft the GLA’s contribution to an age-friendly London action plan. I made a manifesto commitment to push this further over the next three years, so that London is a more age-friendly city, whatever people’s circumstances. My deputy mayor, Debbie Weekes-Bernard, will be meeting with the London Age-Friendly Forum and other older people’s organisations in the coming weeks, to discuss how best to progress the age-friendly London programme going forward.
London recovery for older Londoners Question No: 2021/2367 Neil Garratt How will you ensure that older Londoners are not left behind in terms of action taken to help London recover from the Covid-19 pandemic? London recovery for older Londoners The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I have committed to find the best routes to reach as many Londoners as possible – particularly groups representing older Londoners. This engagement - along with community intelligence such as that gained from the London Community Response Survey, which supported frontline organisations that responded to the pandemic - will inform London’s recovery programme. My deputy mayor Debbie Weekes-Bernard is the older people’s champion within my office. Debbie co-chairs the social renewal work strand of the recovery programme with Councillor Ruth Dombey, leader of the London Borough of Sutton, who is the older people’s champion on the London Recovery Board.
I have every confidence that, between Debbie and Ruth, and my team’s ongoing engagement with older Londoners, older Londoners will not be left behind in terms of action to help London recover from the pandemic.
London Recovery Board Question No: 2021/2368 Neil Garratt Will you provide reassurance that the London Recovery Board will undergo regular scrutiny, in terms of its age-friendliness? London Recovery Board The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated London’s existing inequalities. The London Recovery Board is committed to narrowing social, economic and health inequalities, including those experienced by older Londoners as one of it its key outcomes. Several members of the Recovery Board have been appointed for their expertise on structural inequality are also members of my Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Group. This includes members drawn from organisations representing older Londoners. The EDI group has a key role in monitoring and advising on the extent to which the recovery programme is addressing inequality. The London Recovery Board recently agreed that a Sub-Group to drive activity to address structural inequality will be formed to build on the work already underway in response to the pandemic, as a result of the Board’s existing commitment to address inequality. The details of that group’s scope and remit will be agreed in due course.
All About The Money’ Article (1) Question No: 2021/2370 Neil Garratt On 15th April 2020, an article entitled “‘All about the money’: London bus drivers share fears as Covid-19 claims more lives” was published on the This Is Local London website. The article included claims from bus drivers that bus companies acted too slowly to protect them. Do you agree that some bus companies acted too slowly to protect their staff? Answer for All About The Money’ Article (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
All About The Money’ Article (2) Question No: 2021/2371 Neil Garratt When did TfL become aware that, as made clear in This Is Local London’s ‘All about the money’ article, some bus companies were acting too slowly to protect their staff? Answer for All About The Money’ Article (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
All About The Money’ Article (3) Question No: 2021/2372 Neil Garratt What did TfL do to rectify the situation, described in the ‘All about the money’ article, that some bus companies were acting too slowly to protect their staff? Answer for All About The Money’ Article (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
All About The Money’ Article (4) Question No: 2021/2373 Neil Garratt The ‘All about the money’ article claimed that the extra cleaning TfL was promising was not happening. What measures has TfL taken to ensure that daily additional cleaning is actually happening? Answer for All About The Money’ Article (4) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Due Diligence Report in preparation for the transfer of the tram system to TfL Question No: 2021/2374 Neil Garratt Following up on documentation TfL released in your delayed response to Question 2020/4635, please provide me with the “Due Diligence Report in preparation for the transfer of the tram system to TfL” that TfL provided to the RAIB on 24 November 2016. Answer for Due Diligence Report in preparation for the transfer of the tram system to TfL The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Adult Literacy Question No: 2021/2375 Nicholas Rogers In response to my question (2021/2027) you advised there are no data for adult literacy post-2016 in London. In response to my subsequent question (2021/2028) you acknowledge that low levels of literacy act as a substantial barrier to work and education opportunities and hard social integration and cohesion. Given this, will you commit to commission the necessary research to identify the post-2016 levels of adult literacy in London? Adult Literacy The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Survey of Adult Skills is taking place from 2018-2024. This survey is conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and monitors adult literacy rates in the United Kingdom and over 30 countries. The next wave of results will be published in 2024. As outlined in Mayor’s Question 2021/2027 we will continue to monitor uptake and achievement rates of English courses through the delegated Adult Education Budget (AEB). This year, we are also introducing a London Learner Survey to hear directly from learners on the impact of their learning. The survey will create a new evidence base that can help show which courses have helped support learners into jobs or further education and had a social impact. Findings from the survey for the 2021-22 academic year will be published in 2023. For 2021-22, we have asked grant funded AEB providers to produce a delivery plan setting out the contribution they will make to supporting London’s recovery. This will include proposed volumes of English and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) delivery for the next academic year.
Support for Aviation Jobs Question No: 2021/2376 Nicholas Rogers What specific actions are you taking to support those in the London Borough of Hounslow, especially those in Feltham and surrounding areas, whose jobs are at risk due to the downturn in aviation following the pandemic? Support for Aviation Jobs The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The impact of the pandemic on sectors such as aviation and its wider supply chain has been significant. In response, through the London Progression Collaboration, we have been working with a range of partners in West London, including the London Borough of Hounslow, to support apprenticeship creation through the Reskilling the Recovery campaign. The campaign calls on London’s large employers to pledge unspent apprenticeship levy funds to support the recovery of SMEs. As part of the wider London Recovery Programme, we will establish Sector Skills Academies across London. The Academies programme will provide high quality training, work experience and wider employment support focused on sectors such as Creative, Green and Digital, helping Londoners to develop the skills they need to find and progress in work. Along with the wider Adult Education Budget funded provision, the GLA is also working closely with boroughs and Jobcentre Plus to make training and job support better coordinated and more accessible for residents through the ‘No Wrong Door’ initiative.
Queen Portrait Question No: 2021/2377 Nicholas Rogers Will the Mayor ensure a prominent portrait of HM The Queen is on display in the lobby of The Crystal once the GLA moves? Queen Portrait The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Yes, we will continue to display a portrait of the Monarch once we move to our new City Hall.
Adult Education Budget Adult Literacy Spend Question No: 2021/2378 Nicholas Rogers What specific schemes are you funding through your Adult Education budget to tackle Adult Literacy rates in London? Please give a breakdown of spend, scheme and year.
Adult Education Budget Adult Literacy Spend The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Adult Education Budget (AEB) funds the majority of publicly funded English language learning in London. Since delegation of the AEB in 2019, we can report the number of learners accessing basic English courses, with breakdowns by level and geography. In 2019- 20, 29,330 learners enrolled in 37,980 English (literacy) courses, and 44,120 learners enrolled in 81,590 English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (language) qualifications. This corresponds respectively to around £27m and £43m in spend. AEB data is published on the London Datastore. The most recent release covers August 2019 to July 2020. As outlined in the response to Mayor’s Question 2021/2029, we introduced a £2.7m funding uplift through the AEB for all fully funded English and maths qualifications at Levels 1 and 2. From this September we are introducing an increase of 10 per cent to the funding paid for all AEB‑fundable qualifications up to and including Level 2, which includes English and ESOL provision. This will help ensure more Londoners achieve qualifications that improve adult literacy.
Air quality Question No: 2021/2379 Nicholas Rogers How many times in the last 12 months did air quality at Cromwell Road bus station, Kingston, breach legal limits? Air quality The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There have been no exceedances of the hourly limit for nitrogen dioxide near the Cromwell Road bus station in the last 12 months. London has around 120 “reference” air quality monitoring stations which can be used to assess compliance with legal limits. These are owned, operated and funded by the London boroughs, Transport for London and Heathrow and City airports. Data from these sites is publicly available in real time from the organisations they contract to undertake the monitoring. The monitoring site at Cromwell Road is owned and operated by Kingston, the data is publicly available here: https://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/publicbulletin.asp?site=KT5
Air quality Question No: 2021/2380 Nicholas Rogers How many times in the last 12 months did air quality outside the Stag Brewery site in Mortlake breach legal limits? Air quality The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There is no air quality monitoring station at or near to the Stag Brewery site in Mortlake. London has around 120 “reference” air quality monitoring stations which can be used to assess compliance with legal limits. These are owned, operated and funded by the London boroughs, Transport for London and Heathrow and City airports. Data from these sites is publicly available in real time from the organisations they contract to undertake the monitoring.
Air quality Question No: 2021/2381 Nicholas Rogers How many times in the last 12 months did air quality at the junction of Syon Lane and the A4 in Osterley breach legal limits? Air quality The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There have been no exceedances of the hourly limit for nitrogen dioxide near the junction of Syon Lane and the A4 in the last 12 months. London has around 120 “reference” air quality monitoring stations which can be used to assess compliance with legal limits. These are owned, operated and funded by the London boroughs, Transport for London and Heathrow and City airports. Data from these sites is publicly available in real time from the organisations they contract to undertake the monitoring. The two monitoring sites nearby are owned and operated by Hounslow, the data is publicly available here: https://www.airqualityengland.co.uk/site/latest?site_id=HS6 and https://www.airqualityengland.co.uk/site/latest?site_id=HS5.
Manor Road Homebase planning application (1) Question No: 2021/2382 Nicholas Rogers I understand the Manor Road Homebase development is currently being reviewed against the new London Plan. Could you please give an indication of progress on this along with details on what, if any, further consultation will be carried out? Manor Road Homebase planning application (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Following the adoption of the new London Plan, GLA officers have been reviewing implications for the Manor Road application and discussions are ongoing. Given that GLA officers are still considering the implications of changes to policy and circumstances, and are yet to report to me on this, I am unable to confirm at this stage whether or not further consultation will be required.
Manor Road Homebase planning application (2) Question No: 2021/2383 Nicholas Rogers Can you please confirm the process for reviewing the Manor Road Homebase development against the new London Plan, and whether a new public hearing will be held in view of its status as a called-in application? Manor Road Homebase planning application (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 All changes to policy and site circumstances since the Representation Hearing held in October 2020 will need to be reported back to me through an update report from GLA officers. I will give these matters full consideration in due course and consider whether any changes would alter my original decision. As the decision maker, I am unable to provide further comment on the merits of the case at this time. As GLA officers have not yet reported to me on their consideration of implications of changes to policy and circumstances, and their discussions with the applicant and Richmond Council, I am unable to confirm at this stage whether or not a further Representation Hearing will be required.
Osterley Homebase & Tesco planning applications Question No: 2021/2384 Nicholas Rogers What progress has been made on the stage 2 referral report for the Osterley Tesco / Homebase applications? When can we expect a recommendation?
Osterley Homebase & Tesco planning applications The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 GLA and TfL officers have been in ongoing discussions with the applicant and Hounslow Council officers regarding these two applications. Further discussion is expected on the draft Section 106 agreement prior to the Council formally referring both applications to City Hall at Stage 2. There is no specific timescale for the Stage 2 referral at this stage.
Overcrowding in South West London (1) Question No: 2021/2385 Nicholas Rogers How many people live in overcrowded homes in South West London? Overcrowding in South West London (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The most recent local authority level data on overcrowding comes from the 2011 Census, and is published by the Office for National Statistics here. For data on the number of people in overcrowded homes, see table LC2404EWls.
Overcrowding in South West London (2) Question No: 2021/2386 Nicholas Rogers How many children live in overcrowded homes in South West London? Overcrowding in South West London (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The most recent local authority level data on overcrowding comes from the 2011 Census, and is published by the Office for National Statistics here. For data on the number of people in overcrowded homes by age, see table DC3404EW.
Overcrowding in South West London (3) Question No: 2021/2387 Nicholas Rogers How many homes in South West London are overcrowded? Overcrowding in South West London (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
The most recent local authority level data on overcrowding comes from the 2011 Census, and is published by the Office for National Statistics here. For data on overcrowded households, see table QS412EW.
Affordable homes in South West London Question No: 2021/2388 Nicholas Rogers Could you please provide a breakdown of the number of GLA-funded affordable homes completed in South West London since 2016, by borough, number of bedrooms, tenure, and property type (house, flat, etc)? Affordable homes in South West London The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Details of the number of bedrooms on schemes reporting start on site in 2016-17 are not held within the GLA Open Project system. Below are three tables. Table 1 shows the total number of affordable homes completed in South West London from April 2016 to March 2021, by borough, by tenure. Table 2 shows the total number of affordable homes completed between April 2017 and March 21, by borough, by bedroom size and reported within GLA programmes. Table 3 shows the total number of affordable homes completed between April 2017 and March 21, by borough by build type and reported within GLA programmes. To note, the submission of bedroom number and build type data is not mandatory and therefore has only been provided where it is available. Table 1
Tenure breakdown
Affordable Housing Other Social Rent London Completions (Apr- Affordable (and LAR at Other Living Shared Location 16 to Mar-21) Rent benchmarks) Intermediate Rent Ownership
Croydon 1,332 467 209 24 39 593
Kingston upon Thames 283 158 3 13 0 109
Lambeth 1,532 521 169 78 0 764
Merton 457 122 34 1 11 289
Richmond upon Thames 210 137 16 3 0 54
Sutton 440 109 2 12 0 317
Wandsworth 1,159 267 118 10 0 764
Grand Total 5,413 1,781 551 141 50 2,890
Table 2
Bedroom breakdown
Affordable Housing Completions (Apr 17 to Mar- 1 2 3 4 5+ Location 21) Bed/Studio Bed Bed Bed Bed
Croydon 1,147 363 413 248 23 0
Kingston upon Thames 169 61 50 24 5 0
Lambeth 1,325 520 455 144 17 0
Merton 448 129 224 71 9 4
Richmond upon Thames 155 40 94 11 0 0
Sutton 374 129 150 58 12 0
Wandsworth 980 309 498 110 34 0
4,598 1,551 1,884 666 100 4
Table 3
Build type
Affordable Housing Location Completions ( Apr 17 to Mar-21) Bungalow Flat House Maisonette
Croydon 1,147 0 812 202 33
Kingston upon Thames 169 0 127 13 0
Lambeth 1,325 0 1,116 8 12
Merton 448 0 403 34 0
Richmond upon Thames 155 2 128 15 0
Sutton 374 0 292 57 0
Wandsworth 980 1 927 8 15
4,598 3 3,805 337 60
Hammersmith Bridge (1) Question No: 2021/2390 Nicholas Rogers What specific actions have you taken since the last Mayor’s Question Time on 27th May on the issue of reopening Hammersmith Bridge? Answer for Hammersmith Bridge (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Hammersmith Bridge (2) Question No: 2021/2391 Nicholas Rogers Since the last Mayor’s Question Time, what specific conversations have you had (dates and times please) with Cllr Stephen Cowan, leader of the LB of Hammersmith & Fulham, about Hammersmith Bridge? Answer for Hammersmith Bridge (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Hammersmith Bridge (3) Question No: 2021/2392 Nicholas Rogers Please outline what actions you have taken and what conversations you have had with Cllr Stephen Cowan to persuade him to commit to making a reasonable financial contribution to the full repair of Hammersmith Bridge as outlined in the TfL funding deal published on 1st June. Please include dates and times of conversations. Answer for Hammersmith Bridge (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Hammersmith Bridge (4) Question No: 2021/2393 Nicholas Rogers What work is TfL doing to support the possible reopening of Hammersmith Bridge to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic this summer? Answer for Hammersmith Bridge (4) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Hammersmith Bridge (5) Question No: 2021/2394 Nicholas Rogers Could you please give an update on progress of the Hammersmith Bridge ferry and confirm whether it is on track to commence operations by the first week of September as planned? Answer for Hammersmith Bridge (5) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Recording Near Misses Question No: 2021/2395 Nicholas Rogers Does TfL take into account near misses in its road accident data? If so, what is the mechanism by which it does this? If not, why not? Answer for Recording Near Misses The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
A316 Cycle Lane Question No: 2021/2396 Nicholas Rogers Given the recent tragic incident at that location, and other incidents in the past, will the Mayor commit to reviewing the layout and signage of the A316 cycle lane and road in the vicinity of Richmond Rugby Club? A316 Cycle Lane The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) has recently met with representatives of Richmond Rugby Club to discuss the issues surrounding the highway layout and signage of the area, including visibility at the Rugby Club exit, and improvements are being actively investigated. TfL is currently awaiting the outcome of the official police investigation into this incident and will continue to liaise with the Rugby Club and the borough on this matter.
E-Scooter Trial in Richmond Question No: 2021/2397 Nicholas Rogers What processes are in place for monitoring the progress of the e-scooter trial in Richmond? E-Scooter Trial in Richmond The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL), London Councils and the participating London boroughs have taken a co-ordinated approach in London in order to drive up safety standards and create a data-rich understanding of the impact of rental e-scooters on all Londoners. There are various mechanisms in place for this data to be collected across the whole trial area: • Data gathered via the Department for Transport. • London operator feedback on anonymised trip details, utilisation, user and usage details as well as safety and incident statistics. • User and non-user feedback through TfL’s “Have Your Say” website: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/e-scooter-trial. • Further data and insights directly from the participating boroughs, police and key stakeholders such as those with protected characteristics. In addition, the operators will be subject to on-going monitoring from TfL throughout the trial to ensure that their responsibilities are being met.
Impact of Expanded ULEZ on Residents on Lower Wages Question No: 2021/2398 Nicholas Rogers The daily ULEZ charge would impact on residents on lower wages – such as carers and nurses – who cannot afford to replace their vehicles. The Mayor’s policy of expanding the ULEZ would cause these residents financial hardship, what would he suggest they do? Answer for Impact of Expanded ULEZ on Residents on Lower Wages The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Work on Impact of Boundary Charge Question No: 2021/2399 Nicholas Rogers What work has been done to quantify the impact of the boundary charge on local businesses and retail centres such as Kingston? Work on Impact of Boundary Charge The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I stated in my answer to 2021/0109 that Transport for London (TfL) is undertaking a feasibility study into a potential Greater London Boundary Charge for non-Londoners. As part of this, TfL will undertake an initial assessment of the impact of options on traffic, environment, health, equality and the economy, including local businesses and town centres. The full findings of the study are expected later in the year.
Boundary Charge - Consultation with Key Stakeholders Question No: 2021/2400 Nicholas Rogers What consultation regarding the proposed boundary charge has been done with key stakeholders? What further consultation is planned? Boundary Charge - Consultation with Key Stakeholders The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As I set out in responses to 2021/0506 and 2021/0112, I will take a decision on whether to proceed with proposals for a Greater London Boundary Charge once I have considered the feasibility study. This work includes an initial assessment of the potential impacts of such a charge. TfL has been engaging with a range of stakeholders to help identify these impacts. If proposals for such a scheme are developed, they would be subject to the usual statutory procedure including a full public consultation, which would include consultation with stakeholders.
MPS Estates Strategy Question No: 2021/2401 Nicholas Rogers What is the timescale for the review of the MPS Estates Strategy? Answer for MPS Estates Strategy The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
NPAS deployments Question No: 2021/2402 Nicholas Rogers How many times over the last year has NPAS been deployed to South West London? Times, dates and boroughs please. NPAS deployments The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The attached information is the National Police Air Service (NPAS) data on deployment from the South-West Command Unit, which incorporates Kingston, Merton, Wandsworth and Richmond boroughs.
LGBT domestic abuse offences Question No: 2021/2403 Nicholas Rogers For each financial year 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/2019, 2019/20 and 2020/21, how many LGBT domestic abuse offences were recorded by the Met? LGBT domestic abuse offences The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see the requested information below:
Financial Year Total 2015/16 652 2016/17 607 2017/18 679 2018/19 695 2019/20 737 2020/21 793 Grand Total 4,163
This information has been extracted from the Crime Recording Information System using the flag “DI - Domestic Abuse LGBT relationship”.
Uninsured drivers 1 Question No: 2021/2404 Nicholas Rogers For each financial year 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/2019, 2019/20 and 2020/21, how many uninsured drivers were caught in London? Of these, please can you provide a breakdown of the sanctions? Uninsured drivers 1 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please find attached the requested information, supplied by the MPS in response to both MQ 2021/2404 and 2021/2405.
Uninsured drivers 2 Question No: 2021/2405 Nicholas Rogers For each financial year 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/2019, 2019/20 and 2020/21, how many road traffic collisions were there, and how many of these involved: • An uninsured driver • A vehicle fleeing the scene Uninsured drivers 2 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please find attached the requested information, supplied by the MPS in response to both MQ 2021/2404 and 2021/2405.
Uninsured drivers 3 Question No: 2021/2406 Nicholas Rogers What is your office and the Met doing to tackle to the problem of uninsured drivers? Uninsured drivers 3 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) are tackling uninsured drivers as part of their key enforcement strategy as they work with TfL to reduce road deaths across London.
Along with the rest of the MPS, the RTPC undertake regular Operation CUBO days which specifically target uninsured drivers. Between January-May 2021 data shows Operation CUBO were successful in recording 1747 Traffic Offence Reports (TORs), 149 Arrests and 473 Vehicle Seized (RPTC data only). The MPS also participate in Operation Tutelage, which is a national policing initiative working to reduce the levels of uninsured driving on our roads. Advisory letters are sent to the registered keepers of vehicles seen on the road in circumstances where the current insurance status of the vehicle is unclear. The letter encourages the registered keeper to identify if there is a problem with the insurance for the vehicle, and to put things right. As this is a national scheme, uninsured vehicles may be identified in other parts of the country, not just this force area.
Uninsured drivers 4 Question No: 2021/2407 Nicholas Rogers What is the Met doing to work with partner agencies to tackle the issue of uninsured drivers? Uninsured drivers 4 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Further to the answers provided in question 2021/2406, the MPS works collaboratively with other Police Services as part of Operation Tutelage to ensure enforcement is not limited by policing or geographical boundaries. Operation CUBO is run with participation and assistance from the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) who assist with providing focused tasking around the areas where most non-insured cars are registered.
Uninsured drivers 5 Question No: 2021/2408 Nicholas Rogers How is the Met utilising speed enforcement cameras, traffic light cameras and ANPR cameras to tackle to the issue of uninsured drivers? Uninsured drivers 5 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The MPS has an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) database for the top 10 offenders identified through Operation Tutelage. All Traffic Cars are also fitted with an ANPR system which flags vehicles submitted to various ANPR “Hot Lists”.
However, the primary purpose of the digital camera network in London is to detect speeding and red-light offences, and devices are covered by Home Office Type Approval (HOTA). HOTA does not currently extend to detecting no insurance offences and until the driver is confirmed it is not possible to establish their insurance status. There is therefore no automated means to routinely conduct insurance checks on each driver detected by our safety camera network. However, while processing offences if any document offence comes to light, including no insurance, relevant prosecution action is taken.
London Fire Brigade Question No: 2021/2409 Nicholas Rogers Please advise how many incidents in the Surrey Fire Service area were attended by LFB units every year for the last five years? London Fire Brigade The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please find the information in the following table.
Incidents 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 London Fire Brigade into Surrey 124 80 96 161 288 Surrey has the longest border with London at just over 87 kilometres. There are cost recovery arrangements in place between London Fire Brigade (LFB) and all surrounding Fire and Rescue Services (FRS).The decision on whether to call LFB to attend incidents in Surrey is a decision for Surrey FRS and this is based on their mobilising policies. There are cost recovery arrangements in place between London and the surrounding.
London Fire Brigade 2 Question No: 2021/2410 Nicholas Rogers Please advise how many incidents in the LFB area were attended by Surrey Fire Service in the last five years broken down per year? London Fire Brigade 2 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please find the information in the following table.
