Written Answers to questions not answered at Mayor’s Question Time on 18 November 2009

Nolan Principles Question No: 3396 / 2009 John Biggs Do you support the Nolan Principles and do you consider your office to be bound by them? Oral response

Olympic ticketing – local residents Question No: 3254 / 2009 Dee Doocey Do you share my concern that despite 7 years of disruption caused by the construction of the Olympic Park, local residents will not be entitled to any discount on the purchase of tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games? Oral response

Olympic Route Network Question No: 3634 / 2009 Victoria Borwick What consideration has been given to reserving one carriage on the Javelin for the Olympic family as an alternative to ‘Zil’ Lanes? Oral response

Press conferences Question No: 3142 / 2009 Darren Johnson Given growing concern about your lack of availability to answer questions from journalists on a wide range of topics relevant to Londoners, will you agree to follow the practice of your predecessor and re-instate weekly mayoral press conferences at City Hall? Oral response

Practical winter help for the elderly Question No: 3339 / 2009 Richard Barnbrook The Mayor is keen to ensure adequate provision for London’s elderly during the coming winter. What can he do to ensure that the need for awkward and stressful form filling is reduced? Many elderly people find these forms difficult, confusing and sometimes demeaning. Bear in

1 mind that many elderly folk will not bother to apply for assistance because of pride, and unwillingness to be seen as taking what they can regard as “something for nothing”. Does the Mayor agree we must reassure them that they have a perfect right to as much help as possible from public funds? And will the Mayor agree we have an obligation to facilitate this provision in every way? Oral response

Sports Participation Question No: 3551 / 2009 Andrew Boff As LOCOG will not be evaluating how the Olympics contributes to the level of sports participation who will? Oral response

Five Billion Savings TfL Business Plan 2009-2018 Question No: 3360 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross Please explain for the record in detail how £5bn savings are to be made from the TfL budget over the current business plan period. How much has already been saved towards this target and where was this money found? Oral response

A&E violence Question No: 3610 / 2009 James Cleverly Following reports that London A&E’s suffer from over 20,000 attacks every year, does official information support this statistic and what, if true, can be done to protect the staff and innocent patients from assault? What figures have been reported to the Met and is there a need for greater Police presence at A&E units? Oral response

Black History Month Question No: 3361 / 2009 Jennette Arnold At Young People’s Question Time on the 17th September your arts and cultural advisor said “sometimes, it can get a bit boring, doing slavery every year”. Am I to assume that you share her view as you neither intervened nor corrected her statement? Oral response

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Rough sleeping Question No: 3615 / 2009 Steve O’Connell Will the Mayor give an update on the progress made to end rough sleeping by 2012? Oral response

MPA/MPS Budget Planning Question No: 3457 / 2009 Joanne McCartney What views have you fed into the MPA/MPS budget planning process? What challenges do you foresee? Answer from the Mayor: I issued my budget guidance in June and it clearly set out the financial parameters for budget planning purposes for the Metropolitan Police Authority, taking into account the expected downturn in government grant. My current consultation with the Metropolitan Police on its own component budget confirms those financial parameters

My guidance also set out a series of priorities for the Metropolitan Police to work to over the next three years covering a series of issues including tackling rape and sexual assault, increasing effectiveness and acting on dangerous dogs

There are clearly sizeable financial challenges going forward – particularly for 2011/12 and 2012/13 which will form the first two years of the new spending review in these straitened economic times

More generally the Metropolitan Police needs to continue to engage constructively with Londoners during these difficult times, to respond to the upturn in burglary and to develop its counter-terrorism and 2012 capabilities.

London Food Board (1) Question No: 3540 / 2009 Brian Coleman What is the budget of the Food Board for London and exactly how does it “promote food”? Oral response

Improving services for London’s rail passengers Question No: 3288 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon What formal meetings have you personally held during the past month with Chief Executives of train operating companies? Oral response

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ORN (4) Question No: 3502 / 2009 Richard Tracey Would you view a fine of £5,000 for driving in an Olympic lane as excessive, considering that the standard TfL fine for driving in a bus lane is £120? Oral response

Road Safety Question No: 3143 / 2009 Jenny Jones Can you cut road safety enforcement budgets and make roads safer? Oral response

LEZ and Horseboxes Question No: 3533 / 2009 Roger Evans Given that the air quality strategy is still in draft form, are you considering making horse transportation exempt within the LEZ? Oral response

Pedestrian Guard removal Question No: 3465 / 2009 Joanne McCartney TfL is removing pedestrian guard rails around London. These are being removed without consultation with local residents, and in many cases are causing anger, concerns for safety and frustration that the public aren’t involved in any consultation on removals? As Chair of transport for London can you instruct TfL to always consult local residents’ associations for their views before any final decision is taken? Answer from the Mayor: I made clear in my election manifesto that I would instruct TfL to review the use of guard rail throughout the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) to improve the look at feel of London, and remove it wherever it was not providing a clear safety benefit.

TfL is implementing my pledge, and in each case undertakes a stringent risk assessment to confirm whether the guard railing provides a clear safety benefit. The results of these assessments, in addition to consultation with the local borough, then inform TfL’s decision for removal or retention of the guard rail. Where a risk assessment recommends that guard railing be removed, there is an audit of the safety implications of doing so by TfL’s London Road Safety Unit.

Thousands of guard rail sites are being assessed for removal. In order to ensure that TfL can manage any objections to removal at such a large number of simultaneous locations efficiently, the local borough is consulted so that they may provide TfL with their extensive local knowledge, including views expressed by local stakeholders, rather than approaching residents or residents’ associations directly on each occasion. Any comments or feedback offered by the local borough are then considered and reviewed prior to any removal.

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There is a further safety audit following removal of guard railing, and any comments received from residents are included in this audit. The audit involves the undertaking of a full road safety audit to ensure that the decision to remove the guard railing was correct.

Hotel Capacity (1) Question No: 3618 / 2009 Kit Malthouse I understand “strategically important hotel capacity”, as referred to in Policy 4.5 of the London Plan, to mean large numbers of high quality hotel bedrooms located in places of strategic importance to visitors and tourists with good local transport links to the rest of the capital. Will you consider clarifying the definition of “strategically important hotel capacity” in the next draft of the London Plan and will this definition broadly conform to one I have outlined above? Answer from the Mayor: My replacement London Plan is currently subject to public consultation and I welcome any suggestions on how it can be made more effective in achieving my vision and objectives for London.

I will take your suggested definition of ‘strategically important hotel capacity’ as a useful and constructive contribution to the consultation process and take it into account when finalising the Plan in light of the wider recommendations of the Panel on the Plan’s Examination in Public.

Empty flats above shops - audit Question No: 3256 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Will your audit of empty homes include flats above shops, which often are not recorded as empty homes? Oral response

School buses (1) Question No: 3596 / 2009 Tony Arbour How many dedicated school buses does Transport for London operate? Answer from the Mayor: Most journeys to/from school are catered for by the main bus network. However there are some locations where there is insufficient bus capacity. In these circumstances TfL run special school services.

There are 73 routes that conform to this criteria. In addition there are a number of additional journeys that operate on main bus routes that provide extra capacity to meet specific school demands.

Biking boroughs (1) Question No: 3155 / 2009 Jenny Jones Can you confirm that Biking Boroughs will have no extra funds to directly address barriers to

5 cycling in Outer London? Answer from the Mayor: The principle behind biking boroughs is to enable a borough to develop strategic plans that maximise the economic, health and environmental benefits of cycling.

Biking boroughs seek to promote cycling in an integrated way; combining smarter travel interventions and investment in infrastructure and traffic management. All of these measures to address the barriers to cycling in outer London can be delivered via existing LIPs funding, so that no additional funding streams are currently proposed. It’s a question of using our resources in a smarter and more integrated way.

However, TfL is currently reviewing what practical support boroughs would need to achieve their aspirations as biking boroughs. In practice this is likely to include supporting the sharing of best practice among boroughs and assisting in disseminating information on key cycling issues.

I am investing a record £111.3M this year in cycling. This is not only on infrastructure projects such as the Cycle Hire Scheme and Cycle Superhighways but also borough level training and cycle parking across London.

Brick Lane Question No: 3582 / 2009 Andrew Boff Will the Mayor encourage the setting up of a special team dedicated to the policing of Brick Lane? Answer from the Mayor: Decisions about policing levels for Brick Lane are operational policing matters for the local borough commander.

However, as a busy area with a thriving market I would expect the police to be considering and regularly reviewing the level of resources needed. I understand the area already attracts significant attention from local agencies, and benefits from a dedicated Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Decisions about resource needs are best made at the local level, with the police working closely with local businesses, residents groups and the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

PAYG Rail Question No: 3466 / 2009 Joanne McCartney When will PAYG be available on London’s rail network? Answer from the Mayor: As I announced on 23 November, Oyster pay as you go will be introduced on National Rail services within Greater London from 2 January 2010.

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Questions for Written Answer * London Farms, crime data (1) Question No: 3144 / 2009 Jenny Jones London farmers report that they suffer from trespass, theft and vandalism which can negatively affect many farm businesses. What crime data is collected specifically for London’s farming sector? Answer from the Mayor: Please see my response to MQ3145 / 2009.

* London Farms, crime data (2) Question No: 3145 / 2009 Jenny Jones If crime data is not collected specifically for London’s farming sector, would you consider looking at ways of collecting this data? Answer from the Mayor: I have been informed by the MPS that crime data relating to farms in London can be identified and researched at a local borough level and addressed at Ward Panels through the Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

The key concerns such as incidents of trespass, theft and vandalism (criminal damage) can best be managed and addressed in this way. *

Free Range Poultry at London Question No: 3146 / 2009 Jenny Jones Will the London 2012 food strategy require that all chicken and egg products served at the Olympic and Paralympic Games by both official sponsors and other caterers are (as a minimum standard) free range and that they will have the RSPCA’s farm assurance mark or equivalent? Answer from the Mayor: LOCOG will launch its games-time food strategy next month, setting out the product sourcing standards for each food group. Eggs served across the Games will be British Lion Mark Free Range; poultry will be British Red Tractor Assured; and a target will be set across the games for RSPCA Freedom Food Certified chicken.

Recycling at Thames Festival (1) Question No: 3147 / 2009 Jenny Jones What was the total tonnage of waste collected at the 2009 Thames Festival, and what proportion of this was recycled?

7 Answer from the Mayor: The Thames Festival Trust engages a professional waste management contractor whose existing code of practice is for as much waste as is practicable to be recycled. Final figures on the total tonnage of waste is currently being evaluated, statistics received from the professional waste management contractors indicate in the region of 70% recycling achieved with 30% going to landfill. *

Recycling at Thames Festival (2) Question No: 3148 / 2009 Jenny Jones How was recycling made visible at the 2009 Thames Festival? Answer from the Mayor: Waste bins distributed across the festival site are either labelled or colour coded to enable waste to be differentiated i.e. food waste, glass and mixed waste. The Thames Festival Trust worked with the SEED Foundation and Southwark Council to manage the waste produced at the ‘Feast on the Bridge’. A SEED Foundation team collected the food waste from the public up and down the bridge and showed the public how the waste was being sorted. An anaerobic digester was stationed on the bridge collecting much of the traders’ food waste and processing it for agricultural use. A composting display was also located on the bridge to promote home composting and all of the waste collected by the SEED Foundation was composted off site. *

Uninsured vehicles Question No: 3149 / 2009 Jenny Jones What was the anticipated income for 2009/10 from action against uninsured vehicles by the Metropolitan Police, and what is now the anticipated short fall? Will this affect the financing of your scheme to expand the presence of police officers on buses? Answer from the Mayor: The anticipated target for income raised from seizing uninsured vehicles for 2009/10 was £3.2 million. This was based on an originally projected total of 60,000 seizures over the course of the year. The current projected number of seizures is 36,000. This translates into a projected shortfall of £1.3 million.

It is recognised that, for boroughs, this is a new initiative requiring a different focus and approach. Boroughs are being provided with support and a higher level of activity is expected in the next financial year.

The shortfall will not affect the financing of the police presence on buses (Operation Tyrol) as income received from uninsured vehicles from the year 2008/9 has been set aside as a contingency for such eventualities.

* Cycle safety action plan Question No: 3150 / 2009 Jenny Jones Having launched the cycle safety action plan at an HGV awareness event in Lambeth where HGV drivers are trained in cycle awareness, will the Mayor be rolling out a similar scheme to HGV drivers across London, and in particular as part of the Cycle Superhighways project?

8 Answer from the Mayor: The Cycle Safety Action Plan was launched at a HGV/cycle safety event which was organised by the London Borough of Lambeth. At the event, cyclists were invited to experience the view of the road from inside an HGV cab, to discuss with the driver the problems of limited visibility from the vehicle and to receive general cycle safety information.

While on this occasion the event was organised by Lambeth, other events are also organised on a regular basis in London by the Metropolitan Police. TfL will provide relevant materials (e.g. maps, leaflets) to support such events where appropriate.

Safety is a core consideration in the development and delivery of the proposed Cycle Superhighways. TfL is planning such events to promote the specific issue of cycling safely with HGVs when the routes are opened and is liaising with relevant organisations on that matter.

* Cycle superhighways (1) Question No: 3151 / 2009 Jenny Jones If the Mayor’s objectives for first class Cycle Superhighways are to be achieved a reduction in road space for motor vehicles will be necessary in some places. When faced with this choice will the Mayor sanction the reduced capacity for motor vehicles or instead opt for a sub-standard Cycle Superhighway? Answer from the Mayor: The extent of the potential impact to general traffic is being considered whilst Cycle Superhighways are being designed. Where traffic impacts are manageable within the overall network, space will be given over to cyclists. Where traffic impacts are significant, mitigations will be considered to find the best balance for both cyclists and motorists. A key objective of the pilot routes is to explore and assess the way motorists and cyclists respond to different road layouts, while keeping cyclist safety a priority.

* Cycle superhighways (2) Question No: 3152 / 2009 Jenny Jones What is the cost breakdown on the £22m for the two pilot Cycle Superhighways? Answer from the Mayor: This is set out in the table below.

£ million Route 3 Route 7 Total Infrastructure costs 3.27 5.53 8.80 Design, legal, property, management and monitoring costs 1.30 1.75 3.05 ‘Smarter travel’ costs (‘home’ and ‘work’ end measures including cycle parking, work facilities, training, information and communication) 2.90 2.91 5.81 Risk and contingency 2.05 3.28 5.33

Total 9.52 13.47 22.99

9 * Cycle superhighways (3) Question No: 3153 / 2009 Jenny Jones Will the specification for Advanced Stop Lines on Cycle Superhighways ensure they are large enough to ensure that the drivers of HGVs can see all cyclists inside them? Answer from the Mayor: Yes. Advanced Stop Lines (ASLs) will be constructed in line with the London Cycling Design Standards. The preferred length of the ASL reservoir for cyclists is 5m with a minimum of 4m. *

Cycle superhighways (4) Question No: 3154 / 2009 Jenny Jones Will additional policing resources be allocated to monitor and enforce Advanced Stop Lines, cycle lanes and speed limits on Cycle Superhighways? Answer from the Mayor: Transport for London is currently progressing work on Cycle Superhighways and is keeping the MPS Traffic Operational Command Unit updated on progress. Within the current budgetary constraints there are no plans to allocate additional policing resources to these areas.