Incidents 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Surrey Fire and Rescue Service into London 346 376 227 172 95
Surrey has the longest border with London at just over 87 kilometres. There are cost recovery arrangements in place between London Fire Brigade (LFB) and all surrounding Fire and Rescue Services (FRS). LFB changed its over-the-border mobilisation policy in March 2018 and ultimately this has had the effect of requiring fewer mobilisation from Surrey and other FRSs into London.
Seized money Question No: 2021/2412 Shaun Bailey On 29th May, Sky news reported that the Met had seized £5.4 million of ill-gotten gains. The Telegraph reported that they had also seized £47 million in 2020/21. Can this money be used to fund anti-crime initiatives? If so, what initiatives? Seized money The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Home Office Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) provides for a proportion of criminal assets recovered by the Met to be paid back to the Met. Incentive payments should be used to drive up performance on asset recovery and, where appropriate, to fund local crime fighting priorities for the benefit of the community. The Met uses this money to support asset recovery policing and tackle MOPAC policing priorities including violence and gangs. One such initiative allows for individual Met units, for example a gangs team, to bid for funding to support specific policing operations meeting the aforementioned criteria.
FMS Question No: 2021/2413 Shaun Bailey Please provide an update on both the 2020 and 2021 Met Force Management Statements, if there is a publication date for either? FMS The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There was no Force Management Statement (FMS) in 2020 as HMICFRS suspended the requirement at the outset of the pandemic. A FMS is being produced in 2021 and will be published on the Met website in the autumn. You can find previous FMSs here: https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan- police/areas/about-us/about-the-met/met-business-plan/
CT convictions Question No: 2021/2414 Shaun Bailey The Met has seen the conviction rate for Counter-Terrorism offences fall from 83% to 81%, while only a small change, it is in the wrong direction – what are the reasons behind this? Answer for CT convictions The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Unlicensed Music Events (UMEs) policy Question No: 2021/2415 Shaun Bailey Please can you provide a copy of the Met’s new Unlicensed Music Events (UMEs) policy, launched in December 2020? Answer for Unlicensed Music Events (UMEs) policy The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Knife Crime Prevention Orders Question No: 2021/2416 Shaun Bailey What is the latest news on Knife Crime Prevention Orders? Knife Crime Prevention Orders The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 On 17th June this year the government confirmed that the launch of Knife Crime Prevention Orders, which have been delayed by Covid since April 2020, will take place from July 5th. The pilot of these new powers will take place across 14 months in London, after which there will be an evaluation.
Good Work Fund Question No: 2021/2417 Shaun Bailey From what budget is the £32m for the Good Work Fund from?
Good Work Fund The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Through the Good Work Fund, we are making £32m available to deliver education and training to Londoners to develop the skills they need to move into good jobs. The Fund will enable the delivery of provision across two academic years – 2021-22 and 2022‑23. For each academic year, approximately £10m is funded through our Adult Education Budget allocation and approximately £6m is funded through the National Skills Fund allocation.
Good Work Fund Targets Question No: 2021/2418 Shaun Bailey What targets have you set for the Good Work Fund to achieve? Good Work Fund Targets The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Each provider that has received an award through the Good Work Fund will be performance managed based on project targets they set out in their applications against criteria defined by the GLA in the prospectus and supporting documentation. These include learner enrolments and achievements across a broad range of curriculum areas including ESOL, English, Maths and Digital Skills. We expect successful providers to support more than 20,000 Londoners to gain the skills they need to move into good jobs.
London & Partners Transparency Question No: 2021/2419 Shaun Bailey What actions are you taking to make London & Partners more transparent? London & Partners Transparency The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I want the GLA Group and GLA grant-funded organisations to be as transparent as possible. With L&P, it is important to balance the need for transparency with the need for it to operate as an arms-length social enterprise generating commercial income. As you’ll recall, in 2016 I requested an internal review of the funding, governance and effectiveness of London & Partners (L&P). Additional L&P transparency requirements were subsequently agreed including the appointment of observers from my team to L&P’s board, and the publication of L&P’s board meeting minutes on their website.
L&P have since undertaken several further actions including publishing a Transparency Policy in 2019. L&P publishes their corporate strategy, business plans and quarterly reports, as well as their annual reviews and accounts.
London Let’s Do Business Question No: 2021/2420 Shaun Bailey Following on from your response to my question 2021/2102, when will Let’s Do London’s business plan be completed and shared? Answer for London Let’s Do Business The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Good Work Standard Targets Question No: 2021/2421 Shaun Bailey In response to my question 2021/2086, you did not provide a specific target number of employers you hope to sign up to the Good Work Standard over this Mayoral term. Please could you provide this figure or confirm if there is no target? Good Work Standard Targets The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As stated in my answer to 2021/2086, I want as many employers as possible to sign-up to the Good Work Standard. My Economic Fairness team is available to offer tailored one-to- one support to employers of all sizes and sectors through the accreditation process.
I am committed to widening the range of sectors and types of employers accredited and engaged with our community, the number of Londoners in good work, and ensuring that the content and resources provided by the Good Work Standard continues to set the benchmark for best employment practice as we recover from the pandemic.
Careers Advice Targets Question No: 2021/2422 Shaun Bailey What targets have you set for improving careers advice for Londoners throughout this mayoral term? Careers Advice Targets
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Although I have been calling for devolution in this area, careers advice for adult Londoners remains the responsibility of the National Careers Service and targets for that provision are set by the Education and Skills Funding Agency as the contracting authority. However, for young Londoners, my London Enterprise Adviser Network (LEAN) matches experienced business volunteers with school and college careers leaders to work in partnership to improve careers provision. The LEAN is currently working with over 550 secondary schools and colleges in London. From September 2021, we will be extending the offer by establishing four new sub-regional Careers Hubs and making support available to every school, college and special needs school in London. These Hubs will be centres of excellence in careers education where employers and educators will work together to improve the quality and relevance of careers education in our schools and colleges.
Supporting Older Londoners through London’s Economic Recovery Question No: 2021/2423 Shaun Bailey How are you supporting older Londoners through London’s economic recovery and what targets do you have? Supporting Older Londoners through London’s Economic Recovery The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I am committed to working with adult learning providers and career services to improve support for older jobseekers, including re-training and re-skilling. Work is underway to increase the participation of older Londoners in adult education, including training in essential digital skills. Older people are also a priority for the Good Work mission of our recovery programme. To support older Londoners experiencing problems at work, my Employment Rights Hub has been updated with information about discrimination and redundancy, and links to trusted employment advice and support services. Information about employment rights has been shared with key umbrella organisations. To maximise the impact for older Londoners, I will continue to work closely with DWP and London Councils to ensure national DWP programmes such as Restart work for older people. In setting out my Adult Education Road Map I will continue to ensure the learning and employment support needs of older Londoners are listened to and met. Of particular importance is slowing the rate at which people leave the labour market by providing flexible employment and ensuring my Good Work Standard provisions are in line with the National
Strategy “Fuller Working Lives”. This work has already started and in the consultation phase I will work closely with organisations which champion the needs of older Londoners.
Operation Chronical Question No: 2021/2424 Susan Hall Since the start of the Met’s Operation Chronical how many: • Passports or ID documents of foreign national offenders were recorded. •Documents were supplied to Immigration Enforcement that were used to remove high risk foreign nationals. Operation Chronical The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Since the beginning of Operation Chronical, the details of 68 individuals have been recorded, which includes the details of 56 passports and 16 ID cards. No documents have been supplied to Immigration Enforcement. Details of any documents seized are added to police systems at the point of arrest and are accessible by Immigration Enforcement through the Police National Database (PND).
Semiconductors 1 Question No: 2021/2425 Susan Hall What impact has the worldwide shortage of semiconductor chips had on MPS technology procurement and modernisation? Semiconductors 1 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There has so far been no significant impact from supply chain issues relating to semiconductors upon technology procurement and modernisation in the MPS. The MPS digital and commercial teams are in regular contact with suppliers who are not seeing significant issues so far.
Semiconductors 2 Question No: 2021/2426 Susan Hall What impact has the worldwide shortage of semiconductor chips had on TfL technology procurement? Answer for Semiconductors 2 The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Audible alarms Question No: 2021/2427 Susan Hall How many audible alarms have been issued to victims of domestic abuse over the last three years? Audible alarms The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The MPS have been trialling panic alarms for high-risk domestic abuse situations since December 2019; the technology was not in existence prior to this time. A full randomised control trial to ascertain the efficacy of this alarm has been taking place since February 2020. As part of the trial, a first cohort of 300 high-risk victims received an alarm and initial results are positive with better evidential capture leading to more arrests and charges. 500 audio-enabled units have been initially commissioned for a wider MPS launch in September 2021. It is intended to circulate these through at least 1,200 victims in the following 12-month period.
Tasers Question No: 2021/2428 Susan Hall How many police officers are now taser trained? Tasers The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As of June 2021, the MPS has 8,166 Taser trained officers.
Met workforce - disabilities Question No: 2021/2429 Susan Hall What has and is the Met doing to ensure people with disabilities are able to be part of its workforce? Met workforce - disabilities The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is a Disability Confident Employer committed to enabling candidates with disabilities to demonstrate their full potential in all recruitment and selection activities. It has achieved Level 2 Business Disability Confident Employer status. The MPS HR team and MPS Disability Staff Association work closely to continuously improve the support and reasonable adjustments offered to disabled employees. This includes the use of a career development service, the introduction of workplace passports and a central workplace adjustments hub, making it easier to record and implement requirements.
Police officer entry Question No: 2021/2430 Susan Hall Since March 2020, please provide a breakdown of how many officers entered the Met workforce though the following entry means: • Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship; • Degree Holder Entry Programmes; and • Other entry means (excluding transfers from other forces). Police officer entry The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 From March 2020 to May 2021 the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has recruited 3,073 new police constables. Recruitment using the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) and the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) only began in the MPS in January 2021. A breakdown of entry routes following these changes to recruitment are set out in the table below:
Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 May-21 2021 Total PCDA 143 148 88 114 493 DHEP 0 0 60 65 125 DHEP (Detective) 53 54 53 50 210
PSPOs Question No: 2021/2432 Susan Hall Please provide a list of all Public Space Protection Orders currently in place in London? Answer for PSPOs The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Impacts of E-scooters on Londoners with Sight Loss Question No: 2021/2433 Tony Devenish How are you ensuring you fully consider the impacts of the E-scooter trials on the 213,000 Londoners with sight loss? Answer for Impacts of E-scooters on Londoners with Sight Loss The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
E-Scooter Engagement Question No: 2021/2434 Tony Devenish How have you engaged with Guide Dogs, RNIB and London Vision in relation to E-scooter trials in London? Answer for E-Scooter Engagement The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Age-Friendly Action Plan Question No: 2021/2436 Tony Devenish Will you be drafting an age-friendly action plan based on previous work and more recent priorities identified by older Londoners set out in the AgeUK London Manifesto 2021 and Positive Ageing in London’s Our Age-friendly City? Age-Friendly Action Plan The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 In line with my commitment to make London an age-friendly city, my officers worked in collaboration with Age UK London, Positive Ageing in London (PAiL) and members of my Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Group to produce an action plan setting out how the work of the GLA Group can respond to the priorities of older Londoners. That work involved an extensive process of engagement with older Londoners that helped reveal their priority concerns at the point when the pandemic began to take hold. The work on the original action plan has fed directly into the design of the nine recovery missions and the specific projects that will underpin them. These include actions to address the current issues identified by Age UK London and PAiL, including travel, housing, digital inclusion and maintaining physical and mental wellbeing. Age UK London and Positive Ageing in London are members of London Age-friendly Forum. My deputy mayor, Debbie Weekes-Bernard, will be meeting with the Forum in the coming weeks, to discuss how best to progress the age-friendly London programme going forward.
Rerouting the A2 and A6 National Express Services Question No: 2021/2437 Tony Devenish Westminster Council has for some time been seeking to persuade TfL to reroute the A2 and A6 National Express services so that they use Eastbourne Terrace instead of Westbourne Terrace. Will you personally intervene to ensure this change happens as soon as possible? Answer for Rerouting the A2 and A6 National Express Services The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Park Lane Congestion Question No: 2021/2438 Tony Devenish What independent analysis has been done on the cost to London’s economy of increased congestion on Park Lane since May 2020? Answer for Park Lane Congestion The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Training Question No: 2021/2439 Tony Devenish Have you enquired into the facts behind an anonymous Met detective telling The Times (5th June), that officers were not giving appropriate care to sex crime victims because of inadequate training? Training The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 MOPAC Officers are aware of the article and my Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime regularly discusses the importance of an effective response to sexual offences with the MPS, including the provision of training to officers.
London & Partners Added Value Question No: 2021/2440 Tony Devenish Please can you give a detailed breakdown of how London & Partners worked out they have added £2.5 Billion to London’s Economy? London & Partners Added Value The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The additional £2.5 billion that London & Partners (L&P) have added to London’s economy is the extra economic benefit generated as a direct result of their activity since L&P was founded in 2011, compared to what would have taken place without their intervention. L&P’s activities include attracting Foreign Direct Investment to London; running the Mayor’s International Business Programme helping London’s SMEs to increase their international export trade; supporting London-based businesses to grow; attracting international business conferences, corporate events and major sports and cultural events
to the capital; as well as attracting both domestic and international leisure tourists to our city. The economic benefit of L&P’s activities is measured annually as GVA (gross value added) based on an evaluation model that follows best practice guidance from central government. Their GVA results are externally audited every year, and a detailed breakdown of their GVA methodology is available on their website: https://files.londonandpartners.com/l-and-p/assets/evaluation_methodology_2021.pdf
Zero Emission Buses (1) Question No: 2021/2441 Tony Devenish You are running posters in our tubes which read “500 zero emission buses in our fleet*” with the * at the tail pipe. Please provide a full breakdown of which routes these 500 buses are running on and explain why the * caveat is included. Answer for Zero Emission Buses (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Zero Emission Buses (2) Question No: 2021/2442 Tony Devenish To what percentage of the bus network does 500 zero emission buses equate? Answer for Zero Emission Buses (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Zero Emission Buses (3) Question No: 2021/2443 Tony Devenish Have you reflected on the fact the City of Coventry and others have far more ambitious plans than you on zero emission buses? Answer for Zero Emission Buses (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
Officers are drafting a response
Queen’s Gate Traffic Accidents Question No: 2021/2444 Tony Devenish Broken down by month, how many traffic accidents have there been in Queen’s Gate over the last two years both in total and involving supercars? Answer for Queen’s Gate Traffic Accidents The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Annual Bus Usage Question No: 2021/2445 Tony Devenish What was the annual bus usage for every year since 2012? Answer for Annual Bus Usage The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Hyde Park Corner Traffic Accidents Question No: 2021/2446 Tony Devenish Please list all the accidents over the last two years at the crossing on Hyde Park corner at the entrance to Hyde Park, broken down by vehicle type. Answer for Hyde Park Corner Traffic Accidents The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport & public health (1) Question No: 2021/2447 Tony Devenish What steps are taken to ensure that advice regarding the use of public transport always reflects the most up-to-date public health information?
Answer for Transport & public health (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport & public health (2) Question No: 2021/2448 Tony Devenish Can you detail TfL’s mechanisms for communicating this advice to commuters and those using London’s transport networks? Answer for Transport & public health (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
No-platforming Question No: 2021/2449 Tony Devenish The public are against woke students “no-platforming” speakers at universities, found King’s College London. Given last year you said: “I recognise that freedom of speech is absolutely essential to the proper functioning of any democratic society and is a basic right”, will you loudly speak out against this new McCarthyism in London’s universities and elsewhere? No-platforming The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I have always been clear that one of the joys of living in a democracy is freedom of speech. Challenging debate and discussion amongst students at London’s universities should always be encouraged. However, as I outlined in response to Mayor’s Question 2019/20759 which you quote from, there are sensible limits to freedom of speech; to protect against the incitement of violence and from racial or religious hatred. The laws we have in place around this are crucial for protecting the safety and security of Londoners, particularly minority communities, and protecting students from hate speech and intimidation on campus.
NHS Patient Records Question No: 2021/2450 Tony Devenish What representations have or will you make as chair of the London Health Board to the NHS, DH, NHS Digital regarding the privacy and data protection concerns that the NHS is digitising patient records with minimal public consultation in the middle of a health pandemic? Have you considered the impact of this change on London’s recovery plans, do you share Foxglove’s concerns on who has access to these records and have you used any of the GLA’s communications to publicise the 23rd June “opt out” deadline? NHS Patient Records The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I understand that, following representations by the BMA and others, NHS Digital has deferred the start of the collection of GP data for Planning and Research and the opt-out deadline to September 2021 to provide more time to speak with patients, doctors, health charities and others. It is very important that the government proceeds in a way that builds public trust. I recognise that health data can be used to improve services for Londoners and develop new treatments. Indeed London has led the way on talking to the public on how and when their data should be shared by the NHS. The OneLondon Citizens’ Summit, which I supported, brought together 100 Londoners in February and March 2020 to debate and deliberate the complex issues around uses of health and care data. The Summit identified Londoners’ expectations about use of their data, who should have access to it, and for what purpose. The full report can be read here: https://www.onelondon.online/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/Public-deliberation-in-the-use-of-health-and-care-data.pdf
Environmental Impact of Recycling Plants Question No: 2021/2452 Marina Ahmad Are you taking steps to mitigate the possible environmental impact of metal recycling, for example, the proposed move of the Southwark Metals recycling site to Windsor Grove in Lambeth could see over 100 vehicle movements daily, close to two local schools. Environmental Impact of Recycling Plants The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My London Plan is clear that boroughs’ planning decisions should take account of nuisance-generating uses sensitively, along with air quality and other environmental impacts. Where applications are referable to the Mayor, my officers assess compliance with the London Plan, making recommendations to the local authority that these requirements are met and are a condition of planning permission. The application to locate the waste site
at Windsor Grove is not referable and will therefore be determined by the local authority, taking account of any concerns highlighted by interested parties during the consultation. It is the responsibility of the local authority and Environment Agency to address any concerns about the operations of a particular site and the impact on the local area once operational. Local authorities have powers to enforce conditions of the planning permission and the Environment Agency has powers to enforce environmental regulations set out in the site’s Environmental Permit.
Coronavirus Recovery Visa Question No: 2021/2453 Marina Ahmad You have shown support for a “Coronavirus Recovery Visa” to help workers from outside the UK to come back and work. How crucial is this to getting London’s economy back on its feet? Coronavirus Recovery Visa The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Many hospitality, social care and construction businesses say they are struggling to recruit staff for key roles, in part because of EU workers returning to their country of origin during the pandemic. I have backed calls for a Covid Recovery Visa to help bring foreign workers back quickly after lockdown and support the economic recovery. I continue to urge Ministers to review changes to visa rules that came into force for EU nationals on 1 January 2021. I am also lobbying for cities such as London to have devolved powers in relation to visas to allow businesses and public services to fill vacancies where they have acute shortages. It’s crucial to London’s recovery that we do everything we can to help hard-hit sectors to recruit the staff they need; and my skills academy programme will also support this.
Pride Question No: 2021/2454 Marina Ahmad You have always been a great ally to the LGBT community. This Pride month how do you plan to strengthen that relationship even further? Pride The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I will continue to provide support to Pride, and use my influence to strengthen Pride’s links with those groups and communities whose actions gave birth to it.
My work dedicated to protecting London’s treasured LGBTQ+ places and spaces will continue. I am proud of the £2.3m Covid Emergency Fund I established to help at-risk cultural venues, including 11 LGBTQ+ venues. I will also support plans for a new LGBTQ+ community centre for London. I have established a Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm to increase the presence of under-represented groups including LGBTQ+ Londoners. Both the Commission and its Partners Board have appointed LGBTQ+ representatives. All of these actions are an important part of strengthening my ongoing support for Pride. As part of this, I fully recognise that Trans rights are human rights and I’ll proudly stand up against any abuse directed against Trans people and the wider LGBTQ+ community.
Tulse Hill Gyratory Question No: 2021/2455 Marina Ahmad Can you provide an update on progress into improvements around the Tulse Hill Gyratory, which seemed to have stalled due to Covid-19? Answer for Tulse Hill Gyratory The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
National Recovery Question No: 2021/2456 Marina Ahmad Have your visits to Yorkshire and Liverpool shown how crucial London’s economic recovery is to the rest of the country? National Recovery The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I am determined to do all I can, including working closely with the Government, to help support the UKs recovery and to get London’s economy firing again. The whole of the UK’s local economies, cities and regions simply don’t exist in isolation and we are bound together by supply chains and a complex web of social and commercial ties. There is no doubt that when London succeeds, whole country benefits, whether that’s due to the capital’s attractiveness as a place in which to invest or to visit, which has huge implications for business and the supply chain, or to the ground-breaking innovations and technological developments that help to transform the UKs economy and society.
London is willing and open to share our success and to play our part in helping to deliver levelling up to places all across the UK.
British Transport Police CCTV storage Question No: 2021/2457 Marina Ahmad For what period of time does British Transport Police retain CCTV images recorded at London’s transport hubs? Answer for British Transport Police CCTV storage The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Police Community Support Officer and Police Specials progression Question No: 2021/2458 Marina Ahmad Please advise how many Police Community Support Officers, and Police Special Constables, have been through the Met’s online assessment centre in each of the past 3 years. If possible, please also advise the proportion of these candidates who passed and failed on each of the following: situational judgement test; competency based interview; written assessment and briefing exercise. Please also provide the demographic breakdown of these applicants. Police Community Support Officer and Police Specials progression The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The table attached shows the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and Special Constables who have completed the Police Officer ‘Day 1’ assessments in each of the last three years.
The table also shows the number who have passed and those of Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) heritage and female candidates who undertook the assessments. A breakdown into each individual exercise is not available.
Police Community Support Officer and Police Specials progression (2) Question No: 2021/2459 Marina Ahmad How many Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) originally applied to become Police Constables before becoming PCSOs? Please provide the ethnic breakdown of these PCSOs if possible. Police Community Support Officer and Police Specials progression (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is unable to provide this data for all current Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) due to the long length of time some of them have served. However, in the last three years the MPS has recruited 309 PCSOs, of whom 209 had previously applied to the MPS to be a police officer.
Ask for ANI referrals Question No: 2021/2460 Marina Ahmad How many offences have been reported to the Police by staff at pharmacies in London participating in the “Ask for ANI” codeword scheme? Ask for ANI referrals The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Home Office, which monitors the use of the scheme, has reported that pharmacies in London have used the scheme five times since its inception, of which one instance was reported to the police. The MPS conduct a daily search for references to the scheme and are fully engaged with the Home Office on its delivery.
London’s food supply Question No: 2021/2461 Marina Ahmad There are concerns that the ending of the grace period for full customs checks in October may disrupt London’s food supply. How can you work with the Government to avoid a repeat of the issues London saw at the start of the pandemic when the capital’s food supply was disrupted? London’s food supply The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
There is a risk that full customs checks impact the price of food and/or availability in supermarkets and grocers. The British Retail Consortium has warned that UK customers may face higher food bills due to the additional red tape on imports from the EU, combined with rising global food prices and shipping costs. The Road Haulage Association has warned of a shortage of truck drivers, in part because of EU workers returning to their country of origin during the pandemic. These combined issues have the potential to cause disruption. My officers will monitor these issues with stakeholders on the London Food Board and raise concerns with Government if food prices or potential for other supply chain disruption looks likely to impact vulnerable Londoners or worsen existing food insecurity.
Business rates review Question No: 2021/2462 Marina Ahmad What representations have you made to the Government for the Business Rates Review which is due this autumn? Business rates review The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Government committed to conduct a fundamental review of business rates in its 2019 election manifesto. In July 2020 it published a call for evidence which sought views on how the business rates system currently works and sought views on alternative taxes such as an online sales taxes and a capital value land tax. The intention of the review is to reduce the overall burden of business rates – which would potentially mean a reduction in funding for local services unless the lost revenues were replaced by an alternative revenue stream. The GLA and London Councils submitted a joint interim and final submission to the call for evidence in autumn 2020. This called for greater local control over the tax and continued to make the case for business rates to be devolved to London local government and the regions and counties of England, as is already the case in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In its various guises business rates was of course always a locally set and locally controlled tax from the introduction of property taxes on commercial premises in 1601 until 1989 when it was nationalised in England. The Government published its interim findings at the end of March 2021 but its final recommendations are not expected to be published until the autumn, potentially alongside the Spending review. This delay was to allow the Government to consider the impact of the pandemic and also for discussions with the G7 and other partners about the viability of introducing an online sales tax on an international basis to avoid companies relocating jurisdictions as a tax avoidance measure.
Business rates holiday Question No: 2021/2463 Marina Ahmad What impact will the business rates holiday coming to an end on the 30th June 2021 have on retail and hospitality sectors? Business rates holiday The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Since the start of the pandemic the Government has provided funding to allow local authorities to offer 100% business rates relief to ratepayers in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors. Up to 30 June 2021 London ratepayers will have benefitted from rates relief of just under £4 billion from this scheme. As announced by the Chancellor in the budget in early March, from 1 July this relief is being reduced to 66%. This includes those business sectors which remain forcibly closed until at least 19 July due to lockdown restrictions. In addition, there will be a £2 million cap on rates relief per business across the whole of England – so for many large operators in the non-essential retail, leisure, culture and hospitality sectors their total effective rates relief will drop, in effect, to below 5%. This national cap is only £105,000 for essential retailers (including pharmacies). While I welcome the support provided to date, the Government must continue 100% relief for leisure and hospitality businesses beyond 1 July until restrictions are ended and also consider removing the £2m cap for high street retailers so they can receive the full benefit of the 66% discount for at least a further 3 months. This is absolutely critical for the recovery of the West End in particular given the ongoing downturn in footfall – and I endorse Nickie Aiken MP’s remarks in the Commons on 22 June about the disastrous impact of the £2m cap. It should be noted, however, that rates relief has only been made available to retail, leisure and hospitality sector businesses which are considered ‘generally accessible to visiting members of the public’, meaning many operators in the leisure and hospitality supply chain including food manufacturers, caterers, commercial laundries, events management companies and across the culture sector (e.g. film production companies) have still had to pay 100% of their rates bill since March 2020. Firms in the health sector have not qualified for any rates relief. On 25 March the Government announced an extra £1.5 billion local discretionary relief fund to businesses not in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors who had not benefitted from the pandemic relief scheme, for example, those in the supply chain to the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors which do not operate from public facing premises. But three months on this fund has not been allocated to local authorities by the Government. This delay is unacceptable as these firms need this relief now and many may struggle to survive through the summer if the distribution of this support is delayed until the autumn as we understand is the current intention.
UEFA EURO 2020 (1) Question No: 2021/2464 Marina Ahmad How will hosting the UEFA EURO 2020 support London’s economy? Answer for UEFA EURO 2020 (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
UEFA EURO 2020 (2) Question No: 2021/2465 Marina Ahmad How are you ensuring that the UEFA EURO 2020 is accessible for all Londoners? Answer for UEFA EURO 2020 (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Electric vehicles Question No: 2021/2466 Marina Ahmad What work has been carried out by TfL to assess the safety aspects of the quietness of electric vehicles? How can we ensure that Londoners, especially those with hearing impairments, remain safe when crossing the road? Answer for Electric vehicles The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Early Years business support Question No: 2021/2467 Marina Ahmad How many of London’s under pressure nurseries and childminders do you hope to support with your £150,000 in a new programme to provide business support and to create a sector-specific one-stop-shop on the London Business Hub? Early Years business support
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I have now launched my Strong Early Years London programme, in which I have invested £150,000 to provide vital business support to Private, Voluntary and Independent early years providers across the capital. ‘Strong Early Years London’ will be led by the Early Years Alliance. By the end of March 2022, it aims to support 2,500 providers (including childminders) through its universal support offer - this includes access to a sector-specific business support page hosted on the London Business Hub and a series of webinars, workshops and local surgeries. Of the 2,500 supported through the universal offer we expect that 700 providers identified as eligible for more intensive support will access a personal, telephone-based triage service, helping them to identify the help they most need. 200 of these eligible providers will go on to access the programme’s most intensive, bespoke business support offer.
Coronavirus Recovery Visa Question No: 2021/2468 Marina Ahmad What support from the Government have you and London’s hospitality industry had for your call for a coronavirus recovery visa? Coronavirus Recovery Visa The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Government rejected this proposal, despite support from the hospitality and other sectors. That may prove short-sighted, as it remains to be seen whether foreign workers who returned to their country of origin during the pandemic will return, whilst hospitality, social care and construction businesses say they are struggling to recruit staff for key roles. I will therefore continue to urge Ministers to review changes to visa rules that came into force for EU nationals on 1 January 2021. I am also lobbying for London to have devolved powers in relation to visas to allow businesses and public services to fill vacancies where they have acute shortages. The Government must play its role to ensure London is empowered to facilitate a strong recovery.
Sector Skills Academies Question No: 2021/2469 Marina Ahmad When do you expect to be able to open your new sector skills academies in London? Sector Skills Academies The Mayor
Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Based on the Mayor’s Construction Academy model, the Sector Skills Academies programme will deliver: an accredited Quality Mark in recognition of employer-focussed training provision; coordination resource to support local hub partnerships; a wider marketing campaign to promote careers opportunities to Londoners; and embedded support to underrepresented groups. The first component of the Academies programme to launch will be the revenue-funded hub partnerships. These will bring together training providers, employers and other organisations to deliver increased collaboration of skills training and employment opportunities within priority sectors and to support Londoners most impacted by the pandemic to access employment opportunities. The Academies hub prospectus is due to launch this summer for partnerships to apply for coordination funding. It is anticipated that hub delivery will commence from January 2022 onwards.
Let’s Do London Question No: 2021/2470 Marina Ahmad Can you provide an update on the impact of your campaign “Let’s Do London” has had so far for London’s businesses? Answer for Let’s Do London The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
EU Settlement Scheme Question No: 2021/2471 Marina Ahmad Do you know how many Londoners who are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme as of 1 July 2021, have not applied? EU Settlement Scheme The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There are no reliable official population estimates by nationality, and the number of applications to the EUSS in London is already higher than the available ONS figures on the city’s EU population. Therefore, we cannot estimate the numbers who are yet to apply, but we do know that of those who have applied there are over 100,000 outstanding applications to the scheme from London applicants alone.
We know there are still people left to apply based on qualitative evidence from our civil society stakeholders and local authorities. Given the lack of robust data, I am concerned that an over-reliance on existing data sources could lead to a relaxation of efforts to help people apply. This would be especially detrimental to European Londoners yet to apply, including those with the most complex needs, such as older people, those sleeping rough, people with limited English and children. Please see this report from the Migration Observatory, for more details on understanding EUSS data: https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/wp- content/uploads/2020/06/Report_Not-Settled-Yet-Understanding-the-EU-Settlement- Scheme-using-the-Available-Data.pdf
TfL Funding Deal and London’s economy Question No: 2021/2472 Marina Ahmad What impact will the TfL funding deal have on London’s economy and London’s businesses? Answer for TfL Funding Deal and London’s economy The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
London Eats Question No: 2021/2473 Marina Ahmad What impact has your London Eats campaign had on London’s hospitality businesses so far? Answer for London Eats The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Work from home Question No: 2021/2474 Marina Ahmad It is right that Londoners continue to work from home where they can as per the Government guidance. Have you assessed the impact of working from home on London’s economy and how can you ensure that flexible working supports businesses that rely on office workers in the centre of London?
Work from home The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Government guidance continues to require that people who can work from home continue to do so to help suppress the virus and save lives. However, the vaccine rollout must be accelerated so that London’s workplaces can fully re-open. Last year I commissioned research on the economic impact of the pandemic on London’s Central Activities Zone (CAZ). According to the findings of Arup, Gerald Eve and the London School of Economics, there has been a £1.9bn loss in expenditure from commuters to the CAZ (£1.4bn of this expenditure is from commuters from London and £0.5bn is from commuters outside of London). The longer-term impact of a change to ‘hybrid’ working from home and office remains to be seen. The pandemic has clearly changed the pattern of work in this country, but lots of central London’s brilliant businesses depend on footfall that comes from office workers – whether our dry cleaners, cafes, shops or bars. There are also significant benefits to workers meeting in the office, such as creative collaboration, mentoring and team building. Many employers, including the GLA, are exploring a hybrid model of working whereby most staff split their time between remote and office working, and I recognise there are benefits to people’s work-life balance of not being in the office every day Monday to Friday. But as we emerge from lockdown, seeing more people safely return to offices and workplaces will be an important part of our economic recovery.
Transport for London Settlement (1) Question No: 2021/2476 Elly Baker The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says, “HMG also remains supportive of TfL growing its commercial development income, particularly where legislative changes may be needed”. Are you able to provide details on how TfL will grow its commercial income and the legislative changes that may result? Transport for London Settlement (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) is looking across its entire estate for opportunities to grow its commercial income for reinvestment in the capital’s transport network. TfL’s housing programme is a key opportunity. TfL has identified more than 50 sites for potential redevelopment, gained planning permission for some 6,000 homes, and started construction sites that will deliver around 1,500 homes.
To realise the full potential of its assets, TfL has been assessing new funding and corporate structuring options. TfL recently updated members of its Finance Committee on its progress in this area, and the paper can be viewed online here.
Transport for London Settlement (2) Question No: 2021/2477 Elly Baker The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says, “Development of an implementation plan for accelerating TfL’s existing modernisation programme which would see the full £730m of recurring savings delivered by April 2023 as part of a declining cost base”. Please provide details of the current modernisation programme. Answer for Transport for London Settlement (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (3) Question No: 2021/2478 Elly Baker The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says, “As recommended in the Mayor’s Independent Review, TfL will carry out a review of their pension scheme and reform options with the explicit aim of moving TfL’s Pension Fund into a financially sustainable position”. The Independent Review recommends “that a commission be established to undertake this review”. What plans, if any, do you have to set up an independent Commission to undertake this work? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (4) Question No: 2021/2479 Elly Baker The Independent Review recommends “A government guarantee on these [pension] liabilities would reduce TfL’s contributions to the scheme and save the public sector money, noting that this might require legislation”. What discussions, if any, have you had with the Government on them guaranteeing these liabilities? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (4)
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (5) Question No: 2021/2480 Elly Baker The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says you will set up a “joint review of demand to inform future service level requirements and potential changes from 2022/23 onwards”. TfL have already done a lot of work on passenger demand in the post-pandemic period. Can you update me on the latest thinking from TfL on future passenger demand and the required service levels? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (5) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (6) Question No: 2021/2481 Elly Baker The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says, “Preparation of a revised medium- term capital investment programme as appropriate to TfL’s financially constrained position and future demand scenarios post-Covid 19”. What feedback, if any, have you had from TfL’s 30 September 2020 Spending Review Prospectus? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (6) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (7) Question No: 2021/2482 Elly Baker The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says TfL will look at providing, “quantification of anticipated carbon reductions from future capital spend”. Are you able to outline the current process TfL follows to reduce the carbon impact on their capital spending? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (7)
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (8) Question No: 2021/2483 Elly Baker When will you be setting out your position to the recommendations of the independent review, that was published in December 2020? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (8) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (9) Question No: 2021/2484 Elly Baker At the 9 September 2020 Homes for Londoners Board, Andy Byford (TfL Commissioner) said that a safe stop on construction during the lockdown and delays to planning processes in some areas meant that TfL would no longer be able to meet its target of starting on sites that would deliver 10,000 homes by March 2021. How quickly TfL may be able to take forward this commitment would be dependent on securing a sustainable funding package from Government. The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says the plan for housing delivery should “include a clear milestone for housing to be delivered by the end of 2024”. Can you confirm whether the 10,000 starts will now be delivered by 31 December 2024? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (9) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (10) Question No: 2021/2485 Elly Baker The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says “DfT will lead a joint programme with TfL on the implementation of Driverless Trains on the London Underground”, but in July 2020 you said, “There are no Tube lines that would be able to operate without drivers without any signalling upgrades, new infrastructure or new trains. The London
Underground system is an extremely complex environment, particularly the deep Tube lines. For reasons of safety, they are not suitable for driverless trains and there are no plans for their introduction, as I have previously set out.” Have the discussions with Government allayed your safety fears? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (10) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (11) Question No: 2021/2486 Elly Baker In October 2020 an internal TfL document was leaked, which claimed that “Introducing driverless trains across London Underground would cost £7bn and represent”poor value for money"”. Was that document provided to the DfT and what was their response? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (11) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (12) Question No: 2021/2487 Elly Baker The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says, “TfL will be expected to take steps now to ensure they are not locking in future costs and are in a position to reduce service levels efficiently if and when required”. Why do you think the Government is expecting TfL to be in a position to reduce service levels, as opposed to increase service levels? Transport for London Settlement (12) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I would not want to speculate why the Government expects Transport for London (TfL) to be in a position to reduce service levels, as opposed to increase service levels. TfL and I have made it clear to the Government that we must seek to avoid significant service reductions as they could hamper the economic recovery and have wider very negative impacts for the city, and are not cost effective. We are making this case strongly to the Government.
Transport for London Settlement (13) Question No: 2021/2488 Elly Baker The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says “TfL will commit to set aside at least £100m within the 2021 Funding Period to continue the delivery of healthy streets and active travel programmes including funding for the London Boroughs under the local implementation plan process. Within this funding, TfL will continue to prioritise the urgent delivery and operation of a temporary walking and cycle ferry as a replacement crossing for local communities affected by the closure of Hammersmith Bridge.” How much of the £100m in funding will be devoted to the Hammersmith Ferry? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (13) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (14) Question No: 2021/2489 Elly Baker Can you confirm that the 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement required you to implement an above inflation fares increase in January 2022? And what plans do you have to ensure the fares burden does not fall on those least able to afford it? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (14) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (15) Question No: 2021/2490 Elly Baker The 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement Letter says, “TfL will also take all reasonable steps to avoid industrial action during the funding period”. Can you outline what steps you have taken since becoming Mayor and how your record on industrial action compares to your predecessor? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (15) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (16) Question No: 2021/2491 Elly Baker Can you confirm that the 1 June 2021 TfL Funding Settlement required you to freeze the pay of front-line transport workers? What would be the cost to TfL of raising their pay by inflation in 2021/22? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (16) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (17) Question No: 2021/2492 Elly Baker What plans, if any, do you have to amend existing plans to extend the ULEZ boundary from 25 October 2021? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (17) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (18) Question No: 2021/2493 Elly Baker What is the expected cost in 2021/22 for travel concessions and/or other benefits above those typically available elsewhere in England (such as free travel for all Londoners aged under 18 and 60-65, excluding statutory entitlements including under the Education Act 1996)? Answer for Transport for London Settlement (18) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London Settlement (19) Question No: 2021/2494 Elly Baker What requests, if any, has the Government made for TfL to maintain useable cash reserves of less than £1.2bn? Transport for London Settlement (19) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Each of the emergency funding agreements with the Government have recognised the need for Transport for London (TfL) to maintain useable cash reserves of £1.2bn. £1.2bn equates to 60 days of forecast annual operating costs, not including the cost of financing and renewals. Preserving this level of liquidity is important to give TfL’s external stakeholders and its lenders and credit agencies confidence in its ability to live within its means and generate enough cash flow to service existing debt and cover the cost of day to day operations.
Companion Travel Pass Question No: 2021/2495 Elly Baker Please provide an update on work to introduce a companion travel pass in London. Answer for Companion Travel Pass The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Wheelchairs on Buses Question No: 2021/2496 Elly Baker The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 say, “A regulated public service vehicle shall be fitted with not less than one wheelchair space. What plans, if any, do you have to require London buses to be fitted with “not less than two wheelchair spaces”? Wheelchairs on Buses The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 All buses used on London’s bus network accord with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 specifications by having one wheelchair space. Where possible, Transport for London (TfL) aims to make the wheelchair space as big as possible
on London buses by reconfiguring the staircase and ensuring there is no loss of accessible seats. On many newer buses there is room for one wheelchair and at least two medium-size buggies. However, if TfL was to have a second wheelchair bay that meets PSVAR specifications, it would be at the loss of seats and the same specifications state at least four priority seats must be provided to meet the needs of the many other disabled customers who use buses and need to sit down on their journeys. TfL is trying to strike the right balance between providing more room in wheelchair spaces while offering as many seats as possible in the lower deck. Priority seats with more leg room remain very important to customers, especially older people, pregnant women and those recuperating who might otherwise be excluded from travelling.
West Hampstead Tube Station Step-Free access Question No: 2021/2498 Anne Clarke What is the latest on plans to deliver step-free access at West Hampstead’s Jubilee Line Station? Can any proceeds from nearby developments be earmarked for this work? West Hampstead Tube Station Step-Free access The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 A feasibility study for making West Hampstead station step-free was completed in November 2019 and detailed several options to make the station step-free. However, there is currently no funding available within Transport for London’s (TfL) business plan to make West Hampstead step-free. Any progression of the step-free access project at West Hampstead would depend on a significant third-party contribution. I understand that you have been in contact with TfL directly about this matter and that officers have offered you a meeting to discuss the options and potential sources of third- party funding.
School Party Travel Scheme Question No: 2021/2499 Anne Clarke Will you ensure that your negotiations with the Government over TfL funding includes a request to fund school party travel schemes? Many schools cannot afford coaches, or coaches are unviable for short range trips conducted by local schools. In order to make sure London builds back better for our children, this scheme needs to be reintroduced. School Party Travel Scheme The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
Reflecting its commitment to the health and safety of staff and customers, Transport for London (TfL) decided to suspend its school party travel scheme during the pandemic. By doing so, it has ensured that there is adequate space for all customers, making social distancing as easy as possible and limiting the number of large groups travelling on the network together and in proximity to other customers and frontline staff. This was always a temporary suspension and TfL has been working to reopen the scheme to coincide with the final stage of lifting of the Government’s Covid-19 restrictions. With restrictions remaining in place until at least 19 July, it means the school party travel scheme won’t re-open this academic year. It is expected to re-open in time for the new academic year in September. This will of course be dependent upon the legislation and Government guidelines in place at the time.
Congestion Charge Resident Discount Schemes Question No: 2021/2500 Anne Clarke When do you believe it is likely that resident discount schemes in the congestion zone will be re-introduced? Answer for Congestion Charge Resident Discount Schemes The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
More support for tackling crime in Camden Town Question No: 2021/2501 Anne Clarke Camden Town used to benefit from the MOPAC offer to match fund policing when that scheme was around, helping to reduce crime levels in the area and support the excellent work of the Market. However since the removal of the scheme, there have been concerns from traders about the ability to deal with criminal activity, despite visible patrols by the police. How can we ensure that as London recovers from the pandemic, Camden Town can remain safe for all visitors, and are you considering bringing back the MOPAC match funding scheme? More support for tackling crime in Camden Town The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Since 2019, the ‘Partnership Plus’ scheme has provided an opportunity for local authorities to fund additional local officers at a reduced cost. Under this scheme the London borough of Camden has an agreement in place until 31 March 2022 for the provision of one officer
for Street Population activity. If the borough wishes to explore further partnership agreements these should be raised directly with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). Furthermore, as I have set out in my manifesto, I am committed to increasing visible neighbourhood policing – bobbies on the beat – in high crime areas and town centres across London. The Partnership Plus scheme supports the flexibility needed by the Commissioner to manage her resources and as such there are no plans to bring back the ‘Met Patrol Plus’ scheme.
Camden High Line Question No: 2021/2502 Anne Clarke You have expressed strong support for the Camden High Line project, which would be an excellent and innovative project. What are you doing to ensure this plan goes ahead? Answer for Camden High Line The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
GLA Freehold and the Building Safety Scandal (1) Question No: 2021/2503 Anne Clarke Where the GLA is freeholder of a property where building safety defects are identified as being in need of remediation, what support does the GLA offer to leaseholders? GLA Freehold and the Building Safety Scandal (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see my response to MQ 2021/2504.
GLA Freehold and the Building Safety Scandal (2) Question No: 2021/2504 Anne Clarke How does the GLA work with developers and Building Managers to ensure that remediation plans for GLA Freehold sites happens quickly, efficiently and transparently? GLA Freehold and the Building Safety Scandal (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
On the sites in question GLA Land and Property (GLAP) has leased its land to long- leaseholders. The legal responsibility for health and safety and any remedial works therefore sits wholly with the long-leaseholder. GLAP as the freeholder has limited powers to intervene. Nevertheless, my team has written to all long-leaseholders requesting information on external wall systems and, where necessary, progress with remediation work. As far as possible, my team is in regular contact with long-leaseholders and managers of buildings on GLAP land about safety. Where unsafe external walls have been identified my team has encouraged the long-leaseholder to progress with these works at pace and ensure that both residents and the GLA are kept informed of progress.
GLA Freehold and the Building Safety Scandal (3) Question No: 2021/2505 Anne Clarke How many buildings where the GLA is freeholder have been remediated of dangerous cladding or other building safety defects since 2017? Please provide a borough by borough breakdown. GLA Freehold and the Building Safety Scandal (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The GLA is aware that work to remediate unsafe cladding has commenced on four sites with buildings over 18 metres where GLA Land and Property (GLAP) is the freeholder. A further three sites have remediation works planned, and one site has completed remediation. The GLA does not provide borough by borough breakdowns of unsafe buildings in order to ensure that these buildings cannot be identified and protect resident safety. The legal responsibility for remediation of these sites sits with the long-leaseholder. GLAP is in regular contact with long-leaseholders regarding building safety issues and continues to encourage them to move at pace to progress works, however it should be noted that they are not legally required to provide updates to GLAP.
Grenfell Tower Inquiry Question No: 2021/2506 Anne Clarke In response to question 2021/1135 you incorrectly stated that the answer was to be found in your reply to question 2020/1134. Please provide a response to the question: ‘Does there need to be a review into all decisions made by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) into which materials are safe or not given the scandal over approval of flammable insulation? Do you have faith in the approvals granted by the BRE, and if not do you believe it is time to re-establish a public regulator?’
Grenfell Tower Inquiry The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Evidence heard at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry has brought into question the robustness of testing and governance measures in place at the Building Research Establishment (BRE). Grenfell has shown the pressing need for wholesale change across the entire industry. I await the Inquiry findings and recommendations on this point, but I believe all options should remain on the table, including steps by Government to ensure BRE has a clearer public interest role in enhancing building safety. I have long called for the need for a more effective specification and testing regime for construction products with complete transparency allowing test results to be readily accessible by the public. I also welcome the announcement of a new national construction products regulator that was established in January this year, as an additional layer of scrutiny to protect the public.
Cladding Question time for London Question No: 2021/2507 Anne Clarke How are you working with End Our Cladding Scandal and the UK Cladding Action Group to organise a Cladding Question Time in London, following your support for such a meeting to happen? Cladding Question time for London The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My Deputy Mayor and officers regularly liaise with leaseholder campaign groups and I am a vocal supporter of the End Our Cladding Scandal Campaign. I have been lobbying government for leaseholders to be protected from the costs of keeping their buildings safe. As I have previously said, I would be supportive of groups holding a Cladding Question Time for London but I am not aware that any event is currently being planned.