However, the Traffic Operational Command Unit is working with City of London Police, who are leading for both organisations, on a review of Advanced Stop boxes with the Department for Transport and also engaging with partners to reduce cycling fatalities involving lorries. This multi-agency group may broaden its remit to include wider cycling safety issues. *

Biking boroughs (2) Question No: 3156 / 2009 Jenny Jones The Transport Strategy figure of a 400% increase in cycling by 2025 is based upon a Transport for London calculation of the number of potential new cycling trips in London. Given that cycle hire and superhighways account for a small proportion of this potential increase, with the bulk of the potential new trips being on boroughs roads, have you calculated how many boroughs will need to become Biking Boroughs in order to achieve the Transport Strategy target? Will your Transport Strategy include targets for the number of Biking Boroughs? Answer from the Mayor: Achieving a 400% increase in cycling trips in London by 2025 will require a significant uplift in cycling across all London boroughs. Analysis of the number of potential trips that could be transferred from car and public transport modes to cycling suggests that the potential for mode shift to bike is particularly high in outer London boroughs. The draft Transport Strategy does not set targets for a number of Biking Boroughs required in future – rather TfL will aim to work collaboratively with all boroughs which are interested in prioritising cycling and increasing cycling rates in their area. *

10 Biking boroughs (3) Question No: 3157 / 2009 Jenny Jones Will your Transport Strategy include borough by borough targets for the number of new cyclists? Answer from the Mayor: The draft Transport Strategy does not include borough-based targets for cycling. The decision on whether to adopt local targets for cycling is one for boroughs themselves to make, informed by London policy – such as the Transport Strategy – and local circumstances, priorities and conditions. TfL will aim to work collaboratively to develop a Biking Borough Plan with any borough that is interested in prioritising cycling and increasing cycling rates in their area.

* Exchanges Places Question No: 3158 / 2009 Jenny Jones How many ‘Exchanges Places’ events for cyclists were held in London in 2008/09? How many of these were organised by the CVEU? Answer from the Mayor: There were two ‘Exchanging Places’ events organised in 2008 and nine events in 2009. Of those, two were organised by the Commercial Vehicle Education Unit. These events are normally organised by the MPS Traffic Operational Command Unit and supported by the Commercial Vehicle Education Unit. Approximately ten further events have been arranged across the MPS through Borough Road Safety Officers. For 2010, the Traffic Operational Command Unit is planning to hold an event each month to support a reduction in those either killed or seriously injured through cycling.

* Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (1) Question No: 3159 / 2009 Jenny Jones Your draft Cycle Safety Action Plan puts great stress upon membership of the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme. What is the current gap between current FORS membership and the London Freight Plan target to sign up 75 per cent of Transport for London, Greater London Authority group, and boroughs’ own and contracted fleets to FORS by spring 2010? What additional resources are you committing in order to bridge this gap? Answer from the Mayor: The current FORS sign-up of Transport for London, Greater London Authority group, and boroughs’ own and contracted fleets is approximately 30%. London Fire Brigade is already a bronze FORS member and as at 6 November, of the 19 London boroughs signed up to FORS, seven are now accredited bronze FORS members.

The Managing Director of TfL Surface Transport has recently written to all TfL fleet managers encouraging them to ensure both their own fleets and those of contracted suppliers are registered with FORS.

With the launch of my Responsible Procurement code, which also promotes FORS membership, it is forecast that FORS will be able to secure 50% sign-up by the end of March 2010. However with existing financial constraints, no additional resources are planned to bridge this gap.

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Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (2) Question No: 3160 / 2009 Jenny Jones What resources are there in the Transport for London Business Plan to enable you to reach the target in the Freight Transport Plan of 50 per cent of HGV and van fleets serving London being signed up to FORS by spring 2016? Answer from the Mayor: TfL’s Business Plan sets aside approximately £800,000 per year funding for the FORS initiative.

Since the launch of FORS in the autumn of 2008 and from a standing start, a significant number of organisations have signed up to FORS. Membership currently equates to 36,606 vehicles across London or 11.1% of London’s commercial fleet.

At this rate and with the FORS brand now being actively promoted, I have no reason to believe that the 2016 target will not be reached in good time. *

Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (3) Question No: 3161 / 2009 Jenny Jones Freight companies being in legal compliance is a minimum requirement of membership of the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme, with companies losing their membership if they fail to meet this requirement. The Freight Plan makes clear that the Commercial Vehicle Education Unit has a lead role in ensuring legal compliance and monitoring it. Who will take over this function? Answer from the Mayor: FORS bronze membership requires an operator to demonstrate that they are using best practices to ensure (as far as reasonably practicable), that they would be highly unlikely to be prosecuted or other enforcement action taken in the unfortunate event that they were involved in a collision or incident affecting personal safety.

Each of the enforcement agencies in the FORS partnership: the Health & Safety Executive, Metropolitan Police Service and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, undertake legal compliance testing and monitoring as part of their normal activities.

If a FORS member is subject to enforcement action from any of the partners, information is shared with the FORS partnership to ensure membership is either revoked or an improvement action plan issued. This arrangement remains unaltered by the change in funding for the Commercial Vehicle Education Unit.

* Cycle safety and speed reduction Question No: 3162 / 2009 Jenny Jones Do you have an ideological objection to the inclusion of speed reduction or 20mph zones/limits in your draft Cycle Safety Action Plan and is this linked to your cut in funding for safety cameras in London?

12 Answer from the Mayor: I have no ideological objection to 20mph zones and recognise the road safety and environmental benefits they bring to communities. I support London boroughs that want more 20mph zones, ideally without using engineering measures such as road humps. There is no link to the funding for Safety Cameras.

In 2006, the Department for Transport committed to providing TfL with £12.5m funding for road safety measures in 2009/10. The DfT subsequently withdrew this funding from TfL’s settlement. The continued funding of the LSCP was therefore unbudgeted and as a result there has been a 50% reduction in funding.

* Uninsured drivers Question No: 3163 / 2009 Jenny Jones Given the success of Operation Reclaim and the scope for further enforcement work by the Metropolitan Police, do you now agree that the target of a year on year reduction in the number of uninsured drivers would be a good idea? Answer from the Mayor: The general contribution that Operation Reclaim can make to both crime disruption and road safety is recognised. However, the MPS informs me that at the moment, there is no accurate data on which to base a target of a reduction in uninsured drivers.

Nevertheless, this is expected to change in the future with the introduction of ‘Continuous Insurance Enforcement’ where the Motor Insurers Database (MID) will be able to be compared to the vehicle record held by the DVLA. This is not scheduled to be fully implemented until 2011 and, from that date, it will be possible to consider - in light of the data - what the most effective approach to reducing the number of uninsured drivers should be.

* Cycle parking in Trafalgar Square Question No: 3164 / 2009 Jenny Jones What are you doing to provide secure and supervised cycle parking in or around Trafalgar Square? Answer from the Mayor: In response to the strike by some London Underground tube drivers in June, TfL provided secure, supervised cycle parking at Trafalgar Square. This was a temporary measure designed to meet the demand generated by those who cycled as an alternative and it had good public take up.

More generally, I am aware that there is a shortage of provision for cycle parking in this area. Some provision has been made for cyclists in the Abingdon Street car park and there may be spare capacity for cycle parking in other underground car parks within the Westminster security zone. TfL is continuing to explore what might be possible.

TfL has this year been working with the Cross River Partnership to establish a secure cycle park in a Westminster City Council owned car park. Progress is dependent on the City Council reaching favourable contractual arrangements with its car park managers.

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13 Road safety Question No: 3165 / 2009 Jenny Jones Thank you for your answer to my question 2700 / 2009 regarding data recorders. What are the reasons given for not fitting them to police motorbikes? What would be the cost of retrofitting data recorders to a) the black cab fleet b) buses? Answer from the Mayor: Data recorders must be mounted horizontally for accurate data recording. Any deviation from this alters the value of the force recorded.

Motorcycles tilt as they negotiate bends and carry out overtaking manoeuvres. This generates forces that are not in the horizontal plane as required by the data recorder. The MPS assessment is therefore that the data collected will not be robust. Work is underway to identify a reliable system that can be installed on motorcycles.

TfL does not currently have any plans to require the fitting of incident data recorders in taxis. London’s 21,500 licensed taxis are involved in very few fatal or serious injury collisions and to date a case has not been made for fitting them with data recorders. However, the cost of retrofitting data recorders to the black cab fleet if fitted through the MPS contract would be in the region of £600 per vehicle.

TfL is not able accurately to estimate the cost of retrofitting data recorders to buses. However, bus operators are considering fitting equipment that monitors driving performance, primarily for environmental management purposes. TfL is encouraging this move for the emission reduction and fuel efficiency benefits that should arise.

Alternative fuel discount (1) Question No: 3166 / 2009 Jenny Jones Will there be any change to the Alternative Fuel Discount as a result of the Transport for London TfL review of Congestion Charging discounts and exemptions? Answer from the Mayor: TfL is undertaking a review of discounts and exemptions to the Congestion Charge. This includes a review of the discount given to vehicles which use alternative fuels and whether there is now a better way to apply a discount for ‘greener’ vehicles while at the same time ensuring that the primary purpose of reducing congestion and traffic levels in central London is maintained.

TfL will report to me in December on the findings and until that time I do not want to speculate about any potential changes. Any proposed changes to discounts and exemptions would be subject to public consultation.

* Alternative fuel discount (2) Question No: 3167 / 2009 Jenny Jones Will you be asking Transport for London to implement their original proposal to replace the Alternative Fuel Discount with a discount for band A & B vehicles?

14 Answer from the Mayor: I have asked TfL to undertake a review of discounts and exemptions to the Congestion Charge. This includes a review of the discount given to vehicles which use alternative fuels and whether there is now a better way to apply a discount for ‘greener’ vehicles while at the same time ensuring that the primary purpose of reducing congestion and traffic levels in central London is maintained.

TfL will report to me in December on the findings and until that time I do not want to speculate about any potential changes. Any proposed changes to discounts and exemptions would be subject to public consultation.

* Crossrail construction Question No: 3168 / 2009 Jenny Jones Have you sought advice on whether it is legally possible for Crossrail construction contracts to specify that all HGV drivers used must have mandatory training in cycling safety and that all lorries must fit side bars, additional mirrors and /or other safety devices? Answer from the Mayor: Crossrail views the safety of all road users, including cyclists as a priority. Crossrail has given a parliamentary commitment (no. 577) to provide lorry drivers with training to ensure that they are aware of sharing the roads with cyclists. Crossrail supports the draft recommendations in the Mayor’s Cycling Safety Action Plan and is engaging cycling groups, the Police and other stakeholders to develop its strategy which promotes the safety of vulnerable road users during the construction of the railway. This will include driver training and vehicle standards such as mirrors. Relevant requirements from the strategy will be part of Crossrail contracts.

* Congestion Charge exemption Question No: 3169 / 2009 Jenny Jones Will you consider exempting or reimbursing the congestion charge for vehicles carrying patients to and from hospices, given that a similar scheme currently operates to reimburse patients attending NHS appointments or admission who are clinically assessed as being too ill, weak or disabled to travel on public transport? Answer from the Mayor: I have asked TfL to undertake a review of discounts and exemptions to the Congestion Charge. This will include a review of the NHS scheme. The NHS Re-imbursement Scheme is not an exemption, but rather a reimbursement of the charge for those patients receiving care under the auspices of the NHS. The reimbursement scheme was developed following consultation with the NHS, patient groups and the public.

I do not necessarily consider it appropriate to widen the reimbursement scheme. However, I have asked TfL to give further consideration to the scheme as part of the wider review. TfL is due to report back to me in December on the findings, and until that time I do not want to speculate on any potential changes. Any proposed changes to the Scheme would be subject to public consultation. **

15 Supplementary Planning Guidance Question No: 3171 / 2009 Jenny Jones Can you set out a timetable for any new Supplementary Planning Guidance and any revisions to existing Supplementary Planning Guidance that you are planning? Answer from the Mayor: As far as guidance relating to the current London Plan is concerned, I anticipate publishing the new London View Management Framework next spring (subject to ministerial approval of the necessary directions). I have also recently published for consultation draft supplementary guidance on housing to support the existing London Plan. Subject to the outcome of the examination in public next month, I intend publishing the guidance to support the proposed alterations to the Plan to enable contributions to be raised through the planning system towards the cost of Crossrail. I do not currently intend issuing any further guidance supporting the existing Plan.

Officers are considering which areas it might be worthwhile to bring forward draft guidance to support the draft replacement London Plan to help inform its public examination next summer. These are likely to include housing, town centres (including retail and leisure), the Central Activities Zone, accessibility and inclusive design, sustainable design and construction and energy. Decisions about final publication of these would have to be taken in the light of the outcome of the examination in public. *

Planning for renewable energy Question No: 3172 / 2009 Jenny Jones A coalition of more than 30 major organisations, led by the Town and Country Planning Association, has recently called for councils to face a duty to map out renewable energy opportunities in their area. In the light of this, will you strengthen the weak language in London Plan Policy 5.7, which only recommends that boroughs “may… identify broad areas where specific renewable energy technologies… are appropriate”? Answer from the Mayor: I strongly support this position, and I have used the strongest language possible in the draft of the new London Plan to require boroughs to plan for renewable energy. You misrepresent what the London Plan says on this issue. Policy 5.7 does not state “boroughs may”, rather it states “boroughs should”. Further to this the draft Plan also specifically states in Policy 5.5 that boroughs should develop decentralised energy network opportunities and energy master plans, and the GLA, LDA and London Councils are rolling out a decentralised energy support package to boroughs to help them to do this. These actions will also support the development of renewable energy opportunities in their areas. I believe the policies in the new London Plan follow exactly what the TCPA contemplates and provides an example to national government of the sort of policies they should be outlining to achieve this.

* Affordable housing (1) Question No: 3173 / 2009 Jenny Jones Your Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2008) highlights the need for 18,200 new affordable homes per year, of which 80% should be social rented housing. Your London Plan projects 13,200 new affordable homes per year – 27% lower – and only 60% will be social housing. This projects only half the need for social housing being met. What else are you doing 16 to address this gap in provision? Answer from the Mayor: Meeting the affordable housing targets in my London Plan would mean more new social housing provided in London than any time since the mid 1990s. In addition to new conventional housing supply, the affordable housing delivery targets in my draft London Housing Strategy also include acquisitions of social housing, of which there were nearly 2,000 in 2007/08. The provision of additional intermediate housing should also help free up some social housing to meet needs, as current social housing tenants are given priority when applying for intermediate housing. I am also exploring options for freeing up social housing by improving options for tenants looking to move out of London. *

Affordable housing (2) Question No: 3174 / 2009 Jenny Jones Have you considered the impact of any possible future reductions in housing benefit payments on the availability of affordable housing? Answer from the Mayor: The Government has not announced any plans that would reduce the levels of housing benefit paid to those in affordable housing.

* Affordable housing (3) Question No: 3175 / 2009 Jenny Jones Your recently published economic evidence base states that the measure of housing unaffordability – the ratio of lower quartile house prices to lower quartile earnings – has more than doubled since 1997 from 4 to 9. Given that your home building targets are of the same order of magnitude as your predecessor, have you any evidence that your plans will slow or reverse these long-term trends? Answer from the Mayor: The minimum housing provision targets in my draft replacement London Plan make the greatest possible use of London's housing capacity consistent with enhancing the environment and providing better quality homes. They therefore go as far as practicably possible towards slowing or reversing the trend of increasing unaffordability by increasing supply, given the constrained availability of land in London.

* Affordable housing (4) Question No: 3176 / 2009 Jenny Jones In your housing target negotiations with the boroughs, have you had any conversations about building more social housing in areas with predominantly market housing? Answer from the Mayor: My negotiations on housing targets with London boroughs have focused on overall deliverability rather than the specifics of individual sites. My draft London Housing Strategy and draft replacement London Plan set out clear policies to improve the tenure balance of the housing stock across London.

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Community Land Trusts (1) Question No: 3177 / 2009 Jenny Jones What progress has been made on the proposal for a Community Land Trust scheme on the Tower Hamlets site known as Bow Lock? Answer from the Mayor: LB Tower Hamlets is the owner of this site. They decided that this was not a suitable location for a Community Land Trust. *

Community Land Trusts (2) Question No: 3178 / 2009 Jenny Jones By when would an agreement need to be secured to ensure that some affordable housing in the Olympic Park is delivered via a Community Land Trust? Answer from the Mayor: The Olympic Park Legacy Company is responsible for the long term planning, development, management and maintenance of the Olympic Park after the London 2012 Games. The ODA is delivering 2,800 homes in the Olympic Village, half of which will be affordable. There is a strong commitment from the Company to deliver high quality, long term affordable housing within the Olympic Park as part of the mix of housing. This will be an important factor in creating a sustainable and vibrant neighbourhood where people will choose to live. As part of the Company’s planning and preparation phase, discussions with the London Citizens, the Development Trust Association, key partners and my own office are already underway to explore how Community Land Trusts and other similar models may be involved in delivering affordable housing. At this early stage no deadline has been set for securing an agreement to determine the best arrangements, but it would certainly need to follow on from the determination of the legacy planning applications which are due to be submitted next year.

* Columbus Tower Question No: 3179 / 2009 Jenny Jones Was your decision to take over the Columbus Tower planning application based on any criteria additional to the thresholds and policy tests set out in the GLA Act 2007? If the answer is yes, can you publish your criteria for the benefit of the Assembly and the boroughs? If you haven’t developed your own additional criteria, should we expect that you would take over all planning applications that meet the thresholds and policy tests? Answer from the Mayor: My decision to take over the Columbus Tower planning application was based on the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008:

Where I consider that:

1) The development or any of the issues raised by the development to which the application relates is of such a nature or scale that it would have a significant impact on the implementation of the London Plan.

18 2) The development or any of the issues raised by the development to which the application relates has significant effects that are likely to affect more than one London Borough. 3) There are sound planning reasons for issuing the direction.

And where I have taken account of the extent to which the council is achieving, and has achieved any other targets set out in the development plan.

I also had regard to the guidance set out in GOL Circular 1/2008 and was generally mindful of the commitment that I have made to let councils make their own decisions except in exceptional circumstances.

The reasons for taking over this application were clearly set out in the officer’s report (dated 26 August 2009 Ref: PDU/2350/02). *

LGBT liaison officers (1) Question No: 3180 / 2009 Jenny Jones Can you provide a breakdown of hate crimes and attacks recorded against LGBT victims by borough for each of the past five years? Answer from the Mayor: The table attached as Appendix A contains statistics relating to recorded homophobic offence by borough every financial year since 2004/05. *

LGBT liaison officers (2) Question No: 3181 / 2009 Jenny Jones Can you provide the number of full time police LGBT Liaison Officers, and the number of part time LGBT Liaison Officers, for each borough for each of the past five years? Answer from the Mayor: Unfortunately the MPS is unable to provide this information for each borough over the past five years. However, currently there are 212 LGBT Liaison Officers across the London boroughs. Officers in the main carry out this role in addition to other duties. *

Rape crisis centres Question No: 3182 / 2009 Jenny Jones What specific revenue and capital commitments have been secured from Ealing Council and other partners for the proposed Rape Crisis Centre in Ealing? What commitments remain to be secured? Answer from the Mayor: I have secured both revenue and capital commitments from Ealing Council for the new West London Rape Crisis Centre.

19 Ealing Council has specifically committed to provide a location (and relevant capital costs) to locate the new Rape Crisis Centre and additional revenue funding to cover the running costs. In addition, Ealing Council has allocated significant resources by way of officer time to project manage and develop the new service. Ealing officers have worked closely with the Rape Crisis, England and Wales network to ensure that they develop a service that will meet the Rape Crisis national service standards.

Ealing Council will be able to make more information available following their Cabinet discussions on 1 December 2009.

* Urban waste water treatment Question No: 3183 / 2009 Darren Johnson Will your Water Strategy urgently address the threat of legal action being taken due to London’s failure to comply with the 1991 Urban Waste Water Directive, which required that no raw sewage was discharged into the Thames by the year 2000? Answer from the Mayor: My draft Water Strategy addresses this issue in Chapter 5, Disposal of Waste Water, and particularly Proposal 10, which supports the cost effective implementation of the Thames Tideway Sewers with minimal disruption to Londoners. Furthermore, my draft replacement London Plan also supports this project and sets the strategic planning framework for it to be delivered. On the back of this I have objected to a number of London Borough Development Plans that have not recognised the need for the project.

The EU are continuing to maintain the pressure on us to deliver the project but I don’t believe that any particular further legal action can be justified whilst we are making progress with this enormously complex and expensive project. *

Christmas Waste (1) Question No: 3184 / 2009 Darren Johnson Do you have any figures on how much extra household waste was generated during the last Christmas season? Answer from the Mayor: We do not have weekly or monthly waste figures for London. London boroughs are required to submit tonnage figures quarterly to Defra and the 2008/09 figures have just been released, however it is not possible to attribute a change in waste tonnage to the Christmas season from this data. WRAP estimate that in the UK we generate an additional 10% of waste over the Christmas period.

* Christmas Waste (2) Question No: 3185 / 2009 Darren Johnson Will you be providing any specific advice on reducing Christmas waste through your ‘recycle for London’ campaign?

20 Answer from the Mayor: Yes, Recycle for London is in the process of applying for funding and putting in place plans to draw attention to several key issues that are particularly relevant over the Christmas period.

In conjunction with national activity and in partnership with WRAP, the campaign will promote minimisation of food waste, in particular offering practical advice to plan food shopping and use freezers for more efficient food storage. The campaign will also raise awareness about the opportunities for recycling small electrical items.

The campaign will also support boroughs in providing specific information to residents including changes to recycling collection dates and instructions for recycling Christmas trees. *

Textile recycling Question No: 3186 / 2009 Darren Johnson Of the textiles in London’s municipal waste stream, how much is (1) landfilled, (2) incinerated, (3) reused and (4) recycled? Answer from the Mayor: In order to inform the strategy we have developed a waste management model, this suggests the following final outcomes for the 120,000 tonnes of textiles originating from municipal sources in 2008: 9% recycled; 29% incinerated; 63% landfilled.

We do not have a figure for textile re-use, however the London Community Recycling Network estimates 3800 tonnes of household waste is re-used, with 30% of this being textiles.

We consider textiles to be a priority material to increase the rate of re-use and recycling due to the high carbon footprint associated with producing textiles from raw materials. *

Methane extraction from landfill (1) Question No: 3187 / 2009 Darren Johnson Has any research been carried out into the potential methane that could be extracted from London’s operational and filled landfill sites for conversion into bio fuels, for electrical or heat generation? Answer from the Mayor: Within the draft replacement London Plan, currently out to consultation, Table 5.1 “Targets for installed energy capacity generated from renewables” sets out the potential electricity contribution from methane extracted from London’s operational landfill sites to 2025. Methane extracted from these landfill sites is expected to contribute 7MWe of London’s renewable energy capacity each year until 2025. This is equivalent to providing electricity to about 1700 homes each year.

I am not aware of any research on the potential methane that could be extracted from London’s filled landfill sites for conversion to bio fuels or for electricity or heat generation. My waste strategy will support the extraction of methane from London’s landfill sites for conversion into biofuels, and to generate heat and electricity.

*

21 Methane extraction from landfill (2) Question No: 3188 / 2009 Darren Johnson How many operational and filled landfill sites are there in Greater London? How many of these are currently extracting methane for conversion into bio fuels, for electrical or heat generation? Answer from the Mayor: London has two operational landfill sites (Rainham and Beddington) accepting municipal waste and methane is extracted from both for electricity generation. There are a number of other operational landfill sites in London although these accept largely inert materials such as rubble, aggregates and stones from construction, demolition and excavation activities, and produce very little methane worth extracting for energy conversion.

I do not know how many filled landfill sites there are in Greater London or whether they are extracting methane for energy conversion. I am however aware that Gasrec, the UK’s first commercial producer of liquid biomethane fuel and SITA UK are producing liquid biomethane (‘LBM’) fuel from methane extracted from SITA UK’s Albury landfill site in Surrey. More information on this can be found at http://www.sita.co.uk/about-us/news/press- releases/gasrec-boc-and-sita-uk-announce-first-fuel.

Please also refer to my answer to MQ3187 / 2009.

* Methane extraction from landfill (3) Question No: 3189 / 2009 Darren Johnson Will your waste strategy have specific policies to maximise the extraction of methane gas from landfill sites both operational and filled ones? Answer from the Mayor: My Waste Strategy will support and encourage the extraction of methane gas from both operational and filled landfill sites for energy generation, including conversion to transport fuel. If you have specific ideas on policy proposals I would be happy to hear them. *

Methane extraction from landfill (4) Question No: 3190 / 2009 Darren Johnson Is the London Waste and Recycling Board working with any companies involved with the extraction of methane from landfill sites in Greater London? Answer from the Mayor: The London Waste and Recycling Board is not currently working directly with any companies involved with the extraction of methane from landfill sites in Greater London. I expect partnerships with such companies will be established through the Board’s brokerage service to develop waste projects converting landfill gas into energy.

*

22 Nuclear waste trains (1) Question No: 3191 / 2009 Darren Johnson Can you confirm that nuclear waste will continue to be transported through London during the period of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games? Answer from the Mayor: The transportation of spent nuclear fuel through London by rail is undertaken by Direct Rail Services, a company owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency. This is regulated and monitored by the Government and therefore falls outside of my jurisdiction. I am therefore unable to confirm if nuclear waste will be transported through London during the 2012 Games. May I suggest your question is better placed to the Government?

Nuclear waste trains (2) Question No: 3192 / 2009 Darren Johnson Are there any plans to divert the trains carry nuclear waste from Sizewell which currently use the North London line between Stratford and Hackney Wick, which is through the 2012 Games site? Answer from the Mayor: The transportation of spent nuclear fuel through London by rail is undertaken by Direct Rail Services, a company owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency. This is regulated and monitored by the Government and therefore falls outside of my jurisdiction. I am therefore not aware of any plans to divert trains. May I suggest your question is better placed to the Government?

* Building Energy Efficiency Programme Question No: 3193 / 2009 Darren Johnson In answer to question 2669/2009, you stated ‘there has not been a cut in the budget for the Building Energy Efficiency Programme’. However, an appendix to the LDA board papers entitled ‘Savings Briefing Note’ indicates that the 09/10 budget for BEEP was £4.506m ‘pre-savings’ and that the revised budget for 09/10 is £2.006m. Could you please set the record straight on whether the budget for BEEP has been reduced as a result of the budget shortfall at the LDA? Answer from the Mayor: The Building Energy Efficiency Programme budget (BEEP) has not been reduced as a result of the Olympic land cost overrun. The total BEEP budget has remained the same at £9.5 million. However, there has been a change in the profiling of the budget across the 3 year programme.

The draft 2009/10 budget allocation was initially £4million but it has been reduced to £2m as it was clear that this would be sufficient. The additional £2m initially allocated to 2009/10 has been reprofiled into 2010/11 and 2011/12 to support the main implementation phase of the programme.

To confirm the overall programme budget has remained the same at £9.5m (for annual breakdown see previous MQ 2669 response). *

23 Appointment to LFEPA (1) Question No: 3194 / 2009 Darren Johnson Given that your appointment of borough representatives on LFEPA is supposed to reflect political proportionality are you going to replace Cllr Betty Evans-Jacas (who was appointed as a Labour representative but has since defected to the Conservatives) with a new representative in order to ensure proportionality? Answer from the Mayor: The GLA Act is very clear on this point – my appointments to LFEPA must reflect the balance of the parties at the time the appointment is made. This applied in June 2008 and June 2009 and will apply again in June 2010 and June 2011. The Act is also clear that a change in the balance of the parties during the period of the appointment is not a legitimate ground on which to terminate an appointment.

* Appointment to LFEPA (2) Question No: 3195 / 2009 Darren Johnson Given that it is only logical that borough representatives on LFEPA are serving councillors are you going to replace Cllr Bertha Joseph (who was appointed as a Conservative representative but has since been suspended by Brent Council) with a new representative in order to ensure that the position is filled by someone who is currently able to serve as a local councillor? Answer from the Mayor: You will be aware that Cllr Joseph has been granted permission by the Adjudication Panel for England to appeal and has had her suspension lifted pending her appeal in early January. So the issue of replacement of an LFEPA member is not a current one.

On the broader issue of my power to terminate appointments to LFEPA, it is important first to note that a councillor remains a member of his or her own borough while he or she is suspended. The individual therefore also remains a member of LFEPA during this time unless I take a decision to terminate his or her appointment. The Act states that my power to terminate an appointment to LFEPA rests on my being “satisfied that the member is unable or unfit for any reason to discharge his functions as a member”. The only way I can discharge my responsibilities under the Act properly is to look into each case on its own merits and to receive advice from GLA officials accordingly. I shall of course do this if the need arises.

* London Arts Council Question No: 3196 / 2009 Darren Johnson What is your timetable for re-advertising, interviewing and nominating the Chair of the London Arts Council? Answer from the Mayor: The timetable for my appointment of the Chair of the London Region of the Arts Council England has been put back somewhat by the Secretary of State not only deciding to use his veto but also taking over two months to do so.

The latest position is that I have written to the Secretary of State outlining my intention to re- advertise the role.

24 I intend to proceed with the re-advertisement at the end of November with a deadline for responses during January. Shortlisting will then be in mid-February and interviews in early March. I shall then consider the panel’s recommendations.

* Brockley Station Question No: 3197 / 2009 Darren Johnson TfL’s Access for All programme has put Brockley Station in Tranche 3 for improvements by 2015, whereas Forest Hill, New Cross and New Cross Gate are all in Tranche 2 for improvements by 2011. Can you explain this kick in the teeth for Brockley commuters? Answer from the Mayor: Brockley is one of 10 former Southern stations for which LOROL became Station Facilities Operator in September 2009. TfL London Rail have made a tranche of bids for Access for All Small Schemes funding for 8 of these stations. These are relatively small scale measures to make the station DDA compliant and would complement the DfT ‘step free’ scheme.

I will ask the DfT to consider raising Brockley’s priority to Tranche 2.

225 bus route Question No: 3198 / 2009 Darren Johnson Will you ask Transport for London to undertake a review of the capacity and reliability of 225 bus route, to complement the review of the C10 bus route and to examine overcrowding on the 225 route? Answer from the Mayor: TfL is aware of concerns about capacity and reliability on route C10 in the Rotherhithe area and this is being reviewed now. All the relevant factors are being considered, including parallel routes.

Additionally, route 225 will be reviewed in full during spring 2010 as part of the normal programme of reviews. TfL is currently consulting with stakeholders and they would be grateful for any comments you wish to make, whether in the context of Rotherhithe or wider issues.

* Bendy buses (1) Question No: 3199 / 2009 Darren Johnson What is the net increase in scheduled bus kilometres a year which has already resulted from the conversion from articulated buses to conventional buses? Answer from the Mayor: Please see my answer to MQ3200 / 2009.

*

25 Bendy buses (2) Question No: 3200 / 2009 Darren Johnson What is the anticipated net increase in scheduled bus kilometres a year which result from the conversion of the remaining articulated buses to conventional buses in 2010/11 and 2011/12? Answer from the Mayor: There are nine routes remaining to be converted. The increase in bus-km from the conversions will depend on the outcome of the review for each individual route.

* Bendy buses (3) Question No: 3201 / 2009 Darren Johnson Is the net increase in bus passenger kilometres arising from the conversion of articulated buses to conventional buses taken into account when calculating the proposed decline of 3.3 million fewer scheduled bus kilometres in 2010/11 in the Transport for London business plan? Answer from the Mayor: Yes. The figure for bus-km in 2010/11 in the TfL business plan is net of the conversions. *

TfL Business Plan (1) Question No: 3202 / 2009 Darren Johnson Is there any money specified in the 2017/18 Transport for London Business Plan to fund Legible London beyond the initial schemes? Answer from the Mayor: There is no funding specified in the 2017/18 TfL Business Plan to fund Legible London beyond the current three pilot schemes. There is considerable support for the wider roll out of Legible London amongst key stakeholders. From 2010/11 onwards, Transport for London will therefore work closely with London boroughs, Business Improvement Districts, developers, land owners and other organisations on further Legible London schemes, where 3rd party funding can be identified. TfL has issued boroughs with advice on implementing Legible London, including through Local Implementation Plan funding, and will continue to meet with interested organisations to develop local schemes.