LFB Community Engagement (1) Question No: 2021/2508 Anne Clarke How are you and the Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience supporting the LFB to strengthen its relations with London’s diverse communities? Answer for LFB Community Engagement (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
Officers are drafting a response
LFB Community Engagement (2) Question No: 2021/2509 Anne Clarke What measures will you be putting in place during this mayoral term to ensure the work of the LFB is more transparent and able to give London’s communities more confidence in the Brigade? Answer for LFB Community Engagement (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
LFB and Diversity (1) Question No: 2021/2510 Anne Clarke Please provide a breakdown of LFB operational staff by age (Under 25; 26-30; 31-40; 41- 50, 51-60; 61+) and borough. LFB and Diversity (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please find the information in the table below, which covers all operational staff as at 31 May 2021.
25 and Borough under 26-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61+ Barking and Dagenham 8.85% 7.08% 26.55% 41.59% 15.93% 0.00% Borough Barnet Borough 1.32% 11.18% 36.18% 36.84% 14.47% 0.00% Bexley Borough 6.72% 6.72% 29.10% 42.54% 14.93% 0.00% Brent Borough 4.86% 11.81% 38.89% 35.42% 9.03% 0.00% Bromley Borough 2.53% 5.70% 34.18% 39.24% 18.35% 0.00% Camden Borough 2.01% 13.42% 36.24% 32.89% 14.77% 0.67% City of London 9.68% 12.90% 61.29% 9.68% 6.45% 0.00% Croydon Borough 4.27% 8.55% 36.32% 37.18% 13.25% 0.43% Ealing Borough 4.58% 13.07% 31.37% 39.87% 11.11% 0.00% Enfield Borough 3.27% 9.15% 28.10% 47.06% 11.76% 0.65%
Greenwich Borough 4.43% 10.84% 34.98% 38.42% 10.84% 0.49% Hackney Borough 5.60% 12.00% 40.00% 31.20% 9.60% 1.60% Hammersmith & Fulham 6.49% 3.90% 38.96% 40.26% 10.39% 0.00% Borough Haringey Borough 2.70% 10.81% 33.33% 39.64% 13.51% 0.00% Harrow Borough 5.95% 16.67% 30.95% 35.71% 9.52% 1.19% Havering Borough 1.72% 7.76% 18.97% 46.55% 24.14% 0.86% Hillingdon Borough 3.70% 14.07% 36.30% 34.07% 11.85% 0.00% Hounslow Borough 1.97% 9.87% 32.24% 46.05% 9.87% 0.00% Islington Borough 2.30% 10.34% 33.33% 37.93% 16.09% 0.00% Kensington & Chelsea 3.03% 15.15% 40.91% 29.55% 11.36% 0.00% Borough Kingston Borough 2.91% 11.65% 34.95% 39.81% 10.68% 0.00% Lambeth Borough 2.79% 11.16% 33.95% 37.67% 14.42% 0.00% Lewisham Borough 2.58% 9.68% 43.23% 31.61% 12.90% 0.00% Merton Borough 2.88% 7.69% 33.65% 43.27% 12.50% 0.00% Newham Borough 3.82% 12.21% 32.82% 28.24% 22.14% 0.76% Redbridge Borough 5.50% 11.93% 28.44% 33.94% 19.27% 0.92% Richmond Borough 3.16% 5.26% 38.95% 37.89% 14.74% 0.00% Southwark Borough 3.77% 15.09% 43.40% 31.13% 6.60% 0.00% Sutton Borough 1.16% 13.95% 27.91% 38.37% 18.60% 0.00% Tower Hamlets Borough 6.06% 13.94% 35.76% 32.73% 11.52% 0.00% Waltham Forest Borough 5.63% 16.90% 32.39% 31.69% 13.38% 0.00% Wandsworth Borough 2.10% 15.38% 37.06% 35.66% 9.79% 0.00% Westminster Borough 4.23% 9.86% 42.96% 31.69% 10.56% 0.70% All Non-Borough 2.54% 2.54% 21.71% 44.34% 27.94% 0.92% Uniformed Operational Staff Total Uniformed 3.73% 10.29% 33.63% 37.47% 14.56% 0.31% Operational Staff
LFB and Diversity (2) Question No: 2021/2511 Anne Clarke Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of LFB operational staff by sexual orientation and borough in which they work. LFB and Diversity (2)
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see the information in the table below, which covers all operational staff as at 31 May 2021.
Not Prefer not Borough LGB Heterosexual Provided to Say Barking and Dagenham 2.65% 64.60% 32.74% 0.00% Borough Barnet Borough 3.29% 73.68% 23.03% 0.00% Bexley Borough 7.46% 60.45% 32.09% 0.00% Brent Borough 6.25% 69.44% 24.31% 0.00% Bromley Borough 4.43% 64.56% 31.01% 0.00% Camden Borough 5.37% 73.15% 21.48% 0.00% City of London 9.68% 80.65% 9.68% 0.00% Croydon Borough 9.83% 64.53% 25.64% 0.00% Ealing Borough 5.23% 73.86% 20.92% 0.00% Enfield Borough 3.27% 63.40% 33.33% 0.00% Greenwich Borough 5.42% 66.50% 28.08% 0.00% Hackney Borough 4.80% 69.60% 25.60% 0.00% Hammersmith & Fulham 5.19% 72.73% 22.08% 0.00% Borough Haringey Borough 4.50% 65.77% 29.73% 0.00% Harrow Borough 5.95% 64.29% 29.76% 0.00% Havering Borough 6.90% 53.45% 39.66% 0.00% Hillingdon Borough 7.41% 72.59% 20.00% 0.00% Hounslow Borough 6.58% 73.68% 19.74% 0.00% Islington Borough 3.45% 80.46% 16.09% 0.00% Kensington & Chelsea Borough 2.27% 72.73% 25.00% 0.00% Kingston Borough 3.88% 75.73% 20.39% 0.00% Lambeth Borough 3.72% 64.65% 31.63% 0.00% Lewisham Borough 3.87% 72.90% 23.23% 0.00% Merton Borough 3.85% 64.42% 31.73% 0.00% Newham Borough 8.40% 66.41% 25.19% 0.00% Redbridge Borough 8.26% 60.55% 31.19% 0.00% Richmond Borough 5.26% 65.26% 29.47% 0.00% Southwark Borough 8.49% 70.75% 20.75% 0.00% Sutton Borough 5.81% 68.60% 25.58% 0.00%
Tower Hamlets Borough 3.64% 70.30% 26.06% 0.00% Waltham Forest Borough 4.93% 73.94% 21.13% 0.00% Wandsworth Borough 5.59% 72.03% 22.38% 0.00% Westminster Borough 7.75% 69.01% 23.24% 0.00% All Non-Borough Uniformed 6.47% 64.67% 28.87% 0.00% Operational Staff Total Uniformed Operational 5.60% 68.19% 26.22% 0.00% Staff
LFB and Diversity (3) Question No: 2021/2512 Anne Clarke Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of LFB operational staff by race and borough in which they work. LFB and Diversity (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see the information in the table below, which covers all operational staff as at 31 May 2021.
Not Prefer not to Borough BAME White Provided say Barking and Dagenham Borough 7.08% 89.38% 3.54% 0.00% Barnet Borough 16.45% 80.92% 1.97% 0.66% Bexley Borough 3.73% 94.78% 1.49% 0.00% Brent Borough 20.83% 76.39% 2.78% 0.00% Bromley Borough 4.43% 94.30% 1.27% 0.00% Camden Borough 20.13% 78.52% 1.34% 0.00% City of London 16.13% 80.65% 0.00% 3.23% Croydon Borough 11.97% 85.90% 1.71% 0.43% Ealing Borough 15.03% 83.01% 1.96% 0.00% Enfield Borough 17.65% 79.74% 1.31% 1.31% Greenwich Borough 13.79% 84.73% 0.99% 0.49% Hackney Borough 18.40% 80.00% 1.60% 0.00% Hammersmith & Fulham Borough 15.58% 81.82% 1.30% 1.30% Haringey Borough 15.32% 81.98% 2.70% 0.00% Harrow Borough 9.52% 90.48% 0.00% 0.00%
Havering Borough 6.03% 91.38% 2.59% 0.00% Hillingdon Borough 11.85% 87.41% 0.74% 0.00% Hounslow Borough 7.89% 90.13% 1.97% 0.00% Islington Borough 21.84% 77.01% 1.15% 0.00% Kensington & Chelsea Borough 19.70% 79.55% 0.76% 0.00% Kingston Borough 7.77% 88.35% 2.91% 0.97% Lambeth Borough 15.35% 83.26% 1.40% 0.00% Lewisham Borough 13.55% 84.52% 1.94% 0.00% Merton Borough 14.42% 83.65% 1.92% 0.00% Newham Borough 16.79% 80.92% 2.29% 0.00% Redbridge Borough 11.93% 87.16% 0.92% 0.00% Richmond Borough 11.58% 88.42% 0.00% 0.00% Southwark Borough 20.75% 75.47% 1.89% 1.89% Sutton Borough 18.60% 80.23% 1.16% 0.00% Tower Hamlets Borough 15.15% 82.42% 2.42% 0.00% Waltham Forest Borough 20.42% 79.58% 0.00% 0.00% Wandsworth Borough 18.88% 78.32% 2.80% 0.00% Westminster Borough 11.27% 86.62% 2.11% 0.00% All Non-Borough Uniformed 16.40% 80.83% 2.31% 0.46% Operational Staff Total Uniformed Operational 14.35% 83.68% 1.72% 0.25% Staff
LFB and Diversity (4) Question No: 2021/2513 Anne Clarke Please provide a breakdown of LFB operational staff by gender and borough in which they work. LFB and Diversity (4) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see the information in the table below, which covers all operational staff as at 31 May 2021. London Fire Brigade has recently updated the choices available to staff within the gender identity category, to ensure it is following good practice in terminology, and therefore the current completion rates are lower than for other equalities categories.
Not Prefer not Borough Female Male Other Provided to say Barking and Dagenham 5.31% 46.90% 1.77% 46.02% 0.00% Borough Barnet Borough 3.29% 53.29% 0.66% 42.76% 0.00% Bexley Borough 6.72% 44.03% 2.24% 47.01% 0.00% Brent Borough 4.86% 47.92% 0.00% 47.22% 0.00% Bromley Borough 5.70% 41.77% 1.27% 50.00% 1.27% Camden Borough 2.68% 50.34% 1.34% 45.64% 0.00% City of London 3.23% 61.29% 0.00% 35.48% 0.00% Croydon Borough 7.69% 46.58% 0.43% 45.30% 0.00% Ealing Borough 6.54% 41.18% 0.00% 52.29% 0.00% Enfield Borough 5.23% 42.48% 1.31% 50.98% 0.00% Greenwich Borough 3.94% 43.35% 0.99% 50.74% 0.99% Hackney Borough 3.20% 44.80% 0.00% 52.00% 0.00% Hammersmith & Fulham 9.09% 49.35% 0.00% 41.56% 0.00% Borough Haringey Borough 1.80% 45.05% 0.00% 53.15% 0.00% Harrow Borough 8.33% 41.67% 1.19% 48.81% 0.00% Havering Borough 6.03% 35.34% 3.45% 55.17% 0.00% Hillingdon Borough 5.93% 49.63% 0.74% 43.70% 0.00% Hounslow Borough 7.89% 49.34% 0.00% 42.76% 0.00% Islington Borough 2.30% 56.32% 2.30% 39.08% 0.00% Kensington & Chelsea 2.27% 51.52% 0.76% 45.45% 0.00% Borough Kingston Borough 3.88% 41.75% 2.91% 50.49% 0.97% Lambeth Borough 5.58% 45.58% 0.47% 48.37% 0.00% Lewisham Borough 7.10% 42.58% 1.29% 47.74% 1.29% Merton Borough 5.77% 44.23% 1.92% 48.08% 0.00% Newham Borough 3.82% 49.62% 1.53% 45.04% 0.00% Redbridge Borough 1.83% 50.46% 0.92% 45.87% 0.92% Richmond Borough 6.32% 47.37% 0.00% 46.32% 0.00% Southwark Borough 6.60% 47.17% 0.00% 45.28% 0.94% Sutton Borough 6.98% 38.37% 2.33% 52.33% 0.00% Tower Hamlets Borough 4.85% 58.18% 0.00% 36.36% 0.61% Waltham Forest Borough 5.63% 42.25% 0.70% 51.41% 0.00% Wandsworth Borough 7.69% 42.66% 0.70% 48.95% 0.00%
Westminster Borough 8.45% 47.18% 0.00% 43.66% 0.70% All Non-Borough Uniformed 8.08% 45.03% 0.92% 45.96% 0.00% Operational Staff Total Uniformed 5.66% 46.23% 0.90% 46.98% 0.23% Operational Staff
LFB and Diversity (5) Question No: 2021/2514 Anne Clarke Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of LFB operational staff by sex and borough in which they work. LFB and Diversity (5) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see the information in the table below, which covers all operational staff as at 31 May 2021.
Borough Female Male Barking and Dagenham Borough 7.08% 92.92% Barnet Borough 5.26% 94.74% Bexley Borough 9.70% 90.30% Brent Borough 9.03% 90.97% Bromley Borough 7.59% 92.41% Camden Borough 6.04% 93.96% City of London 6.45% 93.55% Croydon Borough 10.68% 89.32% Ealing Borough 11.11% 88.89% Enfield Borough 7.19% 92.81% Greenwich Borough 7.88% 92.12% Hackney Borough 6.40% 93.60% Hammersmith & Fulham Borough 9.09% 90.91% Haringey Borough 6.31% 93.69% Harrow Borough 16.67% 83.33% Havering Borough 12.07% 87.93% Hillingdon Borough 8.15% 91.85% Hounslow Borough 11.84% 88.16% Islington Borough 9.20% 90.80%
Kensington & Chelsea Borough 5.30% 94.70% Kingston Borough 4.85% 95.15% Lambeth Borough 8.84% 91.16% Lewisham Borough 14.19% 85.81% Merton Borough 7.69% 92.31% Newham Borough 7.63% 92.37% Redbridge Borough 8.26% 91.74% Richmond Borough 10.53% 89.47% Southwark Borough 9.43% 90.57% Sutton Borough 8.14% 91.86% Tower Hamlets Borough 5.45% 94.55% Waltham Forest Borough 7.75% 92.25% Wandsworth Borough 10.49% 89.51% Westminster Borough 9.15% 90.85% All Non-Borough Uniformed Operational Staff 11.78% 88.22% Total Uniformed Operational Staff 8.95% 91.05%
LFB and Diversity (6) Question No: 2021/2515 Anne Clarke Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of LFB operational staff by faith and borough in which they work. LFB and Diversity (6) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see the infomation provided in the attached table, which covers all operational staff as at 31 May 2021.
Family Support and the LFB Question No: 2021/2516 Anne Clarke What support does the LFB currently offer to parents or expectant parents (including adoptive or foster parents) in order to make the work/life balance for staff more manageable? Family Support and the LFB The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
London Fire Brigade (LFB) has recently launched a Parents and Carers’ Network, which has been created to provide support on all matters to parents including support for adoptive or foster parents. LFB’s dedicated maternity support and adoption provisions policy ensures that staff receive the necessary support and care. Physical facilities are also in place that support new mothers, including a dedicated mother’s room in LFB’s HQ, which has a suite created to support pregnant, nursing and new parents. Fire Stations have a room or specific area designated for the sole use of female firefighters, which is appropriately equipped and made available as a rest area or an area suitable for breastfeeding when needed. A ‘maternity meeting’ with an accompanying booklet is offered to all pregnant employees to discuss provisions, entitlements and any concerns with the HR team.
Intermediate homes for frontline workers Question No: 2021/2517 Anne Clarke How are you working to achieve your manifesto commitment of backing frontline workers including firefighters to get priority for new intermediate homes? Intermediate homes for frontline workers The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The pandemic has reminded us how much we rely on and owe to London’s key workers. I am determined to take whatever practical measures I can within my powers to help key workers who are affected by high housing costs. In accordance with my manifesto commitment, I will publish a core list of key worker occupations, which local authorities will be expected to adopt and can add to at a local level. In developing a new list of key worker occupations, I will continue to engage and consult with trade unions, councils and others to encourage more uniformity across the city. I expect the core list to be finalised and published in the Autumn. I will also strengthen planning guidance to introduce the expectation that key workers should be prioritised, with regard to local need, if local authorities and housing providers choose to set additional prioritisation criteria for the first three months of marketing new intermediate homes.
Systemic Change and Government (1) Question No: 2021/2518 Anne Clarke Please provide a list of the times you have lobbied government for the systemic change necessary to ensure a tragedy like Grenfell never happens again.
Systemic Change and Government (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Ever since the horrific Grenfell Tower tragedy and the devastating loss of 72 Londoners, I have taken steps to push for the systemic change that is sorely needed to prevent a tragedy like it happening again. As well as responding to government consultations, I have also written to and spoken to ministers on issues such as a developer levy, banning combustible materials and the building and fire safety bills. A record of my written interventions is detailed here: Responses and correspondence - Building Regulations and Fire Safety | London City Hall I stand ready to work collaboratively with Government to achieve the systemic change needed post Grenfell.
Systemic Change and Government (2) Question No: 2021/2519 Anne Clarke How has your lobbying of Government on areas such the systemic change needed following Grenfell been successful to date? Systemic Change and Government (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I am confident that a combination of lobbying and working collaboratively with government, as well as leading by example, is the right approach to achieving systemic change. Following my innovative approach to fire safety in new London Plan, I have been heartened to see this approach being adopted nationally. I lobbied Government last December to introduce a developer levy to support remediation and relieve leaseholders from financial pressures, which I am pleased to see government has taken on board. I am also proud to have lobbied government repeatedly to introduce a combustible materials ban. However I have argued that it should apply to all buildings, no matter their height or purpose, rather than the 18 metre threshold introduced in December 2018. Whilst I note government’s intention, announced in January 2020, to lower the ban to 11 metres, I am dismayed to see that no further action has been taken 18 months later. I will continue to lobby the Government to ensure all leaseholders are protected from bills to pay to put right historic building safety defects that were not their fault regardless of the nature of the defect or building height. I will also continue to lobby the Government to cover the cost of waking watches, and to resolve issues relating to professional indemnity insurance for those who are carrying out remediation work.
Systemic Change and Government (3) Question No: 2021/2520 Anne Clarke How will you measure success during this mayoral term? What does London need in order to ensure the systemic change you are asking for following Grenfell? Answer for Systemic Change and Government (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Waking Watches and London’s Boroughs Question No: 2021/2521 Anne Clarke Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of the number of buildings operating waking watches in London. Please also breakdown the numbers for buildings over 18m and under 18m in each borough. Waking Watches and London’s Boroughs The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 London Fire Brigade (LFB) collects data for buildings with a temporary suspension of ‘stay put’ where an interim simultaneous evacuation strategy has been put in place. Such buildings would have a waking watch or evacuation management system in place which could be in the form of personnel on site or a remote monitoring system, to be determined by the Responsible Person with guidance from a competent fire safety professional. The figures can change on a daily basis. The number of buildings where an interim simultaneous evacuation strategy has been put in place, as of 14 June 2021, are presented by borough and by height in the table below.
Local Authority Total blocks Over 18 metres Under 18 metres Barking and Dagenham 14 11 3 Barnet 19 15 4 Bexley 3 3 0 Brent 50 35 15 Bromley 4 2 2 Camden 26 23 3 City of London 1 1 0 Croydon 32 20 12 Ealing 16 11 5
Enfield 3 2 1 Greenwich 68 59 9 Hackney 77 60 17 Hammersmith and Fulham 11 9 2 Haringey 14 8 6 Harrow 3 3 0 Havering 11 11 0 Hillingdon 13 11 2 Hounslow 20 15 5 Islington 47 26 21 Kensington and Chelsea 13 8 5 Kingston upon Thames 4 4 0 Lambeth 50 34 16 Lewisham 41 29 12 Merton 5 3 2 Newham 49 46 3 Redbridge 11 9 2 Richmond 0 0 0 Southwark 66 51 15 Sutton 3 2 1 Tower Hamlets 144 136 8 Waltham Forest 21 21 0 Wandsworth 32 30 2 Westminster 30 26 4 Total 901 724 177
Social and Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund (1) Question No: 2021/2522 Anne Clarke How many grants have been made from these funds to London buildings to date? Please provide a breakdown since the funds began, showing the size of grant; social or private residential; and month of grant award. Social and Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
As of 17 June 2021, 78 payments from the Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund have been authorised. In total, £108,709,527 has been paid out to date. It should be noted that grant is paid in two tranches for this programme – 80 per cent and 20 per cent. As of 17 June 2021, my Building Safety team has authorised 73 payments from the Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund. In total, £18,324,247 has been paid out to date. It should be noted that most buildings under this programme follow a monthly payment structure. Please see table below for a breakdown of grant paid.
Social and Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund (2) Question No: 2021/2523 Anne Clarke How is the GLA ensuring that leaseholders are given clear and honest information about the application process so that they understand whether funding will be available to their building, when this will be released and how the GLA will support them through the process? Social and Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The GLA administers the Social and Private Sector ACM Remediation Funds, the Building Safety Fund and the Waking Watch Relief Funds on behalf of the Ministry for Homes, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). These are central government programmes and it is therefore central government which is responsible for publishing guidance on fund processes. Although the GLA does not engage with leaseholders directly, the Building Safety team regularly reminds building owners of their duty to ensure leaseholders and residents are kept up to date about the progress of their application.
Building Safety Fund (1) Question No: 2021/2524 Anne Clarke How many grants have been made from this fund to London buildings to date? Please provide a breakdown since the funds began, showing the size of grant and date of grant award. Building Safety Fund (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
As of 15 June 2021, my Building Safety team has made 43 grant payments from the Building Safety Fund for a total amount of £25,366,113. Please see table below for a breakdown of grant paid.
Grant total (£) Date of authorisation 167,267 Oct 15, 2020 60,301 Feb 24, 2021 219,898 Jan 11, 2021 1,801,940 Feb 25, 2021 571,988 Jan 7, 2021 515,104 Dec 9, 2020 479,823 Mar 10, 2021 455,989 Jan 27, 2021 398,934 Mar 17, 2021 323,825 Feb 24, 2021 131,519 Feb 4, 2021 80,956 May 7, 2021 470,328 Apr 21, 2021 88,023 Mar 30, 2021 728,716 Mar 17, 2021 1,388,588 May 14, 2021 347,273 Apr 6, 2021 207,214 Apr 8, 2021 1,764,874 Jan 13, 2021 463,175 Jan 22, 2021 292,957 Apr 21, 2021 212,888 May 5, 2021 465,657 Feb 25, 2021 227,348 Feb 25, 2021 916,157 Apr 7, 2021 628,330 Feb 12, 2021 1,105,267 Apr 8, 2021 274,178 Feb 25, 2021 460,607 Mar 30, 2021 372,809 Mar 11, 2021 228,782 Jun 8, 2021 230,728 Mar 8, 2021
783,091 Jun 11, 2021 1,798,652 May 19, 2021 235,571 Apr 16, 2021 1,003,815 Jun 4, 2021 944,089 Apr 14, 2021 720,162 Apr 14, 2021 157,071 May 19, 2021 2,220,132 Apr 16, 2021 91,918 Jun 15, 2021 1,083,674 Apr 19, 2021 246,495 May 24, 2021
Building Safety Fund (2) Question No: 2021/2525 Anne Clarke How is the GLA ensuring that leaseholders are given clear and honest information about the application process so that they understand whether funding will be available to their building, when this will be released and how the GLA will support them through the process? Building Safety Fund (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see my resposne to Mayor’s Question 2021/2523.