* TfL Business Plan (2) Question No: 3203 / 2009 Darren Johnson Is there any money specified in the 2017/18 Transport for London Business Plan to fund town centre demand management beyond the schemes in Sutton and Richmond? Answer from the Mayor: The streamlined funding of Local Implementation Plans (LIPs) specifically includes a Smarter Travel allocation for all boroughs. This is to enable boroughs to follow the successes of the Sutton and Richmond programmes by delivering their own integrated Smarter Travel programmes.

26 TfL, in partnership with the London Borough of Sutton, is issuing case studies and a ‘lessons learned’ report to assist London boroughs in the development of their own programmes to encourage more Londoners to change their travel habits and/or cycle, walk or use public transport.

* TfL Business Plan (3) Question No: 3204 / 2009 Darren Johnson Is there any money specified in the 2017/18 Transport for London Business Plan to fund cycle hire beyond the initial central London scheme? Answer from the Mayor: I firmly believe that the scheme will continue to grow once the central London scheme is in place. TfL is currently looking at the potential expansion options for the scheme.

* TfL Business Plan (4) Question No: 3205 / 2009 Darren Johnson Is there any money specified in the 2017/18 Transport for London Business Plan to fund rapid orbital express buses beyond the trial on route x26? Answer from the Mayor: There is no money specifically allocated for this. All bus network changes over the plan period will be funded from the overall budget available.

TfL Business Plan (5) Question No: 3206 / 2009 Darren Johnson Is there any money specified in the 2017/18 Transport for London Business Plan to fund LED lights on traffic signals beyond the initial 300? Answer from the Mayor: No. LEDs are still significantly more expensive than conventional lights, even allowing for the benefits of reduced electricity consumption. It is intended that the initial introduction of LEDs at 300 sites and associated trials will encourage and incentivise technology development and competition within the market place, thereby reducing the costs of introducing and then maintaining the technology in the future. Subsequent to the successful trials, TfL will assess the most appropriate way to roll this technology out to its remaining signal sites. A number of commercial options are currently being explored and this process will determine the level of funding that needs to be found to introduce LED technology to all signal sites. *

TfL Business Plan (6) Question No: 3207 / 2009 Darren Johnson Is there any money specified in the 2017/18 Transport for London Business Plan to fund your promise (1924/2009 meeting date 15/07/2009) of there being 1,000 electric vehicles in the GLA fleet, by 2015? 27 Answer from the Mayor: The TfL Business Plan includes provision for £20 million to support the Electric Vehicle Delivery Plan. The funding for the 1,000 electric vehicles in the GLA fleet is expected to come from a combination of TfL Business Plan monies and external funding sources that are in the process of being confirmed. *

Bus quality incentive contracts Question No: 3208 / 2009 Darren Johnson What improvements were sought with the introduction of bus quality incentive contracts and what were the problems which these improvements hoped to rectify? Have punctuality, cleanliness and customer service improved as a result of introducing these quality contracts? Answer from the Mayor: Quality Incentive Contracts (QICs) were progressively introduced from summer 2001, as routes were retendered. They introduced a financial incentive in respect of the reliability of the services, as this is the key aspect of service delivery for passengers. At that time, the reliability had been deteriorating for a number of years.

The majority of services are high frequency and their reliability is measured by excess waiting time (EWT), i.e. the actual waiting time minus the waiting time expected if buses ran exactly at the intervals scheduled. There has been a very significant improvement in reliability since the introduction of Quality Incentive Contracts, with EWT falling from 2.1 minutes in 2000/01 to 1.1 minutes currently. This is the best level of performance since monitoring of reliability in this format commenced over thirty years ago.

Although QICs are the key measure behind the reliability improvements which have been achieved, this has been supported by other measures such as central London congestion charging and bus priority.

Over the course of the last year, two further areas were chosen for financial incentivisation in a pilot scheme known as QICs 2. These were vehicle presentation and service delivery by drivers. Although these schemes have resulted in some further improvements in performance, given the current financial constraints that TfL is facing, it has been decided not to carry forward this aspect of incentivisation beyond the end of the current pilots.

TfL continues to demands high standards from the bus operating companies in all aspects of service delivery, and continues to monitor their performance. *

Olympic coaches Question No: 3209 / 2009 Darren Johnson Do the contracts for the 950 coaches being procured for the London 2012 Games specify that they should be: zero emission, or hybrid, or run on bio-diesel sourced from waste? Answer from the Mayor: LOCOG has requested expressions of interest from potential coach and bus operators, seeking a vehicle fleet that meets the Euro IV equivalent for large vehicles – i.e it will meet the current and London Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) requirements and its potential revised standards in 2012. ODA has already tendered for its Park and Ride and Direct Coach services for spectators, which will also meet the Euro IV emission standard. 28

* Air quality and taxis (1) Question No: 3210 / 2009 Darren Johnson Will you agree to more environmentally friendly alternatives to the TX4 being licensed on a one- year trial basis as long as they meet all the essentials of the black cab except the turning circle? Answer from the Mayor: I am happy to consider any serious proposals that will encourage the development of more environmentally friendly vehicles entering the London taxi market.

As you indicate the current Conditions of Fitness (CoF) has a stringent turning circle requirement. Following a recent High Court Judgment against Liverpool City Council related to this matter, TfL is now considering if a review of the Conditions of Fitness in London is required. TfL expect to formally announce the next steps in the process by the end of this year. * Air quality and taxis (2) Question No: 3211 / 2009 Darren Johnson Can you confirm that a TX4 black cab, straight off the production line, normally needs to be adjusted in order to meet the turning circle requirements? Are such cabs then adjusted back to their previous condition as they start work on London’s roads? Answer from the Mayor: No, this is not the case. The TX4 is manufactured to the standards required by the current Conditions of Fitness (CoF) for London. It is licensed and passes the annual inspection process provided it continues to demonstrate it meets those standards.

* Air quality and taxis (3) Question No: 3212 / 2009 Darren Johnson As part of your Air Quality Strategy, would you consider exempting certain black cabs from the age limit criteria if they were fitted with a Euro V LPG/Petrol remanufactured engine? Answer from the Mayor: My Air Quality Strategy proposes a number of initiatives to reduce harmful emissions produced by taxis. As part of the consultation process, TfL met with the taxi trade at the first of several workshops on 10 November to discuss the proposals and their impact. In addition, further ideas and initiatives that could be introduced to reduce emissions were considered. It is expected that a number of exemptions could be implemented as part of the detailed proposals and these could include those vehicles fitted with remanufactured engines that meet Euro V standards for emissions.

* Air Quality Strategy Question No: 3213 / 2009 Darren Johnson Could one trigger of the special measures outlined in your air quality strategy be the European Commission turning down the UK Government request for a time extension to meet limit values 29 for PM10s? Answer from the Mayor: The policy is intended to deal with the days of the very worst pollution episodes in London, irrespective of whether the UK’s request for a time extension is agreed or not.

Policy 6 of the draft Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy states we will develop a series of measures with boroughs and other stakeholders to help reduce and manage air quality on days where we exceed daily mean EU limit values for PM10. This Policy is intended to tackle the worst exceedences when and where they happen. Exceedence days can occur in multi-day periods know as episodes. Episodes can be caused by a number of complicated factors such as emissions from within and outside London, weather and geography. Localised action during such episodes will help meet EU limit values. *

CNG and LPG buses Question No: 3214 / 2009 Darren Johnson The benefits of buses using CNG/LPG have led to their adoption in cities such as New York, Copenhagen and Paris which have lower levels of air pollution than London. What are the reasons against specifying this in bus contracts and when did Transport for London last review this decision? Answer from the Mayor: Demand for LPG fuel is reducing in the UK as Government support has been gradually withdrawn. Many motor manufacturers have also withdrawn their LPG models and are instead focussing on more promising low-carbon technologies such as hybrids.

There are currently no manufacturers offering natural gas buses to the UK although a number are able to supply natural gas engines to mainland Europe. This is because there is no perceived market for natural gas buses here because diesel is cheaper when duty rebate for bus operators is taken into account.

TfL’s environmental strategy is focusing on the roll-out of hybrid buses as they offer the most effective means of CO2 reduction and improving air quality.

In addition, developments in emissions abatement equipment means that the latest non-hybrid Euro V diesel engines currently entering service in the fleet have the same PM and NOx legislated emissions limits as gas engines. If hybrid technology is added, emissions testing has shown that a further 40% reduction in CO2 and NOx over conventional diesel buses can be achieved.

TfL constantly monitors technology available to the bus fleet in respect of the technical, environmental and commercial benefits offered.

* Routemaster expenditure Question No: 3215 / 2009 Darren Johnson As the £3.3m development costs of the new Routemaster only cover the design and prototyping work leading up to the production contract being awarded in Dec 09, what range of costs have Transport for London prepared for expenditure on the new bus and what options have been presented to your office on the procurement strategy?

30 Answer from the Mayor: As TfL is still in the procurement phase, the respective positions of the remaining two short- listed bidders remain commercially confidential. TfL will continue to negotiate with them to fully understand the cost implications of the project and to seek best value. The current procurement strategy envisages that the new buses will be acquired, operated and maintained by bus operating companies (as is currently the case) and not TfL directly.

* Step free access from bus stops (1) Question No: 3216 / 2009 Darren Johnson How many of bus stops on the TLRN still require work to provide step free access to buses? How much would it cost to carry out the work required at all these bus stops? Answer from the Mayor: At present approximately 950 bus stops on the TLRN (representing 38% of bus stops on the TLRN) still require some minor work to make them fully accessible (for example, work to raise kerb heights), although in reality most of these would still be accessible to most passengers, other than those with serious mobility problems. These works are forecast to cost approximately £3.8m. In the current Business Plan, there is a target to make 65% of all bus stops across the network accessible by 2017/18.

* Step free access from bus stops (2) Question No: 3217 / 2009 Darren Johnson How many bus stops on borough roads still require work to provide step free access to buses? How much would it cost to carry out the work required at all these bus stops? Answer from the Mayor: At present approximately 8000 bus stops (representing 56% of bus stops on borough roads) still require some minor work to make them fully accessible, although in reality most of these would still be accessible to most passengers, other than those with serious mobility problems. These works are forecast to cost approximately £37.9m. In the current Business Plan, there is a target to make 65% of all bus stops (across both the Transport for London Road Network and on Borough-managed roads) accessible by 2017/18. *

Smoking in bus shelters Question No: 3218 / 2009 Darren Johnson In your response to my question no. 2662/2009 you failed to answer whether or not you could consider installing notices in bus shelters discouraging smoking in their vicinity, in light of the negative health impacts and nuisance caused. Whilst smoking may be legal, and enforcement may be difficult, will you consider installing notices to discourage this antisocial behaviour? Answer from the Mayor: As outlined in answer to your question 2662/2009, TfL considered installing notices when the smoking ban first came into effect. Given that the majority of bus shelters are not covered by the legislation, and the challenge for TfL of enforcing any prohibition, it would not be worthwhile to attempt it. I have no plans therefore to install notices to discourage smoking in bus shelters.

31

Traffic lights Question No: 3219 / 2009 Darren Johnson How much does TfL plan to spend in 2010/11 in re-phasing traffic lights to speed up traffic flow? Answer from the Mayor: In 2010/11, the timing of 1,000 signal sites will be reviewed and rephased in order to smooth traffic flows for all road users, including pedestrians, rather than to speed up traffic. TfL has c£400k set aside in their budget to deliver this.

* TfL contribution policing costs Question No: 3220 / 2009 Darren Johnson What is the total amount that TfL plans to spend on policing in 2010/11? Please can you provide a break down by activity? Answer from the Mayor: TfL and its policing partners are in discussion concerning detailed estimates for 2010/11 activity, with an emphasis on securing efficiency savings that do not affect frontline staff. Subject to the conclusion of these discussions, broad estimates amount to £155m as follows:

MPS Safer Transport Command: £89m BTP – LU Area, London Overground and Mayor’s 50 officers: £65m City of London Police Safer Transport: £1m

The funding position for safety camera activity is yet to be confirmed. *

Fares Question No: 3221 / 2009 Darren Johnson If fares had been frozen for 2010, how much income would have been foregone? Answer from the Mayor: Revenue from fare paying passengers in 2010 is expected to be around £123m (£75m bus, £48m Tube) more than if fares had been frozen.

* Congestion change income Question No: 3222 / 2009 Darren Johnson If standard congestion charge was raised to £9/£10 from the beginning of 2010 how much additional income would be raised? Answer from the Mayor: The proposals that I announced to introduce CC auto pay (an automated account payment system) and increase the congestion charge, to maintain the benefits of reduced traffic in

32 central London, will be consulted upon next year. Subject to this, the charge increase would be planned to take place in parallel with the introduction of CC Auto Pay in late 2010.

Those who registered for CC Auto Pay would pay the lower £9 charge as well as having the convenience of automated payment and the reassurance that they would not receive a Penalty Charge. Under my proposals, those who continued to pay through existing payment channels would have a daily charge of £10.

It is currently estimated that raising the charge from £8 to £9/£10 (with proportionate increases for all other charges, such as those paid by residents) would generate additional gross charge revenue of some £15 million per annum.

* Thames Estuary Airport Question No: 3223 / 2009 Darren Johnson How much do you plan to spend on work relating to the suggested Thames Estuary Airport in 2010/11? Please indicate how much of this will be spent on staff salary and how much on other costs. Answer from the Mayor: The GLA has budgeted £1000 for incidental costs related to the Thames Estuary Airport Steering Group. On an "as needed" basis, it is projected that no more than three officers at the GLA will be doing a nominal amount of work related to the Steering Group as part of their current duties.

* Flight demand management Question No: 3224 / 2009 Darren Johnson Given that construction of an airport in the Thames Estuary is now unlikely to begin in the next few Mayoral terms, and given your continued opposition to any expansion of Heathrow Airport, what new programmes and policies are you going to bring forward to manage demand for flights to and from London? Answer from the Mayor: My policy is to continue my opposition to the misguided and damaging proposal to build a third runway at Heathrow. I am also supportive of the principle of the high-speed rail network proposals as these will provide a viable alternative for many short-haul flights.

My draft Transport Strategy has been released for public and stakeholder consultation and the closing date for comments is 12 January 2010. I welcome any proposals on this matter as part of this process.

* Thames crossings Question No: 3225 / 2009 Darren Johnson How much is being spent in this financial year on the investigation of new crossings of the River Thames between Tower Bridge and Dartford Crossing. How much has been budgeted for 2010/11?

33 Answer from the Mayor: The work that TfL is doing to investigate options for crossing the river in east London is being undertaken as part of the wider sub regional planning work for east London. This includes an assessment of the key challenges and priorities going forward that help deliver my wider transport strategy in east London. River Crossings are a key part of this and TfL is investigating a number of options for improving opportunities to cross the river in the short, medium and long term. As part of my drive to reduce costs and expenditure across the GLA group, a great deal of this work is being done by TfL staff working closely with colleagues across the GLA family and the Boroughs. Some specialist work has to be commissioned and TfL has up to £400,000 allocated to investigate the engineering feasibility of new crossing options in east London for this financial year.

For next financial year, TfL has modest funds to continue planning and assessment work on a variety of projects referred to in the Transport Strategy. How exactly this is allocated to specific projects has yet to be determined. It will depend on the outcomes and conclusions of the current year’s work on river crossing options, as well as the responses to the consultation on my new transport strategy; both of these will inform which schemes we are likely to prioritise for further study.

* GLA short-haul flights Question No: 3226 / 2009 Darren Johnson Can you tell me how many short-haul flights were taken by yourself and GLA officers in 2008- 09, and, within this category, how many flights were to domestic destinations? Answer from the Mayor: Government guidance states that short haul international flights are typically to Europe and up to 3,700km (2009 Guidelines to Defra / DECC’s GHG Conversion Factors for Company reporting). Based on this definition during 2008/09, 74 short haul flights were taken of which 2 were to or from a domestic destination (Jersey).

* TfL short-haul flights Question No: 3227 / 2009 Darren Johnson Can you tell me how many short-haul flights TfL employees took in the years 2006-07, 2007- 08, 2008-09, and how many of these were to domestic destinations? Answer from the Mayor: TfL has defined short-haul flights as one way journeys typically to Europe and up to 3,700km. All one way flights to destinations within Great Britain (i.e. not including Northern Ireland) are classed as domestic.

TfL’s policy is that all domestic flights must be personally approved by the Commissioner, and to gain approval, justification for travel at all, and for not using surface transport must be given and accepted. All mainland Europe flights have to be approved at Director or Managing Director level.

In recent years, the following number of short haul and domestic flights were taken by TfL employees:

2006/07 – 620 short-haul flights (117 to domestic destinations) 2007/08 – 890 short-haul flights (119 to domestic destinations) 34 2008/09 – 569 short-haul flights (32 to domestic destinations)

Please note the very considerable reduction in total flights, and to domestic destinations. Legs of journeys below 3,700km are considered short-haul even if they form part of a long-haul journey (e.g. if an employee was required to fly from London to New York and then to Los Angeles, the New York to Los Angeles flight would count as short-haul).

The figures above do not include flights taken by Metronet or Crossrail employees although these will be included in figures for future years. *

LDA short-haul flights Question No: 3228 / 2009 Darren Johnson Can you tell me how many short-haul flights LDA employees took in the years 2006-07, 2007- 08, 2008-09, and how many of these were to domestic destinations? Answer from the Mayor: Please note we have defined short-haul flights as those to the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe. Domestic flights have been classed as flights within the UK mainland.

Our records show that the number of short haul flights taken by LDA employees were as follows for the respective years:

2006-07 – 18 short-haul flights taken (none to domestic locations) 2007/08 – 9 short haul flights taken (none to domestic locations) 2008/09 – 24 short haul flights (none to domestic locations)

* Academies Programme (1) Question No: 3229 / 2009 Darren Johnson Is the Mayor aware of the LSE Centre for Economic Performance study on Academy Schools, which casts doubt on the performance improvements of Academy schools, and states that GCSE results of Academy and matched schools are “statistically indistinguishable from one another”? Answer from the Mayor:

I am aware of this study. The research undertaken by the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics was based on the performance of the 27 Academies that opened for the academic years 2002/3 to 2005/6. It does not include an analysis of data for 2007, 2008 or 2009.

The research looked at four cohorts of Academies, each cohort based on the year in which the Academy opened. It matched each Academy in the cohort with a similar poorly performing state school that had not become an Academy. It also compared the Academy performance against the performance of all state schools in the Academy’s local education authority.

In all but one of these cohorts, Academies outperformed matched schools and the average of all LEA schools.

When looking at contextual value added (“CVA”), an indicator of how well the school improves pupil performance from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4, the report concludes that “there are positive (small but statistically significant) impacts on pupil value-added”. 35

Comparing the 62 Academies which have results in 2008 to their predecessor schools in 2001 there has been a 32.3 percentage point improvement in the percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C from 23.2% in 2001 to 55.5% in 2008 and this improvement is nearly twice that seen over the same period nationally.

Academies have also improved their KS3 performance at twice the national average in English, maths and science. *

Academies Programme (2) Question No: 3230 / 2009 Darren Johnson How will you address the democratic deficit created by handing control of local schools to private sponsors, away from local authorities, parents, teachers and students, and ensure that local people have their say? Will you take any steps in addition to the extant processes coordinated by the DCSF? Answer from the Mayor: The Academies programme is based on working in partnership with local people not taking control away from them.

Prior to opening, we will consult young people, parents and the local community on a range of issues relating to how the Academy will operate.

The local authority, parents, teachers and support staff will be represented on the governing body of each Academy. This will be supported by a Student Council and a Parent Council, both of which will have a real say in how the Academy develops.

* Academies Programme (3) Question No: 3231 / 2009 Darren Johnson Has the Mayor considered whether the costs of establishing academies is ‘best value’ when compared to building new community schools? Answer from the Mayor: All new schools, whether they are Academies or community schools, are procured and funded through the Government’s Building Schools for the Future Programme. It is my understanding that there is no difference in cost. *

Academies Programme (4) Question No: 3232 / 2009 Darren Johnson Of the funding planned for the Academies Programme through the LDA, how much will be spent on the administrative requirements of the Mayor’s Academy Trust? Answer from the Mayor: Over the next four years the LDA has made budget provision for up to £600,000 to be incurred on the development and administration of the programme which would include any administrative requirements, as may be required by the Mayor’s Academy Trust.

36

* Academies Programme (5) Question No: 3233 / 2009 Darren Johnson Has, or will, the Mayor conduct an Equalities Impact Survey for the Academies Programme, taking into account OECD research which concludes that “the greater the diversity of an education system, the greater the social segregation”? Answer from the Mayor: Equalities implications have been considered as part of the LDA’s investment appraisal for the overall Academies programme. Specific Equalities Impact Assessments will be considered on the arrangements for each academy. Ensuring that London’s young people, regardless of background and ability, have access to quality education which improves their future prospects is key and this is what we aim to see reflected through our involvement in academies.

* Academies programme (6) Question No: 3234 / 2009 Darren Johnson Can you provide a breakdown of how the planned LDA Academies Programme budget of £1,118,000 will be spent in 2010/11? Answer from the Mayor: The majority of this budget has been set aside to contribute to costs associated with the Mayor’s Academies planned to open over the next two years. The remainder of the budget (approx 10%) will support the development and administration of the overall Academies programme.

* Bankers’ bonuses (1) Question No: 3235 / 2009 Darren Johnson When you launched the London Delivery Board to end rough sleeping by 2012 you called on bankers to donate their bonuses to help meet the target. Have you had any conversations with banks or bankers about this issue, and are you aware of any significant sums being donated, since you made the suggestion? Answer from the Mayor: This is a matter for individual conscience and any such gifts would primarily be to the charities with which I am working to end rough sleeping.

* Bankers’ bonuses (2) Question No: 3236 / 2009 Darren Johnson Have you had any meetings with banking bosses in the wake of your Daily Telegraph article, in which you compared bankers to cockroaches? What commitments, if any, have you secured in relation to bonuses? Answer from the Mayor: I have indeed held a number of conversations with leading financiers. 37 Living wage (1) Question No: 3237 / 2009 Darren Johnson How many hotels have you successfully encouraged to sign up to the London Living Wage as part of your partnership approach? Answer from the Mayor: There has been interest from the key players in the hospitality industry on the implementation of the London Living Wage; however I am yet to see any formal commitment to this initiative.

It is a difficult time at present for the hospitality industry. Although hotel occupancy figures are stable, the profit margins have been drastically reduced and it is a similar case with restaurants, where heavy discounting has had to be applied to keep businesses operating.

To ensure London remains one of the key global visitor destinations I have set out a number of commitments in my Economic Recovery Action Plan, around lobbying the government for further funding and making London more attractive as an international business location.

Further implementation of the London Living Wage will need to be hand-in-hand with my commitments around ERAP and I am working with key industry partners across the hospitality and low pay sectors to do so.

* Living wage (2) Question No: 3238 / 2009 Darren Johnson Did you make any progress on promoting the London Living Wage through partnership working at the British Hospitality Association lunch in July? Answer from the Mayor: As my initial piece of engagement with the British Hospitality Association, I was pleased to see widespread support for fair employment practices from them. I was particularly pleased that they demonstrated their support for this important agenda through continued dialogue with the Low Pay Commission on pay levels in their industry.

This is a particularly difficult time for tourism industry with increasing pressure on margins and I am keen to work with the British Hospitality Association and other stakeholders across London’s hospitality industry to ensure that London’s hard working employees are paid fairly for their efforts. *

Olympic Park relocation costs Question No: 3239 / 2009 Dee Doocey How much have the LDA paid to consultants and other advisers to assess claimants’ losses in respect of the forced relocation of businesses and others from the Olympic Park?

38 Answer from the Mayor: The LDA has paid the sum of £7.81m in Professional Fees to consultants and other advisers to assess claimants’ losses in respect of compensation paid to businesses and others in the Olympic Park. This amount is broken down across the years as follows:

2005/6 £0.67m 2006/7 £2.75m 2007/8 £2.04m 2008/9 £1.54m 2009/10 £0.81m Total £7.81m

This figure represents less than 1% of the LDA’s lifetime Olympic Budget.

* Olympic village furnishings Question No: 3240 / 2009 Dee Doocey Seb Coe recently said that LOCOG will need to provide 17,000 beds. What will happen to them and all the other furnishings and equipment (including china, cutlery etc) provided for the village accommodation when the athletes move out? Answer from the Mayor: In line with sustainability plans and LOCOG’s sustainable approach to procurement, LOCOG will work with potential suppliers on how items needed for the Games are manufactured, sourced and transported prior to the Games, and also how they will be used afterwards.

* Olympic food sponsorship Question No: 3241 / 2009 Dee Doocey What will happen to existing burger suppliers, who have contractural agreements with, for example, Wembley Stadium, during the 2012 Games, given McDonalds’ sponsorship deal with the IOC? Will the venue’s ‘normal suppliers’ be paid compensation if their produce is not used? Answer from the Mayor: No venues have been asked to prevent incumbent caterers operating at Games-time. LOCOG’s starting point is that they want to work with all incumbent caterers at Games-time - and they believe that this will be possible. They will develop guidelines which will take into account the IOC’s ‘clean venue’ policy, and sponsors’ rights including McDonald’s.

* Olympic ticketing Question No: 3242 / 2009 Dee Doocey LOCOG are proposing (through partners) to set up a new database to record the personal details of every person who registers an interest in purchasing tickets for the Olympic or Paralympic Games. This proposal is in stark contrast to normal ticketing practice, whereby applications for multiple tickets only require the purchaser to provide their own details. Ø What justification is there for collecting this information? Ø What personal information will people be asked to provide?

39 Ø Who will have access to this database, before, during and after the Games? Answer from the Mayor: This is not correct. LOCOG will only hold a database of names and basic details of those people attending the Games. Not only will this enable LOCOG to respond to a lawful request from a law enforcement agency and undertake random-checks of people’s identity against tickets, but this will also enable LOCOG to communicate with those people that wish to receive information on their chosen sports, test events or local activities at Live Sites, helping support increased interest in sport and community activity before, during and after 2012. The database will not be sold on to anyone after the Games and will only be shared with law enforcement agencies beforehand if a lawful request is received. *

MPS drivers (1) Question No: 3243 / 2009 Dee Doocey Can you let me have the total cost to the MPA/MPS of providing drivers for the senior officers’ fleet of cars? How many drivers does this provide (including drivers who are shared by ACPO officers and/or drivers who have other duties within the MPS)? Answer from the Mayor: The average cost of a driver is, £40,500 p.a. This includes employment on-costs, including overtime and allowances. The cost of the driver is met from within the business groups’ budgets.

There are currently 30 drivers for a total of 44 MPS ACPO rank officers. The total cost of drivers is £1,215,000.

The provision of cars and drivers is under review in order to improve operational efficiency.

* MPS drivers (2) Question No: 3244 / 2009 Dee Doocey How many MPS officers/staff are there who are solely employed to drive for the senior officers’ fleet? Answer from the Mayor: There are currently 30 drivers for a total of 44 MPS ACPO rank officers.

* MPS drivers (3) Question No: 3245 / 2009 Dee Doocey How many MPS officers/staff are there who drive for the senior officers’ fleet in addition to other duties? Answer from the Mayor: None. *

40 MPS recruits Question No: 3246 / 2009 Dee Doocey Please provide, for each month since the beginning of the current financial year, the number of MPS employees within Territorial Policing, broken down in the same way as in the Policing Plan 2009-12, i.e. Police Officers, Recruits, Police Staff, PCSOs, Traffic Wardens. Answer from the Mayor:

Employee Category Apr-09 May-09 Jun-09 Jul-09 Aug-09 Sep-09 Oct-09

Police Officers 20,866 21,046 21,123 21,246 21,393 21,310 21,449

Recruits 1,439 1,439 1,574 1,431 1,297 1,187 1,029

Police Staff 5,851 5,816 5,810 5,801 5,781 5,769 5,757

PCSOs 4,553 4,561 4,553 4,637 4,598 4,535 4,464

Traffic Wardens 266 265 265 265 256 256 253

Special Constables 2,597 2,552 2,596 2,573 2,624 2,644 2,751

Total 35,572 35,679 35,921 35,953 35,949 35,701 35,703

Police Officers - The gradual increase in Territorial Policing’s (TP) officer strength reflects the successful recruitment and training, which has consolidated the strength of the MPS as a whole. TP is now operating slightly above its target strength. This will be rectified when the specialist groups’ selection processes have been completed and the selected officers are transferred from TP into their new roles.

Recruits - The larger intakes profiled for the early part of the year have now completed their training and been posted to Boroughs. Numbers will continue to reduce as the large intakes graduate and are replaced by the smaller intakes planned for later in the year. This also reflects smaller intakes due to lower wastage.

Police Staff - Numbers remain fairly constant at around 5,800.

PCSOs – Again, numbers remain fairly constant with the only variations caused by the timing of the 750 PCSOs joining IPLDP (Initial Police Learning Development Programme). Their replacements are profiled to join throughout the year.

Traffic Wardens – The MPS no longer recruit traffic wardens, preferring to replace leavers with PCSOs. Numbers will continue to reduce as postholders leave or retire.

Special Constables - Numbers are now increasing as the MPS builds to a strength of 5,670 at 31/03/2012.

41 Public order training Question No: 3247 / 2009 Dee Doocey How many Territorial Policing officers who have up to date Public Order Level 2 training are there, broken down by borough, sex and rank? Answer from the Mayor: This information is attached as Appendix B.

* Public Support Unit (PSU) course Question No: 3248 / 2009 Dee Doocey How many Territorial Policing officers who are Public Order Level 2 trained have undergone the Public Support Unit (PSU) commander course? Please also break these down by rank. Answer from the Mayor: There are a total of 202 Territorial Policing officers who have undergone the Public Support Unit commander course. This comprises 43 Inspectors and 159 Sergeants.

* Metropolitan Special Constabulary Question No: 3249 / 2009 Dee Doocey For each borough can you tell me the number of Special Constables who are permanently located within Safer Neighbourhood Teams? Answer from the Mayor: The Special Constabulary strength in the MPS on Friday 13th November 2009 was 2,899. Boroughs are responsible for deployment of Special Constables and 442 are permanently attached to Safer Neighbourhood Teams. In addition to these, a significant number of Special Constables work with a Safer Neighbourhood Team on a regular or occasional basis.

The numbers that are permanently attached to a Safer Neighbourhood Team are attached as Appendix C.

* Dedicated Detention Officers (DDOs) Question No: 3250 / 2009 Dee Doocey For each borough please can you tell me the number of cells that are operational, the number of sites at which cells are located, and the number of Dedicated Detention Officers in place? If any of these Dedicated Detention Officers are police officers please specify. Answer from the Mayor: Metropolitan Police detention officers, whilst only ever employed within the custody environment and therefore dedicated to that role, are formally called Designated Detention Officers. The word “designated” refers to their designated powers under the Police Reform Act 2002.

There are no police officers who are designated detention officers as they already have the powers that designation would confer upon them. 42

There are currently 267 DDOs deployed at custody suites across London containing 956 operational cells.

It is intended that all custody suites will have DDOs at the conclusion of the Project Herald roll- out in April 2012.