Waking Watch Relief Fund (1) Question No: 2021/2526 Anne Clarke How many grants have been made from this fund to London buildings to date? Please provide a breakdown since the funds began, showing the size of grant and date of grant award. Waking Watch Relief Fund (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As at 16 June 2021, 26 Waking Watch Relief Fund applications have been referred to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for a funding decision of which 20 have been approved. My Building Safety team is now working with successful
applicants to enter a funding agreement, so no funding has yet been drawn down on the Waking Watch Relief Fund.
Waking Watch Relief Fund (2) Question No: 2021/2527 Anne Clarke How is the GLA ensuring that leaseholders are given clear and honest information about the application process so that they understand whether funding will be available to their building, when this will be released and how the GLA will support them through the process? Waking Watch Relief Fund (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/2523.
Training for new recruits to the Metropolitan Police Service Question No: 2021/2529 Unmesh Desai Please advise what proportion of new recruits’ overall training has been delivered virtually since March 2020? If possible, please provide the breakdown in the number of hours spent in virtual training as opposed to face to face or in the field training. Training for new recruits to the Metropolitan Police Service The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Since March 2020, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has trained around 2,375 police constables and around 570 direct entry detectives. Several changes were made to recruit training in response to the COVID. This was necessary to ensure the MPS could continue to recruit during the pandemic, that these new recruits were protected and to ensure operational resilience of frontline policing. These changes centred on moving appropriate training content to virtual delivery led by an instructor online. An initial 8-week course ran during March-May 2020, with 58% of the delivery in-person and 42% remote instructor led. By June 2020 this had been built up to 13 weeks, with 68% of the delivery in-person and 32% remote instructor led. The 17-week initial training for direct entry detectives was run at 65% delivery in-person and 35% remote instructor led. In January 2021, the MPS launched its new externally accredited recruit training in partnership with four London universities. Under current arrangements 51% of the 17-week
course is delivered in-person and 49% is remote learning. The MPS intends to begin increasing the proportion of in-person delivery from July.
Police corruption investigations Question No: 2021/2530 Unmesh Desai How many Met Police officers have been investigated under Section 26 (corrupt or improper exercise of police powers) of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015? Please provide a breakdown by year since the Act came into effect. Please also provide details of which borough or BCU the officers investigated were based within. Police corruption investigations The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 When the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) investigate allegations of corruption, numerous criminal offences may be considered throughout the course of the investigation, including Section 26 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, Misconduct in a Public office, Data Protection Act offences, computer misuse Offences, Fraud, Theft, Sexual offences or more appropriate criminal offences. The Centurion system that is used to record allegations is a national system and does not allow the breakdown of investigations by specific offences in the detail that has been requested. The MPS is therefore unable to provide this information. The MPS can, however, confirm that that no officer has been charged for this specific offence.
Dedicated ward officers Question No: 2021/2531 Unmesh Desai Please advise how the performance of dedicated ward teams is monitored across the Met, and if this information can be made publicly available? Dedicated ward officers The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Dedicated ward-based police teams are a significant part of the Metropolitan Police Service drive to make a local area a safer place to live, work and visit. They work with communities and local partners to identify and tackle issues of concern to local people, residents and businesses. Like all officers, their individual performance is monitored through ongoing performance appraisal, line management and the completion of annual training.
A dashboard is available to monitor whether dedicated ward officers are working within their wards or have been ‘abstracted’ for other duties (www.london.gov.uk/what-we- do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/data-and-statistics/dwo-abstraction- dashboard). The MOPAC website also contains publicly available information and data on crime trends (to a ward level) and confidence and satisfaction (www.london.gov.uk/what-we- do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/data-and-statistics)
Dedicated ward officer transport Question No: 2021/2532 Unmesh Desai Please advise what proportion of dedicated ward officers’ time is spent patrolling in cars, and what proportion on foot in their wards? If there are guidelines on the amount of time ward officers should spend patrolling on foot or via police cars, please advise what these are. Dedicated ward officer transport The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Dedicated Ward Officers (DWOs) are expected to patrol their ward on foot. There may be some occasions where DWOs need to use cars for a specific task but there is only a very limited fleet of cars available to them. There is no data captured to measure the times spent in vehicles and on foot.
GLA Land and Asset Portfolio Question No: 2021/2533 Unmesh Desai The data on the GLA’s Land and Asset Portfolio dates back to November 2016. Please provide an update to this data to reflect the GLA’s current Land and Asset Portfolio. GLA Land and Asset Portfolio The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The GLA’s Land and Asset Portfolio is no longer regularly updated and has been superseded by the Public Land database (https://maps.london.gov.uk/public-land/).We will remove the GLA’s Land and Asset Portfolio database from the GLA’s website to avoid confusion in the future.
Supporting Leaseholders (1) Question No: 2021/2534 Unmesh Desai Recently the developer Ballymore committed £20 million towards the remediation of dangerous cladding. What conversations are you or your deputy Mayors having with developers in order to encourage other developers working on projects in London to commit funding to the remediation work? Supporting Leaseholders (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Four years on from Grenfell Tower, it is unacceptable that developers have not contributed more towards remediating unsafe cladding on their own buildings. Ballymore’s commitment is welcome, though insufficient. Immediately after the fire at New Providence Wharf on 7 May, I wrote to Ballymore requesting that it unconditionally funds remediation of all unsafe cladding across its portfolio. Though I will continue to put pressure on developers to finance remediation themselves, simply appealing to them to do the right thing will not suffice. A more strategic approach is required to tackle the scale of the building safety crisis. In December 2020 I called for the introduction of a developer levy to pay for cladding remediation and other building safety work. This was based on a City Hall analysis which found that such a levy on developers’ profits, which reached £30bn over the last decade, could raise £3bn for cladding remediation. The Secretary of State announced plans for a levy in February 2021. The Government should urgently follow through on my recommendations and implement this scheme as soon as possible.
Supporting Leaseholders (2) Question No: 2021/2535 Unmesh Desai How are you encouraging developers to commit to funding the additional costs being piled onto leaseholders, for example for safety assessments or waking watches? Supporting Leaseholders (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I continue to advocate for leaseholders, who in no circumstances should have to pay for the cost of remedial or interim measures. While funding for remediation should be forthcoming from developers themselves, as I have long called for, a more strategic approach is required to tackle the scale of the building safety crisis. In December 2020 I called for the introduction of a developer levy to pay for cladding remediation and other building safety work. This was based on a City Hall analysis which found that such a levy on developers’ profits, which reached £30bn over the last decade, could raise £3bn for cladding remediation. The Secretary of State announced plans for a levy in February 2021. The
Government should urgently follow through on my recommendations and implement this scheme as soon as possible.
GLA Freehold and Right to Manage Question No: 2021/2536 Unmesh Desai How many buildings under GLA freehold have had leaseholders take up the ‘Right to Manage’? GLA Freehold and Right to Manage The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Where the Greater London Authority is the freeholder, it is predominantly of the land upon which the building has been developed. The responsibility for managing the buildings usually rests with the developer or the current long leasehold owners and Rights to Manage proposals would normally be taken up with these entities. Rights to Manage do not usually require GLA consent so it does not hold any data regarding the number of buildings on land it holds the freehold of where the Right to Manage has been taken up by residents.
Right to Manage Question No: 2021/2537 Unmesh Desai My constituents report freeholders using the Right to Manage process to delay, block and appeal, forcing extra legal costs and discouraging leaseholders from executing their legal right to manage their building. What support can your office offer to leaseholders caught up in a system that is supposed to be cheap and easy to use? Right to Manage The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The GLA has no powers to intervene in leaseholders exercising or being denied the Right to Manage. The process is set out in legislation set by Government, specifically the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. I recognise that there are shortcomings in the current path to leaseholders exercising the right to manage their homes. In July 2020 the Law Commission recommended reform of the law underpinning the Right to Manage (RtM). We are now waiting for government to bring forward legislation in response. Recommendations seek to make the RtM process easier, quicker and cheaper, including by removing the requirement for leaseholders to pay their landlord’s costs when making a RtM claim.
Street drinking in Brent and Harrow Question No: 2021/2539 Krupesh Hirani What specific measures are the Metropolitan Police introducing to enforce against street drinking in public spaces within my constituency? Answer for Street drinking in Brent and Harrow The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Safety in local town centres in Brent and Harrow Question No: 2021/2540 Krupesh Hirani Safety is often cited as a reason why people are choosing to drive to larger supermarkets rather than walking or cycling to local town centres. What specific measures are the Mayor of London and the Metropolitan Police considering or enacting to improve safety in smaller town centres? Answer for Safety in local town centres in Brent and Harrow The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Diversity in the Met police force Question No: 2021/2541 Krupesh Hirani What measures are the Metropolitan Police taking to ensure that our police force is more representative of London’s diverse population? Diversity in the Met police force The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Increasing the diversity of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is a key priority of my Action Plan on Transparency, Accountability and Trust in Policing. I have set the MPS ambitious aims for 16% of its officers to be of Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) heritage by 2022, 21% by 2024 and 28% by 2030. The MPS is undertaking a variety of activity to achieve this including:
• Applying a London Residency criterion, ensuring that recruits have experience and understanding of life in the capital; • Launching an outreach programme, embedding dedicated teams to work within Basic Command Units (BCUs) to organise and coordinate local recruitment activity; • Working with the College of Policing (CoP) to improve the initial online assessment and remove disproportionality from the recruitment process; and, • Utilising positive action initiatives such as ‘Meet the Met’ events, online support workshops and, where appropriate, equal merit provisions of the Equality Act 2010. Through my Action Plan I am supporting this activity by providing the MPS with over £5million across the next three years to deliver community outreach, community led training and a career development service.
E-scooter use in Brent and Harrow Question No: 2021/2542 Krupesh Hirani With the introduction of e-scooters in 5 London boroughs, what is the Metropolitan Police Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) doing to ensure the safety of pedestrians on London’s streets? Can you provide early data on collision and incident reports? Answer for E-scooter use in Brent and Harrow The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Solar Together scheme in Brent and Harrow Question No: 2021/2543 Krupesh Hirani Please could you provide details of how many homes in Brent and Harrow have benefitted from the Solar Together scheme since its inception? Solar Together scheme in Brent and Harrow The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My Solar Together London programme is now in the fourth phase and supports delivery of my ambition for London to be zero carbon by 2030. In the first three phases of my programme, the Solar Together was available to all Londoners but only advertised in boroughs which signed up to actively publicise the programme. Brent actively marketed Solar Together whereas Harrow did not. Ninety-eight homes in Brent and one in Harrow had solar photovoltaic panels installed.
The current phase of Solar Together is the largest yet, with publicity across every borough. In this phase, 68 households in Brent and 138 in Harrow have signed up to have solar photovoltaic panels installed.
London Power sign up in Brent and Harrow Question No: 2021/2544 Krupesh Hirani Since its launch in January 2020, can you please provide data for how many homes in Brent and Harrow have signed up to the London Power scheme? London Power sign up in Brent and Harrow The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 London Power launched in January 2020 as a fair, affordable and green energy supplier for Londoners and is already serving over 5,500 customers. London Power releases data on our customer numbers on a quarterly basis. As at 31 March 2021, London Power supplied 161 households in Brent and 150 in Harrow. I would like more households including in Brent and Harrow to have the benefits of being a London Power customer, and am working with boroughs to promote London Power, for example through their local communication channels. The London Power team would welcome your support to work more closely with Brent and Harrow.
Drinking fountains in Brent and Harrow Question No: 2021/2545 Krupesh Hirani The Mayor has successfully installed drinking water fountains in public spaces in partnership with Thames Water at locations such as outside Willesden Green tube station in my constituency. I understand the fountains have been closed off and the programme paused due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Can the Mayor provide an update on when the programme will restart and when the closed drinking water fountains will reopen? Drinking fountains in Brent and Harrow The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 In response to the pandemic all 54 fountains (installed in partnership with Thames Water) were temporarily closed and new installations were paused, so that Thames Water could prioritise essential services to ensure Londoners had an uninterrupted supply of drinking water. I am working with Thames Water to prepare the fountains for reopening in line with Step 4 of the Government’s reopening plan, which has been delayed to no earlier than 19 July. The fountains will be reopened in phases and will undergo thorough cleaning and water
quality testing before they are reopened to the public. I plan to recommence new installations in the Autumn. It’s important that we continue to tackle single-use plastic waste. Advice from the Scientific Technical Advisory Committee is that the fountains (specifically, water refill stations) are safe to use, as is refilling your bottle or coffee cup at participating businesses mapped on the Refill London app.
Key worker housing supply in London Question No: 2021/2546 Krupesh Hirani NHS providers and representatives of workers in the sector, such as the Royal College of Nursing, have raised the issue of housing costs as a key reason as to why it is difficult for key workers to live and work in London. This has a knock-on impact on the recruitment and retention rates of NHS staff. What is the Mayor doing to improve Key worker housing supply in London? Key worker housing supply in London The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Building more affordable housing is my top housing priority. Over the next five years 79,000 genuinely affordable homes will be started in London across the remainder of the 2016-23 Affordable Homes Programme and my new 2021-26 AHP. In addition to building more affordable housing, I am committed to strengthening planning guidance to create the expectation that key workers should be prioritised for intermediate housing. Ensuring those most in need of intermediate homes are prioritised for intermediate housing will help to widen access to affordable housing for key workers. I am also supporting local authorities and housing providers to consider whether it is appropriate for local key workers to be prioritised for intermediate housing on certain sites near a key worker institution. This will be spearheaded at the St Ann’s hospital development in Haringey in partnership with Catalyst housing association and the NHS Trust.
Toilet facilities on the Transport for London network Question No: 2021/2547 Krupesh Hirani What is the Mayor of London doing to improve public access to toilets, including on the Transport for London network? Answer for Toilet facilities on the Transport for London network The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
Officers are drafting a response
Mobile connectivity on London Underground trains Question No: 2021/2548 Krupesh Hirani I welcome the Mayor’s commitment to rollout mobile connectivity on the London Underground network; currently available on sections of the Jubilee Line. What are the Mayor’s plans for wider rollout of mobile connectivity on all tube lines? Answer for Mobile connectivity on London Underground trains The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London funding Question No: 2021/2549 Krupesh Hirani Has Transport for London or the Mayor of London received any explanation from the Government as to why it has been treated differently, with unfair strings attached to bailout deals, compared to other areas and private rail companies; who have had debt free bailouts? Answer for Transport for London funding The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Rogue Landlords Register (1) Question No: 2021/2552 Sem Moema Please breakdown the number of landlords recorded on the Rogue Landlords Register per year since its inception. Rogue Landlords Register (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 2,533 records of prosecutions and penalties against landlords and agents have been uploaded to my Rogue Landlords and Agent Checker since its inception in December 2017. These are broken down as follows:
Year Records uploaded to Checker 2017 536 2018 952 2019 617 2020 325 2021 (to 17/6/2021) 103 Total 2,533
Rogue Landlords Register (2) Question No: 2021/2553 Sem Moema What is the average length of time a landlord spends on the Rogue Landlord Register? Rogue Landlords Register (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There are two tiers of access to enforcement records on my Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker. The public tier is a publicly-viewable list of landlords who have been fined or prosecuted for a housing-related offence. The private tier is only accessible by enforcement authorities. Records are viewable for up to 10 years on the private tier. The retention period for records on the public tier varies depending on the type of enforcement action. Criminal convictions are publicly viewable until the date the conviction becomes spent, which is usually after 12 months. The same retention period applies to civil penalties. London Fire Brigade enforcement actions and redress scheme expulsions will be displayed in public view in line with the timescales set out in these organisations’ own policies. For the London Fire Brigade this is three years, while the redress schemes decide the length of expulsion on a case by case basis.
Rogue Landlords Register (3) Question No: 2021/2554 Sem Moema Please break down the number of landlords on the Rogue Landlords Register for each offence category. Rogue Landlords Register (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 A breakdown of records that have been uploaded to the Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker since its inception by category is as follows:
• Civil penalty - consumer rights: 93 • Civil penalty - housing and planning act: 782 • Conditional discharge: 19 • Criminal caution: 42 • Criminal conviction: 1,496 • Enforcement notice: 45 • Prohibition notice: 3 • Redress expulsion: 53
Rogue Landlords Register (4) Question No: 2021/2555 Sem Moema Please give a breakdown of the number of landlords on the Rogue Landlords Register for each borough in London. Please provide this data for every year since the Register was introduced. Rogue Landlords Register (4) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 2,533 records of prosecutions and penalties against landlords and agents have been uploaded to the Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker since its inception in December 2017. Of these, 2,413 records have been uploaded by boroughs, as set out below:
Borough 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Total Barking & Dagenham 21 25 4 3 53 Barnet 13 6 5 4 28 Bexley 2 5 7 Brent 74 33 12 2 2 123 Bromley 1 1 Camden 45 134 142 64 54 439 Croydon 6 12 11 7 36 Ealing 28 28 Enfield 7 7 Greenwich 22 21 4 32 2 81 Hackney 8 2 10 Hammersmith 5 10 3 2 20
Haringey 21 2 23 Harrow 1 4 5 Havering 6 46 10 62 Hillingdon 3 3 Hounslow 35 11 46 Islington 33 8 1 42 Kensington & Chelsea 6 6 Lambeth 3 9 12 Lewisham 2 16 6 24 Merton 30 4 34 Newham 174 283 145 66 6 674 Redbridge 6 24 20 50 Richmond 8 2 10 20 Southwark 36 50 114 200 Sutton 4 4 Tower Hamlets 81 7 3 2 93 Waltham Forest 38 74 14 34 6 166 Wandsworth 17 2 4 2 25 Westminster 18 30 12 29 2 91
Enforcement against rogue landlords Question No: 2021/2556 Sem Moema What additional powers and funding do you need from the Government in order to increase enforcement action against rogue landlords? Enforcement against rogue landlords The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I believe universal property licensing, complemented by a system of light-touch landlord registration, will be critical to improving standards in the private rented sector. I am pleased
that the government has recently committing to exploring the benefits of a landlord register and I continue to call on the government to devolve the power to consider and approve new property licensing schemes in London to City Hall, which could be used to help create more consistency in property licensing. Councils also need the resources and powers to tackle rogue landlords effectively. I continue to call on the government to provide more funding to build the capacity and skills of councils’ private rented sector teams, which have been put under greater strain during the pandemic. My Better Renting programme is delivering upskilling training to councils across London, with over 200 officers trained on private rented sector enforcement topics since May 2020.
Safe accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse Question No: 2021/2557 Sem Moema During the Covid pandemic, you provided additional funding for safe accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse. What assessment have you made of the impact of that funding and what work will you undertake to ensure safety nets remain in place for survivors as we emerge from Covid restrictions? Answer for Safe accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Overcrowding Question No: 2021/2558 Sem Moema Your current Housing Strategy commits to driving down overcrowding, which has been suggested as a factor in not being able to socially distance and higher covid levels among low-to middle-income Londoners. What work have your officers undertaken to deliver on this commitment? Overcrowding The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My 2021 London Plan aims to ensure that new social housing helps tackle overcrowding – requiring for the first time that boroughs outline the size mix of social housing needed locally, including family-sized homes. The funding deal I negotiated for my new Affordable Homes Programme will prioritise social rented homes, which are frequently the only affordable option for overcrowded
families. I have also called on the Government to urgently review its policies to provide additional funding for social housing. The welfare system contributes to making housing unaffordable for Londoners with low incomes. I have lobbied Government to scrap the Benefit Cap, which would improve options for households who have to resort to cramming into homes smaller than they need. Finally, I called on the Government to scrap planning loopholes that led to substandard micro-flats being created through permitted development, and I welcome their move to apply space standards to any new homes from this source.
Council homes take-up Question No: 2021/2559 Sem Moema How many households in London have been housed in council homes funded by City Hall during this administration? Council homes take-up The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The GLA does not hold this information.
Construction and Leaving the EU (1) Question No: 2021/2560 Sem Moema With 37% of London’s construction workforce coming from EU countries, what impact has leaving the EU had on vacancies in the industry? Construction and Leaving the EU (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Many construction businesses say they are struggling to recruit staff at the moment, in part because of EU workers returning to their country of origin during the pandemic. It is not clear how many of these EU nationals will return as jobs in London’s construction sector come back, after jobs declined by over 10% between March 2020 and 2021. Currently Build UK and the Federation of Master Builders say their members are reporting labour shortages in specific trades. I have backed calls for a Covid Recovery Visa to help bring foreign workers back quickly after lockdown and support the economic recovery. I continue to urge Ministers to review changes to visa rules that came into force for EU nationals on 1 January 2021, and to lobby for London to have devolved powers in relation to visas to allow businesses and public services to fill vacancies where they have acute shortages.
Construction and Leaving the EU (2) Question No: 2021/2561 Sem Moema There are concerns that the new points-based immigration system will likely exclude roles such as general labourers, due to skills, salary and/or education thresholds. What impact could this have on the rate and cost of construction in the capital? Construction and Leaving the EU (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Many construction businesses say they are struggling to recruit specialist trades at the moment, in part because of EU workers returning to their country of origin during the pandemic. It is too early to fully assess the impact on the labour market and wages, until it is clearer how many of these workers will return to London as jobs come back. Certainly, GLA Economics’ 2019 analysis identified that London’s construction and building trades have the largest number of jobs held by EEA workers paying below the £25,600 salary threshold. Unless these roles are included as a shortage occupation, they will be ineligible for the points-based system. There are four so called “lower-skilled” occupations where 30-50% of jobs are filled by EEA workers (around 38,300 jobs overall), which are also excluded by the new rules. Furthermore, self-employed workers – a key part of the construction workforce – are excluded.
Construction and Leaving the EU (3) Question No: 2021/2562 Sem Moema What support, if any, is the Greater London Authority providing to SMEs in the construction industry who are concerned about what changes in the immigration system will mean for their workforces? Construction and Leaving the EU (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Support is available to small businesses, including those in the construction sector, via the GLA-funded London Business Hub: https://www.businesshub.london/ Businesses can access free advice there on how to implement the changes required to continue to do business with the European Union, including how to retain and recruit EU staff. Through the Specialist Business Advice service they can access up to three hours of free support from a panel of professional services advisers, which include immigration lawyers.
The website also provides a sector-specific guide for construction businesses and a more general guide on recruiting staff from overseas.
Construction Academy Question No: 2021/2563 Sem Moema What impact has your Construction Academy had on providing Londoners with the skill and opportunities to find work in the construction sector, and how are you measuring your success? Construction Academy The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) was set up to address skills shortages in the construction sector. The MCA hub partnerships have been developing and strengthening partnership working between employers, training providers and other local partners to improve the quality and relevance of training provision and help Londoners, including those from underrepresented groups, to progress into employment in the sector. Since activity began in March 2019, the hubs have reported that an additional 18,290 learners have completed a construction training qualification across the hub areas. The programme is also capturing and sharing new ways of working and best practice. This information is shared via regular partner networks and will be detailed in the evaluation report which is due to be published in September 2022.