Number of DDOs

Borough Number Borough Number Kensington & Chelsea 8 Lewisham 9 Westminster 43 Bromley 1 Camden 14 Harrow 14 Hackney 6 Brent 7 Tower Hamlets 8 Greenwich 4 Waltham Forest 9 Bexley 8 Redbridge 20 Richmond 9 Havering 4 Hounslow 7 Lambeth 26 Ealing 6 Southwark 18 Enfield 6 Islington 13 Haringey 7 Hammersmith & Fulham 5 Croydon 12 Sutton 3 Total 267

* London Legacy Plan for Sport – match funding Question No: 3251 / 2009 Dee Doocey Further to my question 2948, can you please give details of every organisation which has already provided match-funding for projects related to the Legacy Plan for Sport, the project for which the funding relates, and the amount of funding? Answer from the Mayor: Street Athletics: Gaz de France Suez: £20,000 Sony: £27,500 Nike: £40,000 Swatch: £10,000 England Athletics: £25,000

Make a Splash mobile pools: Variety Club of Great Britain: £100,000 Amateur Swimming Association: £126,000 (via revenue to be raised)

Panathlon Challenge: Football Foundation: £81,000 Peter Harrison Foundation: £10,000 Other charitable donations: £3,500

London Boxing Academy: Hackney Free and Parochial School: £145,152 43 Hackney Learning Trust: £48,384 Met Police Safer Communities: £20,000

Beyond Sport/Mayor of London Legacy Award: Beyond Sport: £30,000 *

London’s most disadvantaged communities Question No: 3253 / 2009 Dee Doocey The London Development Agency and the Greater London Authority on a regular basis deal with a number of established organisations which work in, and represent, the third sector. However, there is another level of organisation below this which does not conform to the ‘normal’ way of working, which requires form-filling and box-ticking. Often these organisations and people work in unconventional ways with the most disadvantaged and disengaged parts of society, doing fantastic work, but they do not appear on anyone’s radar. What are you and the London Development Agency doing to find these people and to engage with them? Answer from the Mayor: The role and contribution of voluntary, community and faith groups cannot be over- emphasised and I have seen first hand the positive impact they are making in the lives of Londoners. As part of my vision to empower communities and promote social inclusion in the city, both myself and Richard Barnes (Deputy Mayor of London) have been meeting with community groups and the organisations that serve and support them. I value the vital contributions made by these groups and organisations in addressing the specific needs of some of the most disadvantaged and disengaged parts of society through innovative solutions that are based on community action and engagement.

The GLA offer these organisations tailored support as they implement my equality policy (Equal Life Chances for All). However, it is important to manage their expectation as the GLA isn't necessarily a fund granting authority. It is also worth pointing out that occasionally the governance around funding are necessary to protect tax-payers money.

The LDA seeks to reach out to these groups in two ways:

Firstly, through its strategic engagement process with the Third Sector organisations; based on a requirement that larger third sector representation organisations provide a real and credible voice for the concerns and needs of small community groups that would not have the resources and ability to lobby key funders and political stakeholders effectively on their own. In this context, the LDA works with representative organisations on equalities, thematic issues (e.g. recycling and carbon reduction, youth, skills), geographic base (e.g. borough level CVS's) and with other pan-London partners (e.g. Toynbee Hall, Bassac).

Secondly, through its new commissioning process, the LDA is keen to ensure that new projects and contracts are structured in a way that delivers the best services to target groups. It is developing a structured stakeholder engagement process to drive the early design and subsequent delivery of projects. *

Housing Mobility Question No: 3255 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What needs to be accomplished in 2010 to make pan-London housing mobility a reality for

44 social housing tenants by 2011? For how many social housing tenants will this be available? Answer from the Mayor: Following publication of my statutory London Housing Strategy in early 2010, I will work in partnership with the HCA, government and social landlords to develop a scheme, with the aim of increasing mobility opportunities for social housing tenants and applicants across London.

* Empty flats above shops Question No: 3257 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey How many empty flats above shops do you estimate that there are currently in London? What steps will you take to encourage landlords to bring these flats back into residential use? Answer from the Mayor: This information is not available from existing sources. The Londonwide audit of empty homes will provide local authorities with better information on empty flats above shops and allow them to take the appropriate action to bring them back into residential use.

* Empty Homes Week Question No: 3258 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What will you be doing to support national Empty Homes Week in November 2009? Answer from the Mayor: Richard Blakeway, my Advisor on Housing, is intending to take part in an event organised by the North London sub-region of boroughs to promote this week and the work of those boroughs to return empty homes to use. *

Local Housing Allowance Question No: 3259 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Crisis’s Poor Choice campaign has highlighted that Government proposals to reclaim £15 a week from some people on Local Housing Allowance, who negotiate rents lower than the rate of the allowance, could see thousands of the poorest London families up to £780 a year worse off. Will you lobby the Government to reconsider their plans? Answer from the Mayor: I currently have no plans to lobby government on this issue.

Allotments in Inner London Question No: 3260 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey I have been asked by a constituent, who is a resident of an Inner London borough (which are not required by law to provide allotments) what can be done to make formal arrangements with outer boroughs to provide allotments, and to make sure that inner London boroughs do include food growing spaces in their development plans?

45 Answer from the Mayor: I recognise that the provision of allotments in inner London can be particularly challenging and this is one of the reasons that I launched my Capital Growth initiative to provide 2012 growing spaces across London by 2012. My new draft replacement London Plan requires boroughs to protect existing allotments and to identify other potential spaces that could be used for community gardening, particularly in inner London.

I encourage boroughs to work in collaboration where possible to provide a solution. However, disbenefits may arise in that people may not wish to travel considerable distances to outer London to access a traditional allotment. Community gardens nearer to their homes may be a more satisfactory solution. I understand that the London Allotment Officers group met very recently to share information, including waiting lists, and has plans to meet on a regular basis. The London Parks and Green Spaces Forum is also investigating how it can assist this co- ordination work through the London Benchmarking Group.

* Allotments for Inner London residents Question No: 3261 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey How many inner London borough residents are currently waiting for an allotment (including those on the waiting lists for neighbouring outer boroughs)? Do you think that the current London Allotments Network waiting list is sufficient to link potential growers to plots? Answer from the Mayor: I have no more current information on waiting lists for allotments in inner London than that collected by the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardens in 1997 of 1330 people Londonwide. It does need to be remembered that the same person can appear on more than one waiting list.

The London Allotments Network does provides a mechanism for those in inner London to become aware of opportunities for allotments elsewhere in London, although there maybe implications for people in requiring them to travel considerable distances to access an allotment. The ‘Your London’ portal also provides a link to the borough websites with information on allotments. I understand that the London Allotment Officers group met very recently to share information, including waiting lists, and has plans to meet on a regular basis. The London Parks and Green Spaces Forum is investigating how it can assist this co-ordination work through the London Benchmarking Group.

I do recognise that the provision of allotments in inner London can be particularly challenging and this is one of the reasons that I launched my Capital Growth initiative to provide 2012 growing spaces across London by 2012. Also, my new draft London Plan requires boroughs to protect existing allotments and to identify other potential spaces that could be used for community gardening, particularly in inner London. *

JESSICA Fund Question No: 3262 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey You announced the £100m JESSICA fund on 21 October. Will this fund be administered by the London Waste and Recycling Board, over what timescale, and when can we expect the first funding to be made?

46 Answer from the Mayor: The £100m ‘JESSICA’ holding fund is administered by the European Investment Bank (EIB). It comprises cash from the European Regional Development Fund and London Waste and Recycling Board (LWarB) and sites contributed by the London Development Agency (LDA).

An Investment Board including LWaRB and LDA Board members and officers, chaired by the Greater London Authority, will take decisions on investment of the JESSICA fund, based on EIB’s recommendations.

EU rules require that final investments are made by 2015. First funding to projects will be made in 2011, following procurement and set-up of the decentralised energy and waste ‘urban development fund’ managers underneath the holding fund in 2010. *

Community Land Trusts Question No: 3263 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What progress has been made on setting up a pilot CLT, and do you have any good examples of CLTs which you would encourage the boroughs to look at as models? Answer from the Mayor: I am continuing to discuss the opportunities to bring forward a Community Land Trust (CLT) with the Homes and Communities Agency and LDA. There are no examples of a CLT model in the UK that would be readily transferable to London’s housing market, hence my wish to work with a London borough to develop a pilot.

* Foodwaste to Fuel Alliance Question No: 3264 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What progress has been made by your Foodwaste to Fuel Alliance, which you announced in June? When might we see some fuel? Answer from the Mayor: Since the Launch of the Food to Fuel Alliance, Officers have been working with for example, Keystone Distribution UK, distribution partner for McDonalds, Sainsbury, Veolia, British Airways and British Airports Authority to name a few to try and facilitate the development of food waste infrastructure in London. These budding partnerships are at the early stages of discussion and project development.

The Alliance is also working with Uptown Oil, a small bio-diesel refinery in London who is already producing bio-diesel. Uptown Oil currently produces between 6,000 and 10,000 litres per week of bio-diesel from used cooking oil and has 200 regular taxi clients using the bio- diesel.

The target for the Alliance is to facilitate the development of 5 exemplar food waste projects in London by 2012. Given these projects are infrastructure led, depending on the technology used, it is anticipated that the first fuel production stage will be around 2012.

*

47 Crossrail S106 Question No: 3265 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Your revised draft Crossrail SPG (published on 26 October) indicated that whilst Crossrail should “‘generally’ be given highest priority” for s106, Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea presents a “special case”, and that s106 can go to other “strategic-scale transport infrastructure”. Will you consider also making a special case for developments in other parts of south London which will be subject to the charge, as they are in the “Central” zone, but could derive more benefit from transport improvements other than Crossrail? Answer from the Mayor: The draft SPG on ‘Use of Planning Obligations in the Funding of Crossrail’ identifies two charging zones within which it is proposed that S.106 contributions towards Crossrail are sought – and informed by the Central Activities Zone and an area in the northern part of the Isle of Dogs. The 26 October revision to the SPG, to which you refer, shows at paragraph 4.21 that the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea (VNEB) is proposed to be removed from the Central London charging zone. This was taken out on the basis that S.106 contributions here will be better put towards the extension of the Northern Line – a point consistent with section E of Policy 6.5 of the draft replacement London Plan, currently out for consultation.

In responding to consultation comments on the May 2009 draft SPG, the Mayor looked at the case for other exceptions to the charging zone, including at the Elephant and Castle. It was concluded that the VNEB exemption was the only one that could be supported.

No doubt this issue will be explored in some depth at the Examination in Public which commences in a few weeks time on 14 December. *

Kickstart housing money Question No: 3266 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Do you think that London has received its fair share of the government’s £450m Kickstart programme, with only three projects (with a total of 228 homes) receiving funding in the October round? Answer from the Mayor: The Kick Start programme is being allocated over two phases and the second phase of allocation is now underway. In addition, London had already delivered its own Kickstart programme ahead of these national programmes.

London clearly has both the need for and opportunity to deliver the Kick Start programme. However, in a nationally run competition the comparative cost of delivering in the capital is high. As the Chair of the HCA London Housing Board I am working with the HCA during this second phase of bidding to ensure that London will receive its fair share of resources. *

10:10 campaign Question No: 3267 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey You said (MQ 2991/2009; 14/10/09) that you have “signed up City Hall to the initiative”. What specific understanding has been reached with the 10:10 campaign as to which parts of the GLA family can fulfil the 10:10 criteria? Which parts of the GLA family are not signing up and

48 why not? Answer from the Mayor: I have pledged to sign up City Hall to 10:10. My officials are in discussion with the 10:10 campaign and GLA family about the potential of signing up either fully or parts of their operations to the initiative. I expect to be able to announce which parts will be signing up in the near future.

Sewage discharge warning system Question No: 3268 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Thank you for your answer to MQ 2976/2009, it is good news that river users have the prospect of a warning system. What is the likely timescale for the development of the system? Answer from the Mayor: Thames Water have an agreed scheme for giving warnings of sewage discharges from Mogden Sewage Works to river users. This is due to be operational in the next few weeks.

As this is a new system I would be pleased to be kept informed as to how well the system works. *

Mayor’s Fund for London, 2009 Question No: 3269 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey How much money has the fund spent in 2009, and which projects have received grants? Answer from the Mayor: The Mayor’s Fund are not part of the GLA. They are an independent charity and, as such, their spending for 2009 will be reported to the Mayor’s Fund Trustees and the Charity Commission in the usual way.

For more information please contact the Mayor’s Fund directly. *

Mayor’s Fund for London, 2010 Question No: 3270 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey How much money does the fund plan to spend in 2010, and which agencies will be funded and by how much? Answer from the Mayor: The Mayor’s Fund programme for 2010 will be set out on their website when it has been confirmed: http://www.mayorsfundforlondon.org.uk/. *

49 Mayor’s Fund for London – “Funding Partners” Question No: 3271 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey The Mayor’s Fund website states that the fund has: * Strategic Funding Partners: £1m+ pa for 3 years * Major Funding Partners: £100k - £1m pa for 3 years * Funding Partners: up to £100k, either one-off or recurring Can you please provide the names of these Funding Partners? Answer from the Mayor: As the Mayor’s Fund said at their launch they are not publicising their donors at this stage. That is their current policy and they keep it under review.

* Mayor’s Fund for London – supporters Question No: 3272 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey The Mayor’s Fund website invites support from each of the following groups. How many of each group have supported the fund, and by what amount in total? o Individuals o Companies o Charitable trusts and foundations o other organisations Answer from the Mayor: The Mayor’s Fund are not publicising their supporters at this stage. This is their current policy and they keep it under review.

* New Free Morning Newspaper Contract Question No: 3273 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Further to MQ1572/2009 are you still expecting this contract to be awarded in December 2009 and how will you encourage the new concession holder to increase recycling rates? Answer from the Mayor: London Underground is likely to award this contract in January 2010 and it will start in April 2010, when the existing contract expires.

It is planned that the contract will include requirements to improve environmental performance across the Underground, including recycling. Contract negotiations are currently at a commercially confidential stage.

*

50 Evening Newspaper Contract Question No: 3274 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What forecasts have TfL done as to the financial effects the closure of the London Paper, published by News International, and the imminent closure of LondonLite, published by Associated Newspapers, will have on the awarding of a new contract for the distribution of an evening paper from TfL property? Answer from the Mayor: London Underground is not currently planning to let a contract for the distribution of an evening paper from its stations.

* TfL Recycling Question No: 3275 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey How many tonnes of Commercial and Industrial waste were collected by TfL in London in 2008/9 and what percentage was recycled? What happens to the remaining waste and what will you do to increase recycling rates? What target for recycling will be set for 2009/10? Answer from the Mayor: TfL officers are currently compiling this information and will shortly send a response.

Information provided on 27 November 2009: In 2008/09, TfL collected 19,100 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste. Of this, 38% was recycled. The remainder of the waste was largely disposed of to landfill or incinerated.

Recycling targets have been set across much of TfL but there is not a TfL wide target. London Underground has a target to recycle 45% of commercial and industrial waste in 2009/10. London Buses has a target to recycle 10 tonnes of paper from offices and bus stations (excluding customer waste) in 2009/10. The other modes focus their targets on recycling construction and demolition waste, as that is their bigger environmental impact, for example, Crossrail will set a 90% recycling target for demolition waste. A number of initiatives are in place to improve recycling rates across TfL and with contractors and progress is reported in the annual Environment Report which is published on TfL’s website.

I have asked TfL to review its group wide Commercial and Industrial recycling performance and targets to ensure these are sufficiently ambitious. * Recycling on the underground Question No: 3276 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What tonnage of waste is collected by Tubelines, and what tonnage by LU? Proportionately how much is recycled by Tubelines and LU and how much does this cost? Answer from the Mayor: We estimate that Tube Lines (TL) collected approximately 1250 tonnes of waste from the stations and depots on the London Underground (LU) network for which it is responsible from April-September 2009 and that LU collected approximately 2000 tonnes of waste from the rest of stations and depots on the LU network. During these six months, we estimate that approximately 50% of material was recycled across both TL and LU; an exact split is not available as much of the waste is collected in joint TL/LU collections.

51

Cost information is not available for waste collections from Tube Lines because this service is provided within the terms of the PPP contract. The combined cost of the waste and scrap management service for the LU lines (which includes collection of waste/recycling, transport to waste transfer/recycling/disposal location and gate fees at the relevant site) last financial year (2008/09) was circa £2.8m.

* TfL’s increasing CO2 emissions Question No: 3277 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Why in the recently produced business plan are TfL’s CO2 emissions projected to rise to 1,875 thousand tonnes in 2013/14 before they start to fall? Why cannot TfL cut CO2 before this date? Answer from the Mayor: TfL officers are currently compiling this information and will shortly send a response.

Information provided on 27 November 2009:

TfL’s CO2 emissions forecast shows a small increase, less than one per cent, from 2009/10 to 2013/14.

TfL’s infrastructure investment programme, such as the Tube upgrades, is delivering improved power systems, track, signalling, trains and stations to deliver more service frequency, capacity and comfort. The scale and nature of TfL’s programme means that over the period, the increased CO2 emissions from these activities outweighs the reductions that will be achieved from operational areas.

However, encouraging more people to use public transport rather than driving, may lead to a very small increase in TfL’s own emissions, but lend to an overall fall in CO2 emissions. The emissions are then forecast to decrease so that at the end of the Business Plan period, CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre will be lower than today.

TfL’s increasing use of energy Question No: 3278 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Why in TfL’s 2009 business plan are London Underground’s projections for traction energy per passenger journey increasing from 944 Wh (2009/10) to 1,002 Wh (2017/18)? How will LU cut energy use? Will you set a KPI for increasing the use of renewable energy? Answer from the Mayor: TfL officers are currently compiling this information and will shortly send a response.

Information provided on 27 November 2009: Over the period of the Business Plan, London Underground (LU) will deliver major upgrades to eight lines and increase network capacity just over 26 per cent in order to tackle existing crowding and cater for growth.

This increase in capacity, provided by longer trains, more frequent and faster services, does result in a small increase in traction energy consumption overall. Energy efficiency measures, such as regenerative braking and new signalling are being put in place in parallel, which

52 minimises this increase. At the same time, since passenger journeys are increasing, emissions per journey will fall. Once all the upgrades are completed the energy per passenger journey is expected to be lower than it is currently, approximately 940 Wh by 2022/23. LU is also working with train manufacturers to develop a new generation of high-capacity, energy-efficient trains for the Bakerloo line upgrade in 2020.

As well as reducing energy usage, LU has an aspiration to source 30% of its energy supply from renewables by 2025 and is working with industry and relevant London bodies to develop this proposal.

Bus fare increases – weekly bus passes Question No: 3279 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey How many weekly bus passes are sold each year, and to which socio-economic groups? Answer from the Mayor: In the last year, around 13 million weekly and 1 million monthly Bus & Tram Passes have been sold. Nearly 6,000 annual Bus & Tram Passes have also been sold.

A breakdown of sales by socio-economic groups is not available separately for weekly, monthly and annual tickets, but for Bus & Tram Passes as a whole the break-up is as follows:

Socio-economic Bus & Tram Group Passes AB 24% C1 37% C2 10% D 21% E 8% Total 100%

Source: Bus Customer Satisfaction surveys January-March 2009 * Bus fare increases – monthly bus passes Question No: 3280 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey How many monthly bus passes are sold each year, and to which socio-economic groups? Answer from the Mayor: Please see my answer to MQ3279 / 2009.

* TfL Fares 2010 - ridership Question No: 3281 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What has TfL’s fares modelling shown to be the estimated change in ridership (or demand) on each transport mode affected by the fare increases announced for January 2010? Answer from the Mayor: In its recently published Business Plan, TfL estimates that passenger journeys in 2010 will be 2% less than in 2009 on Tube, DLR and Overground and 2.5% less on buses and trams.

53 These estimates take into account projections for the London economy and the trends in employment as well as the January fares revision.

* Fares Decision Question No: 3282 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Unlike the Council Tax precept, where you have to undertake formal public consultation, you do not have to consult with Londoners or their representatives on the annual fares decision. In 2010 your fares decision will cost a regular bus passenger more than £100 extra, far more than any conceivable precept change. Will you commit to a proper process of consultation on the fares decision in future years? Answer from the Mayor: I already engage and consult with Londoners, both at a local level at People's Question Time, and over more general strategic issues, with my draft transport strategy was published for consultation in October 2009.

Even after the fares' increase, bus ticket season holders will still pay only around 60p for each trip. This remains excellent value for money for one of the most comprehensive, frequent and accessible bus services in the world and is cheaper than in many other major UK cities.

* More than 30,000 new homes Question No: 3283 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Your press release of 3 November stated that you have “asked for an audit of land owned across the GLA family, including Transport for London, the London Development Agency and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, to identify potential development sites”. Yet in your answer to my question this January you had said that “The LDA has completed the assessment of the sites which it owns” [0080/2009], and in February that “a comprehensive review of all land owned by the GLA’s functional bodies” was in production [0332/2009]. Are you starting a new audit and if so what has been happening in the past 18 months to free up GLA family land for development? Answer from the Mayor: You are correct that I am starting a new audit of surplus and under-used sites owned by the GLA’s Functional Bodies.

Since I was elected the construction of 1,182 homes on the LDA’s St Andrews Hospital has commenced (January 2009), in September 2009 I agreed a revised masterplan for the construction of an additional 1,200 homes on the LDA’s site within Royal Arsenal (increasing the number of homes to 3,700), and the HCA has budgeted £57 million as part of an initiative to bring empty properties back into use on land currently owned Transport for London at Bounds Green.

* More than 30,000 new homes (2) Question No: 3284 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Please clarify what estimates of housing capacity on GLA sites you used in your press release of 3 November, given that your answer to MQ 2139/2009 stated that “The LDA has previously

54 provided long-term capacity estimates of up to 32,000 homes on its land. This estimate is being reassessed in the light of the economic climate and its impact on development proposals.” Answer from the Mayor: My estimate of more than 30,000 new homes was based upon a recently revised estimate from the London Development Agency (October 2009), and the TfL figure given in my answer to your MQT 2139/2009 (circa 5,000 homes). No allowance was made for developing homes on land owned by the Metropolitan Police Authority or London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

* London housing company Question No: 3285 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What progress has been made by the LDA on a housing company, since I last asked in May when they were “at an early stage of working up a SPV housing company offer, which would enable LDA land to be pooled with other public sector assets” [MQ 1174/2009]? Answer from the Mayor: LDA funding has been budgeted to form the company. Experts have been appointed to undertake detailed work on the business model. Using the LDA’s brownfield land database, an initial sift has been undertaken of potential sites. A series of meetings have been held to confirm local authority interest in the initiative and the status of their land holdings. The concept has also been presented to London Councils Housing Directors.

Subject to satisfactory progress and negotiation with public and private sector partners, it is anticipated that the LDA will be in a position to commence proposals on its land in Spring 2010.

* Air quality strategy – Policy 10, low-level hedges Question No: 3286 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey One of the proposals in your draft Air Quality Strategy is to “Work with boroughs to investigate the planting of low-level hedges along major roads where air quality is poor, to act as a barrier between emissions from road transport and pedestrians on pavements”. Where have such hedges been proven to work? What impact would they have on concentrations? How much would they cost, and how cost effective would they be? Answer from the Mayor: TfL is developing tailored packages of measures for the few locations in central London that are at risk of not meeting targets for PM10 in 2011. The packages will be based on the characteristics of the particular site, including the vehicle fleet using the roads, traffic speeds and local geography. Planting trees and hedges, such as low level hedges, is likely to be just a small part of those packages, which could also include changes in traffic management, altered street design and focusing cleaner buses on routes going though these locations.

Examples of vegetation planting schemes have been trialled in Beijing, New York and the Netherlands.

As yet we do not know the exact impacts tree and low-level hedge planting will have in London. The costs of planting street trees under the Mayor’s street tree programme is around £350 per tree, however this can be higher depending on the local circumstances. Trialling the technique

55 will help us gain a far better understanding of the costs and the effectiveness of different types of vegetation as a mitigation measure.

* Air quality strategy – Policy 6, special measures Question No: 3287 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey One of the proposals in your draft Air Quality Strategy is to put in place “special measures for the highest pollution days….likely to involve traffic management and potential diversions. If necessary…wider measures to reduce traffic levels”. When and where do you anticipate these measures being introduced? As the highest levels are mainly on key arterial routes, do you anticipate closing Marylebone or Brixton Roads? How will you predict the highest pollutions days and inform drivers? Answer from the Mayor: Policy 6 of the draft Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy states we will develop a series of measures with boroughs and other stakeholders to help reduce and manage air quality on days where we exceed daily mean EU limit values for PM10. This Policy is intended to tackle the worst exceedences where they happen. Exceedence days can occur in multi-day periods know as episodes. Episodes can be caused by a number of complicated factors such as emissions from within and outside London, weather and geography. Localised action during such episodes will help meet EU limit values.

Measures will include traffic management and information provision during pollution episodes, as well as events to promote walking and cycling and the urban realm. For measures focused on highest pollution days, the exact triggers are still being determined, and this will require input from London Boroughs.

As for the exact measures themselves, our assessments are not completed and it would be premature to be more specific at this stage. As part of this work we are exploring how to inform Londoners of measures undertaken.

* Withdrawal of Tube maintenance contract Question No: 3289 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon How do you defend London Underground’s recent announcement that they are withdrawing the £300 million civil maintenance framework contract and issuing a revised contract within the next six months? Answer from the Mayor: It is imperative that London Underground (LU) contracts provide and demonstrate value for money. This is even more important given the pressures on TfL’s finances resulting from the economic downturn and the financial impact of Metronet’s collapse.

As part of LU’s continuous review of its contracts with this objective in mind, it became clear that a service contract, as opposed to a framework contract, could deliver significant efficiencies in civils maintenance. LU has had recent success in delivering efficiencies in this way in related areas. In the light of this decision, it was necessary to withdraw the framework contract notice, and a revised contract notice will be issued within the next six months.

This will have no impact on any current or upcoming works which can be procured using the existing framework contracts.

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Tube station refurbishment deferred Question No: 3290 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon London Underground has said that apart from King’s Cross and Tottenham Court Road, any other station refurbishment work where contractors are not already on site has been deferred until 2012/13 and beyond. Is this lack of money or evidence that they are even less competent than Metronet ? Answer from the Mayor: London Underground (LU) will continue to progress a significant volume of work to upgrade stations over the next three years. This will focus on providing additional capacity to relieve congestion at heavily used stations, particularly those that are key interchanges with National Rail services, or which will see an increase in passengers as a result of the introduction of Crossrail and the development of Thameslink.

As well as King’s Cross St. Pancras, where the massive redevelopment is nearing completion, and Tottenham Court Road where it has just started, major congestion relief projects will get underway at Bond Street, Paddington and Victoria. This is in additon to the 15 other stations where modernisation or refurbishment work is ongoing (this figure does not include those where Tube Lines is carrying out the work).

However, the failure of Metronet has had a significant impact on this type of work. Apart from the fact that Metronet’s stations programme was in chaos when LU took over, the financial legacy of the company’s collapse, combined with the impact of the economic downturn on TfL’s revenues, has meant funding is now severely constrained. The deferral of further modernisations and refurbishments until later in the current Business Plan period is one of a number of difficult but responsible decisions that had to be taken in order to protect the vital programmes to improve reliability and increase capacity on the Tube.

Since May 2008 when TfL took control of Metronet, 20 station refurbishments have been completed and costs are within budget.

* Victoria Station upgrade deferred Question No: 3291 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon London Underground have announced that the Victoria Station upgrade will now not be completed until 2018. Is this further evidence that the public sector cannot cope with the Tube upgrades programme ? Answer from the Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) fully recognises the importance of the upgrade of Victoria station and it remains a key priority.

TfL is however seeing both a loss in revenue due to the current economic climate as well as increased costs with the impact of the Metronet collapse. In this context, there is a need to achieve significant cost reductions, necessitating some difficult decisions.

Accordingly, as part of the package of changes confirmed in TfL’s Business Plan published last month, the Victoria Station Upgrade will now be delivered in phases to limit the spend on the project over the next three years. There will be no reduction in the scope of the project with all planned customer benefits being delivered and construction will start in 2011 with the new northern ticket hall (in Cardinal Place). 57

This is forecast to be open to the public by summer 2016, giving direct access to the Victoria line platforms from the north side of Victoria Street, as well as step-free access between street, ticket hall and platform levels.

The remainder of the station upgrade will be completed by 2018, including an enlarged southern ticket hall, improved interchange between the Victoria and District & Circle lines, and step-free access to the mainline station.

In the interim, preparatory works for the main scheme are progressing well. The planned utilities diversions, in advance of the main works, are well underway and due for completion by Autumn next year. We have also completed a major programme of asbestos removal at the station and started work on an upgrade of the main ticket office which is scheduled for completion in summer 2010.

* Metronet contracts: “independent” panel [1] Question No: 3292 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon A joint announcement by you and the Secretary of State reveals that you yourself are going to appoint a “panel of experts” to monitor London Underground’s progress (or lack of it) with the Metronet contracts. This panel will be appointed by you and report to the TfL Board, no doubt in its closed session. How can anyone believe in the independence of this panel ? Answer from the Mayor: The announcement that the Secretary of State and I made recently, confirming that London Underground (LU) will remain permanently responsible for Metronet’s former activties, with some new scrutiny measures put in place, reflects two key factors.

Firstly that, contrary to your inference that LU has made no progress with the Metronet contracts, it has already taken significant steps to enhance its organisation and management, resulting in improved (and more transparent) delivery of both day to day maintenance and renewal works, since it took over Metronet’s responsibilities. This has been achieved while also achieving significant efficiencies in the face of a chaotic financial legacy from Metronet’s collapse.

Secondly, that ultimate responsibility for Metronet’s former activities now rests with the TfL Board and the Mayor, in the same way as do TfL’s other activities. As such they are subject to the same multiple layers of scrutiny (including by the Assembly) and in the final analysis to the judgement of Londoners, who elect the Mayor.

The new scrutiny measures will enhance this further. The shortlist from which the independent advisory panel will be appointed will be agreed by the Secretary of State, and its reports will be available to him. The experts will be asked to provide advice to the TfL Board about all aspects of projects, and as such it is likely that their views will be commercially confidential, and therefore be dealt with in closed session. I do however completely reject your suggestion that the panel and its members will be anything less than independent. They will be independent experts with reputations and integrity, and their advice will be invaluable to the TfL Board in carrying out is role.

58 Metronet contracts: “independent” panel [2] Question No: 3293 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Since it is the legal duty of the London Assembly to hold the Mayor to account, would it not be more appropriate for a committee of the Assembly to appoint the expert panel which monitors London Underground’s progress with Tube upgrades, and to receive its reports in their public sessions ? Answer from the Mayor: The announcement that the Secretary of State and I made recently, confirming that London Underground (LU) will remain permanently responsible for Metronet’s former activities, with some new scrutiny measures put in place, reflects two key factors.

Firstly, that LU has already taken significant steps to enhance its organisation and management, resulting in improved (and more transparent) delivery of both day to day maintenance and renewal works, since it took over Metronet’s responsibilities. This has been achieved while also achieving significant efficiencies in the face of a chaotic financial legacy from Metronet’s collapse.

Secondly, that ultimate responsibility for Metronet’s former activities now rests with the TfL Board and the Mayor, in the same way as do TfL’s other activities. As such they are subject to the same multiple layers of scrutiny (including by the Assembly) and in the final analysis to the judgement of Londoners, who elect the Mayor.