Shared Ownership Question No: 2021/2564 Sem Moema How will you ensure there is maximum tenure integration on housing developments that feature different social and private tenures? Shared Ownership The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My London Plan is clear that housing development should be designed to maximise tenure integration and should help to create a more socially inclusive London. Design Policy D6 requires that the design and layout of dwellings should meet the needs of Londoners without differentiating between tenures. My draft Good Quality Homes for all Londoners London Plan Guidance proposed ways to design inclusively on site, including through ensuring that the external appearance and entrances of homes are indistinguishable from each other and well integrated and that all residents of homes within
a residential tower can access communal amenities. Additionally, London Plan Policy S4 requires that play space in new residential developments must not be segregated by tenure. The draft guidance is currently being reviewed in light of feedback from stakeholders and the final guidance will set out clear expectations in relation to how housing development can be well integrated.
Deaths amongst rough sleepers Question No: 2021/2565 Sem Moema Please provide a breakdown on the number of homelessness deaths in the capital per year since 2010. Deaths amongst rough sleepers The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Office for National Statistics (ONS) identifies deaths of homeless people in London from the death registration records (called Identified Deaths), and uses this to estimate the most likely number of additional deaths not identified in the registrations as homeless people, called Total Estimated Deaths. These statistics include people sleeping rough, in emergency accommodation and in services such as homeless shelters and hostels around the time of their death. Data for 2010-12 are not available. Data for 2020 will be released in October 2021. Identified Deaths 2013 109 2014 87 2015 118 2016 110 2017 112 2018 110 2019 104 Total Estimated Deaths 2013 134 2014 103 2015 141
2016 132 2017 136 2018 148 2019 144
Protecting rough sleepers from Covid Question No: 2021/2566 Sem Moema What work is underway to ensure those who are sleeping rough on London’s streets are protected as we enter a potential third wave of the Covid pandemic? Protecting rough sleepers from Covid The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The GLA pioneered the ‘Everyone In’ initiative and we are continuing to provide COVID- safe accommodation to London’s rough sleepers as the pandemic endures. My rapid response outreach team is also continuing to help those on the streets access accommodation and support. In addition, I am working with STP and colleagues in health to ensure that there are tailored offers of vaccination to those on the streets in the most appropriate settings. Also, at the start of July, we will be opening a network of hubs to provide rapid assessment and intensive casework. These will act as a front door to COVID-secure accommodation in GLA- procured hotels, as people currently accommodated in those hotels positively move on, opening up more space for those on the streets.
Right to Buy receipts Question No: 2021/2567 Sem Moema What representations have you made to Ministers about ending restrictions on the use of Right to Buy receipts? Right to Buy receipts The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 In 2018, I responded to the Government’s ‘Using receipts from Right to Buy sales’ consultation. My response to this consultation is available here. I was pleased to see the Government publish its response to this consultation in March 2021 and I support the Government’s decisions to introduce new flexibilities governing the
way that boroughs can spend their retained Right to Buy receipts. However, as outlined in my submission response, the reforms do fall short of what is required. Boroughs are best placed to make decisions about how proceeds from the sale of their assets should be used to replace social housing locally. On this basis, I continue to argue that boroughs should be allowed to keep 100 per cent of sales receipts and the time limit for spending Right to Buy receipts should be removed entirely.
Average rents Question No: 2021/2568 Sem Moema Please give a breakdown of the average rents in London for a 1 bed, 2 bed, and 3 bed home, for every year since 2010. Average rents The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Data on average private rents by number of bedrooms in London and other regions since 2010 can be found in the Private Rental Market Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/datasets/privaterenta lmarketsummarystatisticsinengland), and before that by the Valuation Office Agency (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/private-rental-market-statistics)
London Living Rent Question No: 2021/2569 Sem Moema What is the London Living Rent in each London borough? How does this compare to market rents per borough? London Living Rent The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The published London Living Rent benchmarks are intended to reflect ward-level variations in incomes, housing market conditions and property sizes, and my officers have therefore not published borough-level versions for comparison with private rents.
Housing and disabled Londoners Question No: 2021/2570 Sem Moema What role can the Greater London Authority play in ensuring new and existing housing in the capital meets the accessibility needs of Londoners with disabilities and supports independent living? Housing and disabled Londoners The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My London Plan Policy D7 Accessible Housing requires residential development to ensure that at least 10 per cent of dwellings meet Building Regulation requirement M4(3) for ‘wheelchair user dwellings’ which provides suitable accommodation for households with a wheelchair user. All other dwellings must meet Building Regulation requirement M4(2) for ‘accessible and adaptable dwellings’. These are homes constructed to be adjustable for use by a wheelchair user and include features to make the home suitable during periods of incapacity or a loss of mobility for example. The draft London Plan Guidance Good Quality Homes for All Londoners includes standards for and guidance about the provision of accessible housing and inclusion. This goes beyond the immediate environment of the home and includes inclusive access, servicing and waste facilities, inclusive street environments and access to public transport networks and disabled persons parking. Funding to remodel existing or build new homes for disabled Londoners to meet their specialist housing needs is available through my Affordable Homes Programme and Care and Support Specialised Housing (CASSH) programme, with over £100m of capital funding allocated to date. My Homes for Londoners team continue to work with registered providers and local authorities to develop more homes for Londoners with specialist housing needs.
Domestic Violence (1) Question No: 2021/2571 Sem Moema Please provide the number of recorded domestic violence offences per London borough for each month of the last year. Domestic Violence (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Borough levels of Domestic Abuse offences are published as part of the MPS ‘hate crime or special crime dashboard’; which can be found here - https://www.met.police.uk/sd/stats- and-data/met/hate-crime-dashboard/.
Domestic Violence (2) Question No: 2021/2572 Sem Moema Please provide the number of recorded domestic violence offences in London for every year since 2010. Domestic Violence (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Volumes of Domestic Abuse offences are published as part of the MPS ‘hate crime or special crime dashboard’; which can be found here and spans April 2010 to the most recent available month - https://www.met.police.uk/sd/stats-and-data/met/hate-crime- dashboard/.
Child witnesses of Domestic Violence Question No: 2021/2573 Sem Moema Please provide the number of domestic abuse offences recorded in London in which a child was present, for each of the last three years. Child witnesses of Domestic Violence The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please refer to my previous answer to question 2021/1749 for years 2019 and 2020. For the current year (January to May 2021) the figure is 2,751. Where an age of ‘0’ was recorded, these records have been excluded. Often these may be where the age is not recorded or known, so could lead to a significant over-count of victims, informants or witnesses.
Operation Dauntless+ Question No: 2021/2574 Sem Moema How many high-risk domestic violence offenders are currently monitored under Operation Dauntless+? Operation Dauntless+ The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As of 15 June 2021, there are 826 subjects in the Dauntless+ cohort.
VAWG Strategy Question No: 2021/2575 Sem Moema What are the key achievements of your Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, and how do you intend to build on this work in this Mayoral term? Answer for VAWG Strategy The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Misogyny as a hate crime Question No: 2021/2576 Sem Moema With proposals in place to make misogyny a hate crime, how can the Metropolitan Police Service prepare officers to adequately handle these cases? Answer for Misogyny as a hate crime The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Average wages in London Question No: 2021/2577 Sem Moema What is the average wage per borough in London? Please break this down by borough and for every year since 2016. Average wages in London The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The ONS publishes annual estimates on the median earnings of employees residing in each of London’s local authorities. These are based on the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), with a time series going back to 2002. Breakdowns are available by work pattern and gender, on either an hourly or a weekly basis. The attached table include estimates of median hourly earnings for all employees (male and female, part-time and full-time) for the years requested. In 2020 these ranged from £13.10 in Barking and Dagenham to £22.33 in Kensington and Chelsea. Alternative breakdowns are available on the London Datastore at: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/earnings-place-residence-borough.
Disabled Londoners (1) Question No: 2021/2578 Sem Moema How does your manifesto deliver for disabled Londoners, and what work is underway to achieve those commitments? Disabled Londoners (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My ongoing ambitions to improve the city for disabled people are outlined in my manifesto. I have pledged to do everything in my power to fight for equal access and equal opportunities for deaf and disabled Londoners. As part of this, I will ensure that the GLA involves and considers the needs of disabled Londoners in all our work. The London Recovery Programme offers an opportunity for action and meaningful change to address structural inequalities which create harmful and unfair barriers for disabled Londoners. Work underway includes efforts to address the disability pay gap and create and promote accessible and inclusive high streets and services. Alongside this I have asked Transport for London to develop its future step-free access programme and to provide guidance on removing access barriers across the city. As I do what I can at City Hall to support disabled Londoners, I am also reaching out to Government to play its part by bringing forward its long-awaited disability strategy and deliver a fit-for-purpose social care system which respects the rights of disabled people.
Disabled Londoners (2) Question No: 2021/2579 Sem Moema How does your London Plan ensure that the public realm is accessible to disabled Londoners? Disabled Londoners (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My London Plan Policy D8 Public realm requires Development Plans and proposals to ensure the public realm is well-designed, safe, accessible, inclusive and easy to understand, all of which contribute to accessibility for disabled Londoners. This includes provision of seating, and the careful use, design and location of street furniture to reduce clutter. The policy also seeks to reduce car travel and excessive on-street parking. For some disabled people this may be a concern as they are more reliant on car travel due to their specific circumstances. However, it can help to ensure that the available highways space is more focussed on Blue Badge holders and, where appropriate, taxis which better meet their needs, as well as buses which provide an accessible transport option for many disabled
people. Improved walking environments (and associated reductions in noise and air pollution) will also benefit disabled people who rely on these forms of travel and those who, because of their disabilities, find high speeds and traffic volumes challenging. The policy is further supported by emerging London Plan Guidance ‘Public London Charter’ which promotes the highest level of public access for all and strongly supports the provision and upkeep of amenities such as free drinking water fountains and publicly accessible toilets, including Changing Places toilets, in public spaces. London Plan Policy D5 Inclusive design requires the highest standards of accessible and inclusive design to be assessed through inclusive design statements showing how the potential impacts on people and communities have been considered. This will ensure that the needs of disabled Londoners are taken into account where planning permission is required for proposals that impact on public realm or where new public realm is created, including privately owned public spaces within developments. The policy seeks to embed inclusive design in borough Development Plans and ensure collaboration with local communities in the development of planning policies that affect them.
Disabled Londoners (3) Question No: 2021/2580 Sem Moema How does the Transport for London (TfL) funding deal impact on your proposals to increase accessibility on TfL’s network, for example the roll out of step free access across the bus, train and tube network; and what is the impact on the finances you require to deliver that work? Answer for Disabled Londoners (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Disabled Londoners (4) Question No: 2021/2581 Sem Moema What impact, if any, will the TfL funding deal have on bus provision; and what measures will you put in place to ensure the impact on disabled Londoners of any potential reductions in the frequency of buses is mitigated? Answer for Disabled Londoners (4) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Vaccine hesitancy Question No: 2021/2582 Sem Moema With 72% of Black people, and 42% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups, saying they were unlikely or very unlikely to take up the Covid vaccine, how can you help to support efforts to increase take up amongst those groups in London? Vaccine hesitancy The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The figures in the question do not reflect the most recent ONS data from 28.04.21 – 23.05.21, which reports rates of vaccine hesitancy of 21% in Black or Black British adults and 7% in Asian or Asian British adults in Great Britain. Vaccine hesitancy includes adults who have been offered a vaccine but declined, report being very or fairly unlikely to have a vaccine, or reported they are neither likely nor unlikely, don’t know, or preferred not to say. Data published by OpenSafely up to 9.06.21, estimates the percentage of people aged over 50 in England, who have received the first dose of the vaccination, is 68.1% for Black people and 84.9% for South Asian people. Since the vaccine rollout has begun, my teams have been working closely with partners to deliver a London-wide campaign. For information about my team’s work to support COVID- 19 vaccine uptake in communities where we have seen low levels of uptake please see Mayor’s Question 2021/1913.
Delays to Construction Question No: 2021/2583 Sem Moema Inside Housing are reporting that Brexit, coronavirus and the Suez Canal blockage have led to construction material shortages and price rises. What effect is this having on homes built directly by the GLA or via the Affordable Homes Programme? Delays to Construction The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 ONS data shows that new orders for construction work to main contractors on housing projects in London have fallen to £3.6 billion across the past year, compared with the previous quarter’s rolling total of £4.3 billion. This is thought to potentially be due to the rapidly increasing cost of building supplies, as reported in Inside Housing and in other publications. Engagement has suggested that these prices are a result of supply chain delays and globally high demand for certain products and has been noted by many of my delivery partners.
It is too early to say what impact this might have on delivery of homes via my Affordable Homes Programme, or commissioned on GLA land, but my team are considering how to best engage with my delivery partners to ensure that these trends do not unnecessarily impact on the construction of much-needed new homes in London.
Ground rents on GLA land (1) Question No: 2021/2584 Sem Moema You are committed to working to end ground rents on GLA land. Can you provide details on how many leases there are on GLA land; how many of those leases pay ground rent; and what the value of that ground rent income was in 2020/21? Ground rents on GLA land (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There are approximately 120 leases where the GLA is the landlord. Only 12 of these leases have ground rents, these relate to commercial or leisure premises and the total value is £106 per annum. The commitment to end ground rents refers to residential properties and the GLA does not charge ground rents on residential premises.
Ground rents on GLA land (2) Question No: 2021/2585 Sem Moema Given your commitment to end ground rents on GLA land. are you able to unilaterally waive all future ground rent payments from leaseholders on GLA land? Or would you need agreement with each individual leaseholder to do this? Ground rents on GLA land (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/2084.
Gypsy, Traveller and Roma hate crime data Question No: 2021/2587 Onkar Sahota Does the Met record data on hate crimes towards Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities and if not, why? Gypsy, Traveller and Roma hate crime data The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
The Met does record Gypsy, Roma and Traveller hate crimes. This is done using the ‘GT’ flag.
Negotiated Stopping Question No: 2021/2588 Onkar Sahota In 2018, you provided funding to conduct research to support the development of a proposal for introducing negotiated stopping in London. I understand that now this research has been concluded, the GLA was considering the recommendations in the report and the possible use of negotiated stopping in London, following success in Leeds. Can you tell me whether you will be adopting any of these recommendations? Answer for Negotiated Stopping The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Hidden Mental Health Crisis Question No: 2021/2589 Onkar Sahota The cladding scandal has created a hidden mental health crisis with many leaseholders trapped in their homes, there have been reports of depression and self harm. What support have or will you offer them? Hidden Mental Health Crisis The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I am deeply concerned about the impact that the cladding scandal is having on Londoner’s mental health and wellbeing, including the daily stress and worry faced by leaseholders. This is a national crisis, and government must ensure that residents in affected buildings are offered support to cope with the physical and mental health toll of living in potentially dangerous buildings. The government-funded independent advice service LEASE exists as a resource to support leaseholders with fire safety issues. However, I am aware that many leaseholders feel the current service falls short of what is needed. I have already lobbied government on this issue. In December 2019, the Homes for Londoners Board called on government to urgently review the remit and role of LEASE with a view to it better supporting the needs of those affected. Despite not receiving a response, I am committed to working with government on this.
E-scooter trials (1) Question No: 2021/2590 Onkar Sahota What impact will the E-Scooter trials have on disabled people and the visually impaired? E-scooter trials (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) has carried out a significant programme of research and engagement to understand the views and concerns of stakeholders from diverse communities and the possible impacts of the rental e-scooter trial on people with protected characteristics, including those who are blind or visually impaired. This programme has helped inform TfL’s Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA), available online at https://content.tfl.gov.uk/rental-escooter-trial-2021.pdf, which details the impacts, both positive and negative, that the London rental e-scooter trial could have on disabled people, including those who are blind or visually impaired. TfL is committed to engaging with these groups, and all groups of people that may be impacted, throughout the trial to ensure existing impacts are being monitored, and new impacts are being documented, taken into account and addressed wherever possible.
Early Years Support Question No: 2021/2591 Onkar Sahota London’s early years sector is essential in preparing children for school but there are rising reports of children emerging from the pandemic who have regressed and no longer have the basic skills they should by the time they start school. What are you doing to urgently address this? Early Years Support The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 We know the difference that quality early education can make, especially as we recover from the pandemic. It promotes a healthy start in life, social cohesion and narrows the inequality gap. It’s essential that we support the sustainability of London’s early years sector over the coming months, so that early years providers are able to reach out and support local families who have stayed away because of the pandemic. Research which I commissioned last year found that 64 per cent of nurseries and 56 per cent of childminders considered their services to be at risk of closure in the next 12 months. These figures rose in disadvantaged areas, where families are more vulnerable.
That’s why I have launched Strong Early Years London - it offers essential business support to providers across the capital, with those most at risk able to access more intensive help until March 2022. As part of the London Recovery Programme, I have also committed funds through the Robust Safety Net Recovery Mission for work to encourage take up of early years entitlements. I will continue to work with partners across London to monitor the impact of the pandemic on the sector as a whole.
Aecom Report on Brownfield Sites Question No: 2021/2593 Sakina Sheikh Do you agree with Aecom’s report stating that London could fit 400,000 homes on brownfield sites? Aecom Report on Brownfield Sites The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) 2017, which underpins my London Plan, comprises a detailed and comprehensive study of London’s available brownfield land. The SHLAA identified capacity for 400,470 homes on large sites (0.25ha or above) over the 10-year period from 2019 to 2029, a figure which informed the housing targets set out in my London Plan. The method for determining this capacity was accepted through the Plan’s Examination in Public which took place prior to its publication earlier this year. Officers in the London Plan team have scrutinised Aecom’s report ‘London 2070: Our vision for the future city region’. Although the potential for 400,000 homes on brownfield sites has been quoted in the press, officers can see no reference to this set out in the actual report.
OPDC Local Plan Changes Question No: 2021/2594 Sakina Sheikh How will the revised Local Plan for the OPDC still deliver for London? OPDC Local Plan Changes The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 OPDC’s Local Plan provides the planning policy framework to support one of London’s most important regeneration opportunities, helping to optimise the benefits that High Speed Two will bring to Old Oak Common, and playing a vital role in London’s recovery and prosperity.
OPDC’s Local Plan targets the delivery of 13,800 new and affordable homes in the next ten years and 25,500 over its lifetime, along with a major town centre around the new station, embodying the attributes of a walkable ‘15-minute city’. It also targets 56,000 new jobs across a range of sectors with ambitious plans to attract and support businesses by protecting key sites for employment use and encouraging industrial intensification. The Plan requires a third of new development to be protected public space and includes clear policies to support good growth and healthy streets, prioritising sustainable travel, reducing CO2, and delivering positive health outcomes.
Diversity in the Planning Industry Question No: 2021/2595 Sakina Sheikh How are you encouraging more diversity in the planning industry? Diversity in the Planning Industry The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My planning team are currently developing a multi-pronged programme designed to challenge the industry, provide career support and improve the diversity of the pipeline of people entering the sector. This includes challenging representation at meetings and events; developing a project for schools to raise the profile of the planning industry (focusing on schools serving the most diverse communities); and working with the RTPI to develop a planning apprenticeship programme. This approach is in line with the Supporting Diversity pillar of my Good Growth by Design programme, which has been working to increase diversity across the built environment sector. The Supporting Diversity Handbook sets out actions on barriers in the sector to equality diversity and inclusion, and brings together research, examples of leadership and recommendations that can be applied at all career stages. We also continue to support Public Practice, the social enterprise working to increase and diversify the built environment expertise working in local government.
Small Sites Question No: 2021/2596 Sakina Sheikh How will you still encourage affordable housing on small sites despite the removal of that requirement from the 2021 London Plan? Small Sites The Mayor
Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Provided that they have the evidence to support this approach, boroughs are free to seek affordable housing contributions on sites of less than 10 units through Local Plan policy, irrespective of whether or not it is specifically mentioned in the London Plan. A number of boroughs have already introduced such a policy and I will continue to support any boroughs that wish to do so in the future. In 2019 I launched a new package of support for smaller and medium-sized housing associations that are well positioned to deliver on small sites. This includes an option to drawdown 75% of Affordable Homes Programme grant allocations in the 2016-23 programme to acquire land. This is a significant benefit to smaller providers and should enable more fully affordable minor development schemes. I am particularly keen to support councils to realise their homebuilding ambitions by making best use of their own land, including small sites. Last year I published new legal guidance to help boroughs maximise non-residential assets for housing delivery, including garages and carparks held in the General Fund. While the LEAP funding for my Small Sites Small Builders came to an end earlier this year, the programme continues to support public landowners to bring forward small sites through the Small Sites Small Builders portal. A recent evaluation of the programme concluded that it was successful in incentivising public landowners to release sites. My team are now reviewing potential capital and revenue funding streams to support its ongoing work.
Online Planning Committee Meetings Question No: 2021/2597 Sakina Sheikh Would you encourage more planning committee meetings to be held online so they are more accessible? Online Planning Committee Meetings The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Yes, online planning committees have worked well, increasing participation rates in the democratic process. RTPI research conducted with Grayling found that more than half of the UK public want to be involved in changes to their local community post-pandemic. The report found that digital engagement could be the key to unlocking participation from a larger, younger and more diverse cohort. Legislation should be passed to allow virtual meetings to continue. I am introducing a hybrid model for my call-in hearings whereby participants will be offered the option of attending via remote means if they prefer. I am keen to capture the benefits from the accelerated use of technology during the pandemic to help make planning meetings
accessible to all – including those who are less able to get to physical meetings as well as those who are less digitally focused.
Retrofit Revolution Question No: 2021/2598 Sakina Sheikh How will your new London Plan help you in the “Retrofit Revolution” to upgrade London’s buildings so that they are as energy efficient as possible? Retrofit Revolution The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The high environmental standards for new developments in the London Plan will ensure that new buildings are highly energy efficient and do not add to the burden of buildings that need to be retrofitted. My London Plan policies have helped generate £90 million of carbon offset funds since 2016 across the boroughs to support their climate emergency programmes, including retrofitting projects. Furthermore, the introduction of the whole life-cycle carbon and circular economy policies will promote refurbishment over demolition and new-build to reduce embodied carbon. However, most of London’s existing buildings that require retrofitting will not come through the planning system and I do not have powers to set standards for these buildings. 78% of London’s carbon emissions come from existing homes and workplaces which is why the “Retrofit Revolution” is so important.
Climate Emergency and the Planning System Question No: 2021/2599 Sakina Sheikh How can we continue to prioritise the climate emergency through the planning system? Climate Emergency and the Planning System The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The planning system has a crucial role to play in tackling the climate emergency and my London Plan sets clear policies both to mitigate and adapt to climate change. For example, the Plan has policies for new buildings to not only be net zero-carbon but to reduce embodied carbon too. It promotes sustainable locations for development which will reduce transport emissions and has a strong focus on reducing car dependency and supporting a modal shift to cycling and walking. It is essential that development is designed to be adapted and resilient to the inevitable impacts of climate change and the Plan requires development to follow a cooling hierarchy
to reduce risks of internal overheating. It recognises the multiple benefits of green infrastructure and has strong protections for existing green spaces. It also introduces an Urban Greening Factor (UGF) for high quality green infrastructure and streets to cool and shade the public realm, help manage rainwater and reduce the risk of flooding.
COP26 and the London Plan Question No: 2021/2600 Sakina Sheikh Does COP26 offer us an opportunity to signal to the world our London Plan is a roadmap to ensure London is transitioning to a green future? COP26 and the London Plan The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Yes, I will use the lead up to and my presence at COP26 to amplify London’s global leadership on climate and a green and fair recovery. The Good Growth principles at the heart of my London Plan build sustainability and a greener future into all my plans. It introduces a number of innovative policies which could be used as a model for other parts of the UK and the world. This includes net zero carbon developments, policies to promote the circular economy, reduce embodied carbon in construction and protect and enhance green infrastructure. It is operating alongside the London Environment Strategy and my Transport Strategy to support the delivery of my Green New Deal and make London a global leader. COP26 also presents an opportunity to engage with communities and businesses on climate action and advocate for the devolution of powers and funding that London needs to tackle the climate emergency.
Gypsy and Travellers and the London Plan Question No: 2021/2601 Sakina Sheikh How will the London Plan Policy for Gypsies and Travellers increase the delivery of culturally suitable accommodation, and what work is being done with councils to deliver this? Gypsy and Travellers and the London Plan The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I understand the urgent need for culturally suitable Gypsy and Traveller accommodation. My London Plan Policy H14 Gypsy and traveller accommodation includes a commitment to lead a London-wide assessment of the accommodation needs of all Gypsies and Travellers. We are committed to working in partnership with Gypsies and Travellers, boroughs and representative organisations to plan and carry out this important research, which will
provide a crucial evidence base for all London boroughs to inform future planning and other provision for Gypsy and Traveller communities. At a local level, when reviewing their Local Plans, boroughs will be required to protect existing sites, undertake an audit of existing local authority pitches and plan for the needs of Gypsies and Travellers in line with Policy H14.
Silvertown Tunnel Monitoring Question No: 2021/2602 Elly Baker According to TfL’s Programmes and Investment Committee in May 2021 “Contracts have also been placed for transport and traffic, socio-economic and environmental monitoring, which are part of our Development Consent Order obligations. Environmental monitoring has started, with the others planned to start later this year.” Please provide an update on what monitoring has started and when the results will be made public? Answer for Silvertown Tunnel Monitoring The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Silvertown Tunnel Review (1) Question No: 2021/2603 Elly Baker TfL’s Independent Investment Programme Advisory Group propose to review Silvertown Tunnel in 2021/22 according to the meeting papers for TfL’s June 2021 Audit and Assurance Committee. Can you provide more information on what aspect of Silvertown Tunnel they will be looking to review? Answer for Silvertown Tunnel Review (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Silvertown Tunnel Review (2) Question No: 2021/2604 Elly Baker The Ernst & Young Report on Silvertown Tunnel was presented to TfL’s March 2021 Audit Committee. However, an update to the report was made to take into account additional correspondence received from individuals within the Stop the Silvertown Tunnel Coalition (SSTC), Transport Action Network and Friends of the Earth. What changes, if any, were
made to the report as a result of this correspondence? Will you publish the correspondence received? Answer for Silvertown Tunnel Review (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Riverlinx (1) Question No: 2021/2605 Elly Baker How are Riverlinx communicating details of their work to Londoners, particularly the local communities that their work will impact upon? Riverlinx (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Riverlinx uses a range of communications methods to engage with local communities. In addition to one-to-one meetings with local stakeholders, a 24/7 helpline is available for local residents to communicate with the site manager on duty, and a helpdesk e-mail is available at [email protected]. An information bulletin is distributed to the local community ahead of works and Community Liaison Groups are held quarterly at which attendees receive an update on the works programme from the Riverlinx project team and can ask questions directly. These have been delivered online but will revert to face-to-face meetings as soon as Government guidelines allow. A website and e-news bulletin are also planned. Riverlinx have also approached local schools to establish a programme of regular updates and have begun engagement with local agencies supporting young people into apprenticeships.
Riverlinx (2) Question No: 2021/2606 Elly Baker How are Riverlinx minimising the air quality impact of work happening at Silvertown? Answer for Riverlinx (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Riverlinx (3) Question No: 2021/2607 Elly Baker How much of the waste material produced as a result of the Silvertown Tunnel is being transported via the river? Is this as much as was anticipated when Riverlinx submitted their bid for the project? Answer for Riverlinx (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Riverlinx (4) Question No: 2021/2608 Elly Baker What evaluation has Riverlinx made of its air quality impact? What mitigations has Riverlinx put in place to reduce this and to improve air quality in affected areas? Riverlinx (4) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The construction air quality impacts for the Silvertown Tunnel scheme are forecast in the Environmental Statement, available on the National Infrastructure Planning website here: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/london/silvertown- tunnel/?ipcsection=docs&stage=app&filter1=Environmental+Statement Riverlinx is monitoring particulate matter at locations across the current construction areas, in line with Air Quality Management Plans approved by the London Borough of Newham and the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The monitors are in place to detect elevated levels of dust from site activities in order that Riverlinx can respond accordingly. Riverlinx has employed a range of mitigations on site to limit the air quality impacts of construction as far as possible. This includes the deployment of dust suppression water sprays, adopting a site speed limit to minimise dust kicking up from haul roads, wheel washes for vehicles to stop the spread of mud on nearby roads, the use of a street sweeper to ensure the public roads around site are kept clean, the adoption of the latest emission standard plant and vehicles, the adoption of a ‘no unnecessary vehicle idling’ site rule, and maximising the use of the river in order to reduce the number of lorry movements on the road. Riverlinx has also recently trialled the use of hybrid excavators on site, which have shown very positive early results with a reduction of fuel use of up to 80 per cent.
Carbon Capture and London Question No: 2021/2610 Leonie Cooper How much of a role will carbon capture technology play in London achieving net zero by 2030? Carbon Capture and London The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 It is unlikely that carbon capture and storage will play a significant role in London’s net zero carbon by 2030 target, as the UK will only be developing its first initial sites in the 2020s at industrial clusters outside of London. I am focussing my efforts on the immediate actions that I can take to reduce emissions from the built environment and transport by 2030.
PM2.5 and Woodburning (1) Question No: 2021/2611 Leonie Cooper A recent report prepared for DEFRA stated that 82.6% of Londoners do not burn materials either indoors or outdoors. However, the second highest source of PM2.5 in London is biomass burning. How will you be working with Londoners to address this and to encourage a reduction in woodburning? DEFRA, ‘Burning in UK Homes and Gardens,’ 10 December 2020 Mayor of London, ‘PM2.5 in London: Roadmap to meeting World Health Organization guidelines by 2030,’ October 2019 PM2.5 and Woodburning (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 In June my Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy wrote to all solid fuel suppliers in London to remind them about the new national regulations on permitted fuels, as well as providing some background on the health impacts of air pollution. This letter was co-signed by Mayor Glanville representing London Councils. To support boroughs in raising awareness of the impact of wood burning and enforcement of the new regulations the GLA has recently developed and disseminated three online training modules aimed at air quality officers and enforcement officers. In addition to this, we have set up a pan-borough Wood Burning Working Group to co-ordinate borough action across London.
PM2.5 and Woodburning (2) Question No: 2021/2612 Leonie Cooper What discussions have you had with ministers or DEFRA regarding the need for stronger legislation to tackle PM2.5 from woodburning in London? PM2.5 and Woodburning (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Defra have been made aware of the letter my Deputy Mayor sent jointly with London Councils to all solid fuel suppliers, and we gave them an opportunity to comment on the training modules we developed for borough officers. They have been supportive of our work to raise awareness of the new national solid fuel regulations. Officers have had a number of discussions with Defra on the need for stronger powers for wood burning and other non-road pollution sources. I have also written to the Secretary of State on these issues and the need to include health-based PM2.5 targets into the Environment Bill. Disappointingly, aside from these new regulations banning the sale of the most polluting fuels, no additional powers or regulations have been put in place. We are therefore continuing to deliver our own initiatives to raise awareness and provide support to boroughs (detailed in our response to question 2611).
PM2.5 and Woodburning (3) Question No: 2021/2613 Leonie Cooper Are current government plans for woodburning stoves strong enough to provide more protections from emissions? PM2.5 and Woodburning (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The new regulations on the sale of solid fuels (which came into force 1st June 2021) are an important step, but insufficient by themselves to tackle the pollution caused by urban fuel burning. Burning in an open fire is around 2,000 times more polluting than a boiler, and even using a Defra-approved stove is still approximately 1,000 times more polluting. More needs to be done on a national level to raise awareness of this and provide the necessary regulatory framework to minimise emissions and exposure. I will continue to make the case for further action to the Government.
Air Quality at Putney High Street Question No: 2021/2614 Leonie Cooper Has Putney High Street exceeded legal air quality limits yet in 2021? If yes, on how many days? Air Quality at Putney High Street The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There have been no exceedances of the hourly limit for nitrogen dioxide at Putney High Street in 2021. London has around 120 “reference” air quality monitoring stations which can be used to assess compliance with legal limits. These are owned, operated and funded by the London boroughs, Transport for London and Heathrow and City airports. Data from these sites is publicly available in real time from the organisations they contract to undertake the monitoring. The monitoring sites at Putney High Street are owned and operated by Wandsworth, the data is publicly available here: https://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/publicstats.asp?region=0&site=WA7&la_id=&n etwork=All&postcode=&MapType=Google&VenueCode= and https://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/publicstats.asp?region=0&site=WA8&la_id=&n etwork=All&postcode=&MapType=Google&VenueCode=.
Air Quality at Tooting Broadway Question No: 2021/2615 Leonie Cooper Has Tooting Broadway exceeded legal air quality limits yet in 2021? If yes, on how many days? Air Quality at Tooting Broadway The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There have been no exceedances of the hourly limit for nitrogen dioxide at Tooting Broadway in 2021. London has around 120 “reference” air quality monitoring stations which can be used to assess compliance with legal limits. These are owned, operated and funded by the London boroughs, Transport for London and Heathrow and City airports. Data from these sites is publicly available in real time from the organisations they contract to undertake the monitoring. The monitoring site at Tooting High Street is owned and operated by Wandsworth, the data is publicly available here: https://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/publicstats.asp?region=0&site=WAB&la_id=&n etwork=All&postcode=&MapType=Google&VenueCode=.
Air Quality at Clapham Junction Question No: 2021/2616 Leonie Cooper Has Clapham Junction exceeded legal air quality limits yet in 2021? If yes, on how many days? Air Quality at Clapham Junction The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 There have been no exceedances of the hourly limit for nitrogen dioxide at Clapham Junction in 2021. London has around 120 “reference” air quality monitoring stations which can be used to assess compliance with legal limits. These are owned, operated and funded by the London boroughs, Transport for London and Heathrow and City airports. Data from these sites is publicly available in real time from the organisations they contract to undertake the monitoring. The monitoring site at Clapham Junction is owned and operated by Wandsworth, the data is publicly available here: https://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/publicstats.asp?region=0&site=WAC&Maptype =Google&mapview=all&statyear=2021&la_id=&zoom=13&lat=51.4715784211897&lon=- 0.15403787096853083&laEdge=.
Air Quality at schools in Wandsworth Question No: 2021/2617 Leonie Cooper How many schools, primary or secondary, in Wandsworth are still situated in areas of poor air quality, either high levels of NOx or Particulate Matter? Air Quality at schools in Wandsworth The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 As a result of the ambitious policies I have implemented since 2016, there are currently no primary or secondary schools in Wandsworth located in areas that exceed legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) based on our modelling. However, I do not think the current legal limit for PM2.5 goes far enough for the protection of human health, which is why I have set out the aspiration for all of London to have concentrations of PM2.5 within the World Health Organization’s guideline limit of 10 µg/m3 by 2030. I have repeatedly called on Government to match London’s ambition and adopt the same limit in the Environment Bill.
In 2016, the average PM2.5 concentration in London was 13.3 µg/m3 and there were no areas in London within the WHO guideline limit. However, with the help of my hard-hitting measures , in 2019, areas in outer London were within the limit for the first time.
School Streets in Wandsworth (1) Question No: 2021/2618 Leonie Cooper How many Schools Streets are currently in place in Wandsworth? School Streets in Wandsworth (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 You will need to contact the London Borough of Wandsworth for this information. Boroughs plan, manage and deliver local School Streets. Transport for London holds limited information on the number of School Streets that were delivered using Active Travel Funding. However, boroughs hold complete and up to date information on the number of School Streets currently in place.
School Streets in Wandsworth (2) Question No: 2021/2619 Leonie Cooper How many more School Streets are planned for Wandsworth? School Streets in Wandsworth (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/2618. You will need to contact the London Borough of Wandsworth about its plans for School Streets.
Air Quality at schools in Merton Question No: 2021/2620 Leonie Cooper How many schools, primary or secondary, are still situated in areas of poor air quality, either high levels of NOx or Particulate Matter? Air Quality at schools in Merton The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
As a result of the ambitious policies I have implemented since 2016, there are currently no primary or secondary schools in Merton that are located in areas that exceed legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) based on our modelling. However, I do not think the current legal limit for PM2.5 goes far enough for the protection of human health, which is why I have set out the aspiration for all of London to have concentrations of PM2.5 within the World Health Organization’s guideline limit of 10 µg/m3 by 2030. I have repeatedly called on Government to match London’s ambition and adopt the same limit in the Environment Bill. In 2016, the average PM2.5 concentration in London was 13.3 µg/m3 and there were no areas in London within the WHO guideline limit. However, with the help of my ambitious policies, in 2019, areas in outer London were within the limit for the first time.
School Streets in Merton (1) Question No: 2021/2621 Leonie Cooper How many Schools Streets are currently in place in Merton? School Streets in Merton (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 You will need to contact the London Borough of Merton for this information. Boroughs plan, manage and deliver local School Streets. Transport for London holds limited information on the number of School Streets that were delivered using Active Travel Funding. However, boroughs hold complete and up to date information on the number of School Streets currently in place.
School Streets in Merton (2) Question No: 2021/2622 Leonie Cooper How many more School Streets are planned for Merton? School Streets in Merton (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/2621. You will need to contact the London Borough of Merton about its plans for School Streets.
Fly-tipping and London (1) Question No: 2021/2623 Leonie Cooper The most recent data shows that there was a total of 360,080 incidents of fly-tipping across London in 2019/20, a third of the total number of incidents across the UK. How are you supporting the work of London’s councils to reduce the number of incidents? Fly-tipping and London (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I have no powers to intervene on fly-tipping as the responsibility for dealing with this lies with the Environment Agency and local authorities. I am providing advice and guidance on borough RRPs directly through GLA officers and through ReLondon (formerly the London Waste and Recycling Board). For example, the ReLondon Flats Recycling Package is aimed at the reduction of fly tipping by creating better facilities for estate residents to dispose of and recycle their waste. All boroughs have now produced Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs), a requirement of my London Environment Strategy, many of which include actions on fly-tipping and littering. This includes Redbridge which recently won an award from Keep Britain Tidy for their efforts, which introduced joint operations between enforcement and street cleaning teams to ensure fly-tips are investigated and cleared simultaneously as well as a hard- hitting illegal dumping campaign which ran across fly-tipping hotspots.
Fly-tipping and London (2) Question No: 2021/2624 Leonie Cooper What evaluation has been made of the impact of your policies on fly-tipping in London? Please provide details of the findings. Fly-tipping and London (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see my response to MQ 2021/2623.
Fly-tipping and London (3) Question No: 2021/2625 Leonie Cooper How will you be developing your policies and your environment strategy in order to directly impact on and reduce instances of fly-tipping in London? Fly-tipping and London (3)
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Whilst I have no powers to intervene on fly-tipping as the responsibility for dealing with this lies with the Environment Agency and local authorities, my London Environment Strategy includes a number of proposals which aim to tackle fly-tipping. These include a requirement for local Reuse and Recycling Centres to have necessary permits to accept a wide range of materials, including hazardous waste; and working, through ReLondon (formerly the London Waste and Recycling Board), to ensure that commercial waste providers are operating legally. In preparing their RRPs boroughs are advised to have regard to the proposals in my London Environment Strategy. Please see also see my responses to Mayor’s Question 2021/2623 and 2021/2624.
ReLondon in the coming term (1) Question No: 2021/2626 Leonie Cooper How will you be adapting the direction and work of ReLondon in the coming term in order to improve household recycling rates across the city? ReLondon in the coming term (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 ReLondon is a partnership of the Mayor of London and London’s boroughs to improve waste and resource management in the capital and accelerate our transition to a low carbon circular city. The Chair of the Board is my appointed representative, Liz Goodwin, and the Board is made up of four London Borough Councilors, two independent members appointed by London Councils and one further independent member which I appoint (filled by my Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues). The current ReLondon Business Plan was published last year and covers this coming Mayoral term. This puts the reduction of consumption-based emissions at its core, enabling an accelerated and just transition to a circular economy and placing a renewed emphasis on reducing waste and increasing recycling. Throughout this term ReLondon will therefore work with boroughs to implement their Reduction and Recycling Plans and support my recovery work, in particular the Green New Deal.
ReLondon in the coming term (2) Question No: 2021/2627 Leonie Cooper How will you be working with ReLondon in the coming term to improve the messaging of the small changes Londoners can make to reduce consumption of single use plastics? ReLondon in the coming term (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 In June ReLondon published their ‘Reducing single-use plastic consumption’ report, which identifies a series of actions to accelerate efforts by public, private and third sector actors to reduce consumption of single-use plastic in London. Work with Imperial College is underway to map existing London low plastic zones/neighbourhoods and identify how greater coordination could support and grow local efforts. Part of my Green New Deal Fund is the £3m Future Neighbourhoods 2030 Programme which will support boroughs and local communities to drive action across five key sectoral themes including a zero waste, circular economy. ReLondon has supported boroughs in developing the zero waste elements of their applications and we have been delighted that so many have taken a circular economy focus, looking at innovative ways to reduce consumption and waste in their local areas. ReLondon continues to deliver London Recycles campaigns, including targeted plastic campaign activity – such as plastic free July.
Small changes to reduce consumption of single-use plastics (1) Question No: 2021/2628 Leonie Cooper Following on from your successful campaign to discourage the use of single-use plastic bottles, what small changes will you be encouraging Londoners to make to reduce London’s reliance on single-use plastics? Small changes to reduce consumption of single-use plastics (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 In addition to the Refill London initiative and my partnerships with Zoological Society of London and Thames Water to install a network of drinking fountains, I am supporting a number of SMEs, through my Better Futures programme as part of my Green New Deal, who aim to offer Londoners products to replace single-use plastics. These include Shellworks who produce Chitan from crustacean shells to replace single-use plastic, Homethings who offer home cleaning products in tablet form to avoid the need for plastic packaging and Cauli Box who offer reusable takeaway food boxes.
ReLondon outlined a series of ‘action opportunities’ in their ‘Reducing single-use plastic consumption’ report published last month, such as how to strengthen existing activities and accelerate efforts to reduce consumption of single-use plastic in London. My officers are now working with ReLondon to assess these ‘action opportunities’.
Small changes to reduce consumption of single-use plastics (2) Question No: 2021/2629 Leonie Cooper Following on from your successful campaign to discourage the use of single-use plastic bottles, what changes will you be encouraging London supermarkets to make to reduce Londoner’s reliance on single-use plastics? Small changes to reduce consumption of single-use plastics (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 To help limit plastic waste and littering from disposable masks I wrote to all major supermarkets, emphasizing that face coverings should be reusable, non-medical and at a price which is accessible to all. Through ReLondon a series of ‘action opportunities’ (which includes actions related to reducing Londoner’s reliance on single-use plastics from supermarkets) were outlined in their ‘Reducing single-use plastic consumption’ report published last month. The report identifies opportunities to strengthen existing activities being undertaken by public, private and third sector actors and accelerate these efforts to reduce consumption of single-use plastic in London. My officers are working with ReLondon to assess these ‘action opportunities’ , including those relating to supermarkets.
Electric Vehicles and London (1) Question No: 2021/2630 Leonie Cooper How do you anticipate the use of electric vehicles developing in London during the next three years? Electric Vehicles and London (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I welcome the announcement from government that sales for new petrol and diesel cars and vans would be phased out from 2030, which is anticipated to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) demand beyond forecasts in my London Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Delivery Plan in 2019. We are already starting to see an acceleration in EV uptake, with first-time ultra-low emission vehicle registrations hitting a record high in London in 2020 at over 15,997 (triple
the number compared to 2017 levels). This reflects growing consumer confidence, greater vehicle choice and improving technology, which I expect to continue and accelerate during the next three years. Transport for London is currently updating its forecasts for the capital’s charging infrastructure needs to 2030 and developing a charging infrastructure strategy which will set out how the public and private sectors can further support the delivery of EV infrastructure and remove barriers to charge point implementation.
Electric Vehicles and London (2) Question No: 2021/2631 Leonie Cooper Are there some areas of London that you would like to see prioritised for the use of electric vehicles? Electric Vehicles and London (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My Transport Strategy outlines a commitment to support boroughs across London to implement local Zero Emission Zones (ZEZs) from 2020. This further outlines an ambition for a central London ZEZ to be delivered from 2025 and larger ZEZs in inner London by 2040. ZEZs are areas where access is limited to zero emission vehicles, during specified time windows. We are already seeing emerging ZEZs in the London Borough of Hackney and the City of London and expect more to follow. The supply of charging infrastructure to support the use of electric vehicles within these zones will be important to their success. As such, Transport for London is developing a strategy which will set out how the public and private sectors can further support the delivery of EV infrastructure to meet expected demand and remove barriers to charge point implementation.
Electric Vehicles and London (3) Question No: 2021/2632 Leonie Cooper Are there some types of vehicle which you would like to see prioritised for electric vehicles, eg vans or small HGVs? Is there anything you can do to encourage businesses to move towards use of electric vehicles? Electric Vehicles and London (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Numerous life cycle assessments show the environmental benefits are realised much sooner for fleets with high mileage operation than other types of electric vehicles (EVs) such as
cars but a challenge for commercial vehicle fleets has been the availability of zero-emission alternatives and the cost premium of early models. Nevertheless, several EV manufacturers have announced plans to supply commercial EVs at a similar or lower overall cost to their diesel equivalents. I am committed to supporting businesses in London to switch to low emission vehicles. Transport for London is working closely with businesses to understand their EV requirements to ensure we have the infrastructure in place to accelerate and support the switch to EVs. My van scrappage scheme for businesses and charities included a higher payment level for those replacing a van with an electric one. I also continue to call on government to commit to a national scrappage scheme.
Electric Vehicles and London (4) Question No: 2021/2633 Leonie Cooper How will you strategically support the use of electric vehicles in London? Electric Vehicles and London (4) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) has led the way with electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure delivery in London, delivering more than 300 rapid charging points by the end of 2020 and working with London Councils to roll out residential on-street charging points. Charge point delivery continues to accelerate despite the impact of COVID-19. In March 2020, there were 5,078 electric vehicle charge points (EVCPs), including 435 rapid charge points. By March 2021, the total number had risen to 7,258, including 605 rapid EVCPs. TfL will draw on the expertise of my EV Infrastructure Taskforce and other stakeholders to explore how best to continue the delivery of EV infrastructure to meet expected demand. This will be outlined in my upcoming EV infrastructure strategy, which will set out how the public and private sectors can further support the delivery of EV infrastructure and remove barriers to charge point implementation.
The Climate Crisis and Mental Wellbeing (1) Question No: 2021/2634 Leonie Cooper With growing evidence that there is a link between the extreme weather caused by climate change and mental wellbeing, what action are you taking to reduce the impact of extreme weather in London? The Climate Crisis and Mental Wellbeing (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021
In March 2021, I published a climate risk map for London which identifies areas of the capital at greatest climate risk. My Green New Deal funded programmes, including the Future Neighbourhoods 2030 programme, will create and improve green spaces, green the public realm, deliver greater resilience to extreme weather and will target communities at greatest need.. On 1st June 2021, I published a London map of cool and shaded places of refuge for Londoners when temperatures are excessively high. Cool spaces are areas where Londoners can take respite on hot days, (in line with Government guidance on the easing of social distancing). Advice is also published for groups at risk during a heatwave with more targeted advice for care homes, schools and early years settings. The response to Mayor’s Question No: 2021/2635 highlights the action taken to support the mental wellbeing of Londoners impacted by extreme weather.
The Climate Crisis and Mental Wellbeing (2) Question No: 2021/2635 Leonie Cooper How are you supporting the mental wellbeing of Londoners impacted by extreme weather in the short term? The Climate Crisis and Mental Wellbeing (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I recognise the distress caused by extreme weather and the impacts on Londoner’s mental health. Through the London Recovery Programme’s Green New Deal and Mental Health and Wellbeing Missions, I will ensure that London’s communities have the tools and resources they need to protect their wellbeing and have the confidence to seek support if they need it. I am working in partnership with Thrive LDN to improve access to culturally competent mental health and wellbeing support and empower Londoners to take action to improve wellbeing as ‘Wellbeing Ambassadors’. My Green New Deal funded programmes will help build the environmental infrastructure needed to enable communities to cope with events such as flooding and heatwaves, including creating and improving access to green spaces. The response to Mayor’s Question No: 2021/2634 highlights the action I am taking to reduce the impact of extreme weather in London and on Londoner’s mental wellbeing.
Hybrid Air Vehicles and Short Haul flights Question No: 2021/2636 Leonie Cooper With the development of hybrid air vehicles which have significantly lower CO2 footprint- 4.5kg per passenger compared to 53kg per passenger via aeroplane travel- will you be supporting the development of this style of transport to and from London? The Guardian, ‘Airships for city hops could cut flying’s CO2 emissions by 90%,’ 26 May 2021
Answer for Hybrid Air Vehicles and Short Haul flights The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
London’s Plastic waste (1) Question No: 2021/2637 Leonie Cooper How do you collect data on where London’s plastic recycling waste ends up? London’s Plastic waste (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The responsibility for regulating waste disposal lies with the Environment Agency. Waste authorities report tonnages of waste collected and processed to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Unfortunately this does not include destination data. In developing my London Plan, I commissioned analysis which showed that in 2015 London managed around 7.5 million tonnes of its own waste and exported around 11.4 million tonnes per year. The majority of exported waste (around 10 million tonnes) remained in England. London exported the remaining estimated 1.3 million tonnes of waste internationally, mostly to Europe and China, for recycling or for incineration as it was illegal to export waste for landfill. This situation will be different now as exports of waste to China have decreased following new rules instigated by China in 2018., At that time London also imported and managed around 3.6 million tonnes of waste. This gave a waste net self-sufficiency figure of approximately 60 per cent – 14 per cent higher than when the previous London Plan was published.
Divestment of LPFA Question No: 2021/2638 Leonie Cooper Your manifesto committed to full divestment of LPFA pension schemes from fossil fuels. How much has been divested so far and when do you expect this to be achieved by? Divestment of LPFA The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I have committed to take all possible steps to divest the London Pension Fund Authority (LPFA) of its investments in fossil fuel industries. However, the LPFA is run by an independent board of trustees who must act in the fiduciary interests of members of the
scheme. At the start of my previous administration, LPFA held direct investments in extractive fossil fuels of £43.6m or 1% of its total assets under management (AUM). Over the course of my last administration the LPFA reduced their investments in extractive fossil fuels by over 90% of AUM. I will continue to work with the LPFA throughout my second term to encourage them to develop a clear plan, with an accompanying timeline, for how they can divest the remaining extractive fossil-fuel investments.
London’s Plastic waste (2) Question No: 2021/2639 Leonie Cooper How much of London’s plastic recycling is still sent outside of London? London’s Plastic waste (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/2637.
London’s recycling (1) Question No: 2021/2640 Leonie Cooper How much of London’s recycling waste is sent outside of England? London’s recycling (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/2637.
London’s recycling (2) Question No: 2021/2641 Leonie Cooper How much of London’s recycling is sent outside of the UK? London’s recycling (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/2637.
Expanded ULEZ (1) Question No: 2021/2642 Leonie Cooper What assessment has been made of TfL’s readiness for expanding the ULEZ zone out to the north and south circulars? Answer for Expanded ULEZ (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Expanded ULEZ (2) Question No: 2021/2643 Leonie Cooper What challenges have been identified in relation to the delivery of the expanded ULEZ? How is TfL working to address these? Answer for Expanded ULEZ (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Beyond the ULEZ Question No: 2021/2644 Leonie Cooper How can further improvements be made to London’s air quality once the expanded ULEZ is in place, especially along the north and south circular roads? Answer for Beyond the ULEZ The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Catalytic Converters (1) Question No: 2021/2645 Leonie Cooper Can the Mayor update me on the number of reported stolen Catalytic converters in Wandsworth in 2021? Catalytic Converters (1)
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see the information requested below, covering the period January to May 2021.
Owning Borough Name Offences Wandsworth 150
Catalytic Converters (2) Question No: 2021/2646 Leonie Cooper Can the Mayor update me on the number of reported stolen Catalytic converters in Merton in 2021? Catalytic Converters (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Please see the information requested below, covering the period January to May 2021.
Owning Borough Name Offences Merton 73
Catalytic Converters (3) Question No: 2021/2647 Leonie Cooper Has there been any progress made on getting manufacturers to make catalysers more secure in vehicles? Catalytic Converters (3) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The MPS has been working with manufacturers to reduce the attractiveness of catalytic converter theft and assist in solving crimes when they do occur. 85% of thefts of catalytic converters are from Toyota, Lexus or Honda vehicles over 10 years old. Since that time, manufacturers have reduced the ‘platinum group’ metal content of the converters to make them less lucrative. They have also changed the location of the converters to make them more difficult to access. In addition, the MPS has worked closely with Toyota and Lexus to use smart water on their catalytic converters. Both have now agreed to retrospectively do this at the request of the owner, and this could equate to around 220,000 cars across the UK. They have also offered to fit a Cat Lock – a metal plate secured over the top of the catalytic converters – to any
owner who wishes to pay for one. The MPS has engaged with Honda, but they are not currently prepared to do the same.
Sky Pool Question No: 2021/2648 Leonie Cooper Given the recent coverage, can the Mayor update me on how his London Plan will stop some of the treatment suffered by shared ownership, social housing or renters when it comes to these new builds and their inability to use facilities in the buildings they live in? What more can he do to protect normal Londoners from these segregation practices? Sky Pool The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I’ve always been clear that segregation has no place in London. My London Plan, through its Good Growth objectives, makes it clear that to engender strong and inclusive communities, separation or segregation should be avoided. The housing design policies are also clear about the need for inclusive design. Developers should not be attempting to ratchet up demand through the creation of private enclaves with exclusive access to luxury facilities. Instead, they should be working with local authorities to create a thriving city for all Londoners – places where facilities and commercial premises form part of a vibrant urban realm that brings life to the neighbourhood, supports regeneration and welcomes everybody. The London Plan housing design guidance will set out the importance of maximising integration through careful design. This will further send the message that design that divides communities – from segregated spaces to ‘poor doors’ and exorbitant service charges – has no place in our city.
Waste Reduction & Recycling (1) Question No: 2021/2649 Leonie Cooper Wandsworth is at the bottom of the tables for recycling - can the Mayor do anything to ensure that the Council improves its dismal record? Waste Reduction & Recycling (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Wandsworth’s recycling rate for 2019/20 was 23.7%, 30th of London’s 33 local authorities. This was an increase of 0.5% from the previous year. Like all boroughs, Wandsworth has produced a Reduction and Recycling Plan (RRP) which sets out how it will contribute to my London Environment Strategy recycling targets. Wandsworth collects all of the six key
materials for dry recycling, but currently, due to contractual restraints, is not able to provide a food waste service to all kerbside properties. Wandsworth’s RRP was approved on the basis that they would trial a kerbside food waste service to inform the development of the specification for their new contract due to start in 2024.This trial is due to start this autumn. Their RRP also includes plans for recycling bins in parks, and improvements to recycling facilities for housing developments. Wandsworth’s recycling rate has increased by 1.6% from the RRP baseline year. My officers, alongside ReLondon, continue to work closely with boroughs to support them in delivering their RRP commitments.
Waste Reduction & Recycling (2) Question No: 2021/2650 Leonie Cooper Wandsworth is moving towards re-letting their waste contracts. Are your officers able to give them advice on how to incorporate segregated food waste collections, to reduce their waste collections and assist with hitting climate targets? Waste Reduction & Recycling (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Under the GLA Act, all waste authorities must notify me of their intention to procure new waste contracts, and my officers assess whether the contracts are in general conformity with my London Environment Strategy (LES). It is a requirement of the LES that boroughs offer a separate food waste service to all properties with a kerbside collection, and Wandsworth’s new contract is due to start in 2024 and before the specification is advertised it will be assessed by GLA officers against this criterion among others including a commitment to reducing the carbon emissions associated with waste collection and disposal. Through ReLondon I provide support and advice to all London boroughs on how to implement successful services that help to reduce waste, increase recycling and lower greenhouse gas emissions as well as best practice guidance, toolkits and communications assets.
Green Walls Question No: 2021/2651 Leonie Cooper Many schools are on main roads. Does the Mayor have any funding or powers available for schools to be able to put up green walls to help protect from pollution? Green Walls The Mayor
Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The decision to install green walls rests with a school’s governing body. However, as part of my focus on improving air quality, £561,000 has been provided to schools for greening projects to tackle air pollution since 2018 and £575,500 provided through my air quality audit programmes to support the implementation of measures that could reduce exposure to air pollution, including green infrastructure. My Schools Pollution Helpdesk also provides advice on the suitability of green walls as an intervention and signposts to funding. This summer I will launch my new funding programmes to create and improve green spaces and green the public realm. Schools will be eligible to apply to increase greening in their grounds. These interventions work alongside the expansion of the ULEZ and tougher Low Emission Zone standards that will lead to 92 per cent of roads meeting legal limits for nitrogen dioxide by the end of this year.
Bus Driver safety Question No: 2021/2652 Leonie Cooper Can the Mayor update me on the procedures to keep bus drivers and all the workers on our transport system safe as we come to the end of lockdown and more residents begin to use the services more frequently? Answer for Bus Driver safety The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Evictions Question No: 2021/2653 Leonie Cooper Given the end to the ban on evictions, can the Mayor update me on what he is doing to help those struggling with arrears - and what support residents in Merton and Wandsworth can access if they need help with this issue? Evictions The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I welcomed the emergency measures that the government put in place to protect renters, but I have always been clear that, on their own, they are insufficient. I am calling for the government to make grants available to renters who cannot pay their rent, or have accumulated arrears, due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic. Alongside this,
government should devolve powers for me to implement a two-year rent freeze in London, as a first step towards delivering rent controls that would make renting more affordable. The government should also act swiftly on its commitment to ban Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. Further information for renters in Merton and Wandsworth, and links to sources of advice, is available on City Hall’s website. Residents struggling with arrears may also contact their borough’s Housing Options Team.
Pride month (1) Question No: 2021/2654 Leonie Cooper With it being Pride month, can the Mayor update me on what he is doing to tackle rising levels of homophobia and transphobia, in terms of positive awareness campaigns? Pride month (1) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Homophobic abuse and all forms of hate crime have absolutely no place in our city. An attack on any Londoner based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion or disability is an attack on all of us and I am determined to do everything he can to tackle hate crime. I have invested more than £6 million to support London’s diverse communities and tackle the scourge of hate crime, as well as funding grassroots community organisations and civil society groups to stand up to hate and intolerance. The London LGBTQ+ anti-violence charity Galop works with both MOPAC and the police in developing our response to hate crime and plays a significant role in providing MOPAC funded support services to victims. The £6 million is made up of hate crime projects funded through the London Crime Prevention Fund, Small Grants Fund, and other directly commissioned services like the pan- London hate crime victim support service delivered by the CATCH partnership. The vast majority of this funding has been used for services directly supporting victims of hate crime. In addition, the MPS has a 250 strong network of LGBTQ+ Advisers (made up of police officers and staff) who work with partners to devise strategies to prevent and tackle homophobic hate crime. These advisors complement the work of the BCU Hate Crime Outcomes and Performance Officers (HCOP), advising communities how to stay safe, building trust and confidence to report hate crime when it does occur, and ensuring victims receive the specialist support that will best meet their needs. However, it’s clear more needs to be done to help victims report incidents and to prevent hate crime – which we know has risen during the pandemic. As restrictions continue to ease, we all have a role to play in calling out hate but the Government also needs to provide funding for long-lasting efforts to tackle it.
Pride month (2) Question No: 2021/2655 Leonie Cooper What the police are doing to tackle the rising hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people in our city? Answer for Pride month (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Wandsworth One Way System Question No: 2021/2656 Leonie Cooper Can the Mayor update me on the situation with funding for the changes to the Wandsworth one-way system on the South Circular/Wandsworth High Street? Answer for Wandsworth One Way System The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Alton regeneration scheme Question No: 2021/2657 Leonie Cooper Has Wandsworth Council been in contact about the revised plans for the Alton regeneration? Has there been any progress towards a formal Stage Two submission? Alton regeneration scheme The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 GLA officers are in ongoing discussions with Wandsworth Council regarding the Alton Estate application in relation to the supporting Financial Viability Appraisal and draft Section 106 agreement. A Stage 2 referral is expected in due course.
Crossrail Question No: 2021/2658 Leonie Cooper My constituents have raised issues on the safeguarding of sites along the possible Crossrail 2 route and blight on areas that may, or may not, ultimately be affected. Are you able to update me on likely progress on Crossrail 2? Crossrail The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Further to the update provided in response to MQ 2021/1693 in May, staff at Transport for London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT) continue to meet regularly to discuss the safeguarding position for Crossrail 2. The DfT recognise the need to update the 2015 Safeguarding Directions in order that they reflect the changes to the scheme following public consultation, engagement and design development over the last 6 years. However, a decision on updating the Directions is ultimately a Ministerial one and TfL is dependent on the DfT to secure the necessary agreement from the Secretary of State to progress. Therefore, at this time, TfL cannot provide a definitive timeline for when the Directions will be updated, although TfL very much hope it will be as soon as possible this year.
Replacement bus Question No: 2021/2659 Leonie Cooper Could the Mayor ask TfL to look into a replacement bus service starting at Southfields station instead of Merton Road going to Wimbledon? Constituents have to walk down Replingham Road and it is very inconvenient given the continual work ongoing on the District line. Answer for Replacement bus The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
493 bus Question No: 2021/2660 Leonie Cooper Could the Mayor update me on the 493 bus during the Wimbledon Tennis tournament and what diversion it will be taking as residents have not been able to find out what is happening with the bus route? Answer for 493 bus
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Affordable Homes starts targets Question No: 2021/2661 Len Duvall OBE What progress has been made on establishing an annual target range for expected housing starts under the Affordable Homes Programme in each year from 2021-2026? What impact has Covid-19 had on the ability to set these targets? Answer for Affordable Homes starts targets The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Use of out of court disposals issued by the Metropolitan Police Service Question No: 2021/2662 Len Duvall OBE During quarter 4 2020/21, the use of out of court disposals issued by the Metropolitan Police Service decreased by 23% compared to the previous quarter and by 58% compared to the same quarter the previous year (https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/mopac_q4_2020-21_monitoring_- _final_0.pdf). To what do you attribute this fall in out of court disposals? Answer for Use of out of court disposals issued by the Metropolitan Police Service The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Impact of Metropolitan Police Service transformation programme underspend Question No: 2021/2663 Len Duvall OBE What has been the impact of the £26.2m underspend on the Metropolitan Police Service’s transformation programme? (https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/mopac_q4_2020-21_monitoring_- _final_0.pdf).
Impact of Metropolitan Police Service transformation programme underspend The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The underspend in the transformation programme has primarily been caused by some re- alignment within the MPS major technology based programmes, including some delays linked to the impact of the COVID pandemic. This has meant that the anticipated expenditure this year was not required. The majority of this underspend has been re- forecasted to future years to align with adjusted delivery plans. This will have no impact on the overall quality of MPS transformation or ambition to ensure the MPS is ready to address future demands and meet the needs of Londoners.
EU Settlement Scheme deadline Question No: 2021/2664 Len Duvall OBE What action has the Mayor taken to ensure that all EU citizens in London are aware of the deadline of 30th June for EU Settlement Scheme? EU Settlement Scheme deadline The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 My team is working tirelessly to ensure European Londoners and their families apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) before 30 June. My European Londoners Hub continues to be updated with guidance in 28 community languages, which to date has received 1.7 million unique page views. To support people yet to apply, I have invested more than £1 million in bolstering the capacity of the immigration advice sector, including targeted funding for rough sleepers and children in care. I have provided £180,000 specifically for civil society organisations to reach people less likely to have accessed the EUSS such as people sleeping rough, people with limited English, and children. So far, grantees have reached 5,141 people with one-to- one advice. At the start of this month, I appealed to European Londoners to apply to the scheme by the deadline and will continue to ramp up this messaging as the deadline approaches.
EU Settlement Scheme support Question No: 2021/2665 Len Duvall OBE What plans does the Mayor have to support any EU Citizens in London who miss the deadline of 30th June for the EU Settlement Scheme? EU Settlement Scheme support The Mayor
Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I am continuing to call on Government to take all necessary steps to prevent a cliff edge for EU citizens on 30 June by advocating for an extension to the deadline to the EU Settlement Scheme. As it stands, tens of thousands of EU citizens and their families risk losing their rights and entitlements overnight. My European Londoners Hub provides comprehensive guidance and information for EU citizens, and I will continue to invest in new resources to support Londoners with insecure immigration status to access their rights to residency and citizenship. The Hub includes resources that explain government guidance on late applications to the EU Settlement Scheme, and I am working proactively with government departments to prevent miscommunication and misinformation about EU citizens’ rights post the 30 June deadline. I plan to continue to support those who have yet to receive status through the EU Settlement Scheme through continued strategic investment in the immigration advice sector. So far, I have invested more than £1 million in bolstering capacity, including targeted funding for rough sleepers and children in care who face some of the highest barriers to accessing the EU Settlement Scheme.
Extending voting rights Question No: 2021/2666 Len Duvall OBE Will the Mayor support the extension of voting rights for local elections for all London citizens and will he commit to making representations to government on this matter? Extending voting rights The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 In my manifesto I clearly set out my commitment to fight for all foreign nationals who contribute to our city by living, working and paying tax to be properly recognised and to be allowed to vote in elections. I also continue to back lowering the voting age to 16 to give young people power over their futures. Civic and democratic participation are key pillars of social integration. The lessons from extending voting rights to all residents in Scotland and Wales show that this increases feelings of belonging and trust and that democracy cannot work unless all voices are heard. I will continue to make this case to the Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution and stress the importance of voting rights for all London residents over the age of 16, irrespective of nationality, and not to place further barriers to participation in the form of the Government’s plans for photo voter IDs.
E-Scooter Trials (2) Question No: 2021/2667 Onkar Sahota Which disability groups were consulted before the e-scooter trials and what concerns did they commonly raise? E-Scooter Trials (2) The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) has carried out a significant programme of research and engagement to understand the views and concerns of stakeholders from diverse communities and the possible impacts of the rental e-scooter trial on people with protected characteristics, including those who have various forms of disability. This programme has helped inform TfL’s Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA), available online at https://content.tfl.gov.uk/rental-escooter-trial-2021.pdf, which details all of the engagement undertaken and when it occurred together with the concerns that were raised. TfL is committed to engaging with these groups and all groups who may be impacted throughout the trial to ensure impacts are being monitored and taken into account on an ongoing basis and addressed wherever possible.
Companion Pass Question No: 2021/2668 Onkar Sahota When you launched your re-election campaign in January 2020, you vowed to introduce a “companion pass” that would allow a relative, friend or carer to travel free on the Tube, bus and Transport for London rail network when with a disabled person. When will the companion pass be launched? Answer for Companion Pass The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Young carers Question No: 2021/2669 Onkar Sahota Young carers’ responsibilities can often have consequences for the rest of their lives, in mental and physical health problems, lost earnings, and constrained choices. What are you doing to support their wellbeing and future? Young carers
The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 We know that loneliness and isolation can and will affect some young Londoners disproportionately in normal times but COVID-19 has increased this dramatically for groups such as young carers. The Recovery Board’s New Deal for Young People mission will target support at those young people in most need including young carers. Already, over a thousand young carers have been supported by my Young Londoners Fund. Projects such as Hidden Champions, delivered by LB Waltham Forest, are ensuring that young carers have support in place, so they have higher aspirations, motivation and prospects to pursue education, training or employment. Young carers are active in my Peer Outreach Workers (POW) team, which works to ensure that young people can influence policy making and programme delivery at the GLA and wider. The POW team presented at a Carer’s Trust spring event for young adult carers on Young Carers Action Day and future partnership work is being planned with the Carers Trust.
Step-free access Question No: 2021/2670 Onkar Sahota What do the results of the TfL funding review mean for the step-free access programme? Answer for Step-free access The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Age-Friendly City Question No: 2021/2671 Joanne McCartney What steps are you taking to make London age-friendly for our older Londoners? Age-Friendly City The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 I have already worked with partmers to make significant progress on the Age-friendly London programme, since I signed London up to the WHO’s global network of age-friendly communities in 2018. My officers worked in collaboration with Age UK London and members of my Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Group to produce an action plan, setting out how the work of the GLA Group can respond to the priorities of older Londoners.
That work involved an extensive process of engagement with older Londoners that helped reveal their priority concerns at the point when the pandemic began to take hold. I drew on this and results of the engagement that has taken place with older Londoners since the pandemic began, along with intelligence from the London Community Response Survey to design the nine recovery missions and the specific projects that will underpin them. These include actions to address employment and skills, digital inclusion and maintaining physical and mental wellbeing. My deputy mayor, Debbie Weekes-Bernard will be meeting with the London Age-friendly Forum and other older people’s organisations in the coming weeks, to discuss how this work can address the needs of older Londoners. I fully anticipate that the priorities of older Londoners will be addressed through this work.
County Lines - Rescue and Response Question No: 2021/2672 Joanne McCartney How many young people from (1) Enfield and (2) Haringey have been supported through your County Lines Rescue and Response service? What support has been given to them? Answer for County Lines - Rescue and Response The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
London Gang Exit Support Service Question No: 2021/2673 Joanne McCartney How many young people from (1) Enfield and (2) Haringey have been supported though the London Gang Exit support service? What support has been given to them? Answer for London Gang Exit Support Service The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response
Rise Up Programme Question No: 2021/2674 Joanne McCartney How many youth workers in (1) Enfield and (2) Haringey have taken part in the VRU’s ‘Rise Up’ programme? What training and development have they received? Rise Up Programme The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 The Violence Reduction Unit is prioritising investment to those who hold key trusted relationships with young people most at risk of exploitation and violence. Frontline Youth Practitioners have the relationships with young people to deliver early interventions that can make all the difference to a young person’s future. ‘Rise Up’ launched on 30th September 2020 and is led by London Youth in partnership with Leap Confronting Conflict and Clore Social Leadership. Youth Practitioners receive training and mentoring development – including modules on safeguarding, mental health and employment opportunities – to act as a community-led first line of defence for young people most at risk. Full details of the leadership programme can be found online at: Rise Up: Youth Practitioners Leadership Programme. The programme currently has 94 practitioners who are directly supporting young people within their communities. 3 Youth Practitioners from Haringey and 3 Youth Practitioners from Enfield are on the Programme.
Creative Enterprise Zone Haringey Question No: 2021/2675 Joanne McCartney What has been achieved through the creation of your Creative Enterprise Zone in Haringey? Will the GLA be supporting the Zone in the future? Answer for Creative Enterprise Zone Haringey The Mayor Last updated: 29 June, 2021 Officers are drafting a response