The new scrutiny measures will enhance this further. The shortlist from which the independent advisory panel will be appointed will be agreed by the Secretary of State, and its reports will be available to him. The primary purpose of the experts will be to inform the decisions that the TfL Board makes in respect of the delivery of the TfL Investment programme, and as such they must report to it and to myself as the Chair.

* Private jets using City Airport Question No: 3294 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon In view of the aims of your recently published Air Quality Strategy, how do you justify the number of private jets using City Airport, and what steps will you take to persuade the owners of the airport to reduce their number ? Answer from the Mayor: I am committed to improving air quality in London and my draft Air Quality Strategy sets out a number of practicable and deliverable proposals to achieve this important aim. However, although I can exercise a large degree of regulatory control over surface transport, my powers do not extend to controlling the operation of London's airports and airspace. This has always been a matter for national government - the Department for Transport / Civil Aviation Authority as the national regulator for aviation and the National Air Traffic Service as the controller of airspace.

* Accumulative maps of air noise Question No: 3295 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Please publish accumulative noise maps of air noise for Greater London so that we can see the true impact of aircraft flying over the capital. 59 Answer from the Mayor: Noise maps showing aircraft noise contours around Heathrow and London City Airports, as required by the European Environmental Noise Directive, are available on the DEFRA website.

I agree that these do not present a complete picture of aircraft noise over London. The GLA supported some exploratory analysis, by consultants Bureau Veritas, of how aircraft flightpaths over London have been growing, and this is available on http://www.hacan.org.uk/resources/reports.php.

However, under current arrangements, detailed work would be the responsibility of central government, in conjunction with the airport operators. I will write to the Minister requesting production and publication of such information.

* Jobs at City Airport Question No: 3296 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Can you confirm that rather than the promised 1,000 new jobs at City Airport being created as a result of the extra flights that have been permitted, only 480 have materialised, and if this is the case, how do you account for the shortfall ? Answer from the Mayor: I will shortly send a response.

* Bus route for Wightman Road, Haringey Question No: 3297 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon The answer given by TfL to my Question 2404/2009, requesting a bus route diversion via Wightman Road, Haringey, does not address the issue that residents with mobility problems who live on Wightman Road cannot climb the hill from existing bus routes along Green Lanes. Nor does it address your integrated transport agenda that buses should connect with trains by introducing such a connection at Harringay rail station on Wightman Road. Are these desirable outcomes no longer affordable under the new TfL Business Plan? Answer from the Mayor: Whilst I accept there would be some transport benefits to introducing the suggested service, you will be aware that it is essential to plan and deliver the bus network to achieve maximum benefits from the available funding. Having considered the cost, to implement the route you suggest is unfortunately too high to justify taking into account expected usage.

* Improving safety for cyclists Question No: 3298 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon A constituent has asked me to raise with you whether you would support new legislation making it compulsory in London for cyclists to (a) wear a helmet, (b) to carry working lights on their bikes at the front and rear (c) wear a fluorescent jacket, day or night ?

60 Answer from the Mayor: I agree with your constituent that cycling safety is very important and that many people are not aware of what they can do to lessen the risks of injury when cycling in London; that is part of the reason why Transport for London is consulting on a draft Cycle Safety Action Plan that includes a significant workstream around promotion, incentives and awareness raising.

There is already a legal requirement for cycles to be fitted with working front and rear lights if being ridden on a public road when it is dark. My view on the other matters raised by your constituent is that these are quite rightly a matter of individual choice - not legislation or compulsion.

The Euston Arch Question No: 3299 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Now that the Euston Arch Trust has tracked down the pieces of the original iconic Euston Arch, would you join me in a campaign to re-instate the Arch when the station is redeveloped ? Answer from the Mayor: I would be delighted to support your campaign if the Arch can be incorporated into the overall plans for the development of Euston Station.

* Bus replacements: Clapham Common Tube station Question No: 3300 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Although Clapham Common Tube station will be shut (exit only) in peak-time for two months, causing massive disruption to passengers at this overcrowded station, and putting extra pressure on already overcrowded Clapham North, TfL have not only abandoned plans for a new direct bus link from Clapham to the City, but refuse to increase bus capacity or run replacement bus services over part of the route. Will you be more constructive than your predecessor, who refused to do anything about this ? Answer from the Mayor: London Underground (LU) has no plans to make Clapham Common station exit only during peak times.

On the three weekends when the Northern line train service was suspended south of Stockwell to facilitate enabling upgrade works earlier this year, LU did provide a dedicated replacement bus service – including a stop at Clapham Common station.

TfL has reviewed the impact of the temporary restrictions at Clapham Common Station. Taking account of the alternatives that passengers will wish to use during this period, including alternative stations, it considers that there is no requirement to provide a bus replacement service. TfL will keep this under review in the usual way. *

Map-reading [1] Question No: 3301 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Why did a recent attempt by TfL to revise the Tube map manage to leave the river out, place

61 Shoreditch station east of Bethnal Green and confuse the Victoria and Albert museum with the Natural History Museum ? Answer from the Mayor: The Tube map is ‘diagrammatic’ as opposed to a ‘geographic’ map to provide the clearest possible representation of the Tube system. Enthusiasm for an uncluttered approach led to the Thames being removed, something which, happily, is being rectified with the next iteration in December.

The confusion of the Victoria and Albert museum and Natural History museum was placed on a different pictorial map of the area covered by the new London Cycle Hire scheme. The mistake was rapidly corrected.

* Map-reading [2] Question No: 3302 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon TfL have apparently responded to Thames Valley Housing over a bus route enquiry by saying that they have not been able to locate the Hamptons housing association development in Worcester Park. How does a transport authority justify managing to ‘lose’ a whole housing development ? Answer from the Mayor: TfL certainly apologise for any confusion caused by this letter. In fact, TfL had considered if and how the Hamptons could be served by bus during the planning stages of the development. Options for diverting route S3 or extending route 154 were considered in detail. Both were ruled out at that stage, the former because it would involve loss of the S3 service for other local residents, the latter because the roads that it would need to use were considered unsuitable. As there are fresh requests from residents, TfL will review the position again and write with their findings early in 2010.

* Map-reading [3] Question No: 3303 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon In the light of the two previous Questions, might there be a case for a map-reading academy ? Answer from the Mayor: A tempting and intriguing proposition – but on balance, no.

Much more pressing, of course, is the need for the Crossrail tunnelling academy, more on which will be announced soon.

* Passengers with mobility problems Question No: 3304 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Please publish the results of the risk assessment carried about by TfL into revisions to the boarding and alighting procedures on buses, which would take into account the desire for passengers who use walking frames or similar aids to use the wheelchair ramp.

62 Answer from the Mayor: TfL’s risk assessment concludes it is safer for passengers with mobility aids such as walking frames and rollators to board and alight at the centre door using the wheelchair ramp. An amendment to TfL’s conditions of carriage will be made to reflect this change and a driver communication campaign to launch the revised process will be issued by the end of this year.

London Regional Rail Authority Question No: 3305 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Although TfL London Rail published a document during the previous Mayoralty arguing the case for a London Regional Rail Authority, this does not appear even as an aspiration in your draft Transport Strategy. Have you given up hope of negotiating for the Mayor of London to oversee all rail commuter services in the London region ? Answer from the Mayor: No, I have not given up hope. With nearly half of all rail journeys in London involving transfers to London Underground (LU) or Docklands Light Railway (DLR), I believe there remains a pressing need to better integrate National Rail services with TfL’s services, to deliver seamless journeys and fares for passengers, as well as better value for the taxpayer. TfL’s submission to a recent Transport Select Committee enquiry made the point that service integration can be better delivered through a number of features, such as:

• The Mayor being allocated a rail budget for London for all suburban passenger services. • Common rail, Overground and LU fare levels set by the Mayor. • Inner suburban services franchised to Overground standards, with the same performance indictors to allow a comparison of quality. • Inner suburban station and services branded Overground with inner suburban stations transferred on long lease to TfL. • Gross cost contract operated by private sector specified by TfL. • The Mayor being co-signatory to franchise contracts where it covers both suburban and long distance services.

* 371 bus stand: Lower Mortlake Road Question No: 3306 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Can you review progress into getting the stand for the 371 bus moved from Lower Mortlake Road to the Sainsbury’s store at Manor Circus, a process which seems to be taking an unreasonably long time? Answer from the Mayor: TfL’s design for the new stand has been agreed, following an extended period of negotiation with Sainsbury’s.

TfL is meeting Sainsbury’s during November to discuss the construction programme and to agree a date when work can start on site. The extension of the bus service is currently scheduled for April 2010.

*

63 371 bus: extension to Kingston Hospital Question No: 3307 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Can you explain why, although Richmond councillors were told that the extension of the 371 bus route to Kingston Hospital, operating from the new location of the Sainsbury’s store at Manor Circus, would be introduced on 5 September 2009, it is now TfL’s “hope” to introduce the extension in April 2010? Answer from the Mayor: The 5 September 2009 date referred to the original target date for extending route 371 to the Sainsbury’s store at Manor Circus near Richmond. My answer to question 3306/2009 describes the position on this.

No diversion of route 371 to Kingston Hospital was or is planned. TfL has contacted your office to clarify the question on this point.

* Lane rental charges: Thames Water Question No: 3308 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Will your plan to impose lane rental charges on Thames Water for digging up London streets result in higher bills for water customers, and what talks have you or your officers had with the water regulator OFWAT about preventing these costs being passed on? Answer from the Mayor: The Secretary of State for Transport and I have agreed the need to look at all appropriate measures to minimise the disruption caused by road and street works. This includes exploring the potential for a targeted lane rental scheme to incentivise shorter works durations and innovative working practices at key locations to ensure that the busiest streets are available at the busiest times to all road users.

Full consideration would need to be given to the costs to all works undertakers in introducing such a scheme. However, my intention would be to develop a scheme where lane rental charges are avoidable (through the use of trench plating, joint and off peak working and “no-dig” techniques) and therefore costs should not be passed on to customers.

However, the introduction of any lane rental scheme needs to be developed with, and approved by, the Department for Transport and I have asked TfL to progress the proposal with their colleagues at the DfT.

* Poor service reliability: R70 route Question No: 3309 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Despite delays caused by the road works at Richmond Circus, buses on the R68 and 285 routes seem able to keep to schedule. How then do you account for poor service reliability on the R70 bus route (North Sheen circular) with passengers complaining of frequent bunching causing waits of up to 20 minutes, and what steps will you take to remedy this?

64 Answer from the Mayor: Route R70 has been affected by the various stages of the works at Richmond Circus and at nearby gas works. Route 285 does not go through Richmond so has not been affected by the Richmond Circus works.

The operator has taken action to reduce the impact of these works on the service through service control measures, and I understand the disruption due to the works is now greatly reduced and they are expected to be complete by early December 2009.

Whilst I accept it is unfortunate that passengers have been inconvenienced in this way, I would like to highlight that once the scheme has been delivered, there will be significant benefits to vehicles, including buses, travelling into Richmond town centre.

* London Underground dispute with UNITE Question No: 3310 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon John Morgan-Evans of UNITE is quoted as stating on 23 October 2009 that “London Underground seem to be no longer interested in negotiating a solution.” Is this the case, and what obstacles remain in reaching a negotiated settlement? Answer from the Mayor: London Underground (LU) remains committed to reaching a settlement on pay through discussion with the trades unions. TSSA has accepted the offer and ASLEF are now recommending the pay offer to its membership.

LU continues to be available for talks at any time and in the last week met with all of the trades unions at the conciliation service ACAS. Further talks are expected in the next week.

As well as tabling a revised offer in June, LU has considered and accepted proposals to deal with other issues of concern, for example medical redeployment for train operators, in a bid to demonstrate flexibility in reaching a sensible and fair pay agreement.

What LU cannot do, however, is increase its pay offer. The offer would provide a pay increase of 1.5% this year and RPI+0.5% next year to all staff*.

This is very fair and reasonable, particularly in the current financial climate, when many Londoners are facing pay freezes or even redundancy. I therefore urge the other trade unions to accept it for the good of their members and all those who rely on the Tube service.

*this does not include senior managers as their pay has been frozen this year in line with the rest of TfL.

S3 bus route: suggested route alteration Question No: 3311 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Thames Valley Housing rent to around 100-150 tenants on the Hamptons development in Worcester Park, Sutton. They were told a bus service would run to the estate, for which the only access is via Boscombe Road. Can you ask TfL to consider modifying the S3 route so that it takes in Boscombe Road?

65 Answer from the Mayor: TfL considered this suggestion during the planning phase of the development, following discussion with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. They considered that, although the residents of the Hamptons would benefit from such a diversion, existing through passengers would experience significant inconvenience due to longer journey times. Therefore, on balance, it was decided not to take the proposal forward. However, given the requests from the housing association, I have asked TfL to review the position again.

* Unused driveways for car clubs Question No: 3312 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Can you ask TfL to work with Borough councils to explore whether residents with unused driveways could be incentivised to allow car clubs to use them to park their cars? Answer from the Mayor: Over half of all car club vehicles in London are located off-street, with a significant proportion using residents driveways. In order to incentivise households to make their driveways available, car club operators use a range of offers, such as provision of driving hour credits.

It is not straight forward for boroughs to promote this concept to their residents, as the contracts they have with operators only relate to on-street provision. Therefore, in order to avoid falling foul of competition rules, boroughs/TfL would need to promote the offers available from all accredited operators equally, which could cause confusion for residents. I have therefore asked TfL to look in more detail at this matter.

* Battersea: funding transport improvements Question No: 3313 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Would you agree that given the constraints on the TfL budget clearly identified in their Business Plan, transport improvements necessary to make the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Opportunity Area viable must be met entirely by private sector contributions? Answer from the Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) do not have money in their budget or Business Plan (to 2017/18) to contribute towards the transport improvements necessary to help stimulate the regeneration of the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Opportunity Area. This has been communicated to the relevant stakeholders to ensure clarity regarding our financial position. TfL continue to work with Treasury Holdings (developer of the Battersea Power Station site), Wandsworth Borough Council, the GLA and other landowners to identify sources of funds that may be used to secure the upfront finance needed for transport improvements.

* Overcrowding: Battersea Park Station Question No: 3314 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon The recently published Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Planning Framework rightly points out the potential for severe if not dangerous levels of overcrowding at Battersea Park Station if regeneration plans go ahead. What will you do to secure the funding and support for necessary improvement works at Battersea Park Station to ensure adequate capacity and to ensure the

66 viability of any potential redevelopment of Battersea Power Station? Answer from the Mayor: Battersea Park is not a TfL managed station, but is managed by Southern and owned by Network Rail. My Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Planning Framework, seeks to ensure that there is adequate transport capacity to support the regeneration proposals, including Battersea Park station. If improvement works are necessary at Battersea Park as a result of the development proposals, then LB Wandsworth would specify them as a condition of the Planning Permission through the Section 106 process, and they would be funded by the developer.

* Overcrowding: Vauxhall Underground station Question No: 3315 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon The recently published Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Planning Framework indicates likely overcrowding at Vauxhall Underground Station if regeneration plans go ahead. Will you consider accelerating or bringing forward planned crowd mitigation and capacity improvement works at Vauxhall to ensure much-needed additional capacity will be in place to deal with projected increases in passenger numbers? Answer from the Mayor: Transport for London’s (TfL) Business Plan (through to 2017/18) includes funding for a congestion relief scheme at Vauxhall in the latter years of the plan. Work is scheduled to commence in 2016 with expected completion in 2018.

The framework you refer to presents several scenarios with different levels of development all of which would potentially increase demand at Vauxhall, however there are no timeframes provided for any of these. The current economic climate makes it difficult accurately to predict both the level and timescales for development, and consequently the associated growth in demand.

TfL is seeing both a loss in revenue due to the current economic climate and increased costs with the impact of the Metronet collapse, and there is a need to achieve significant cost reductions.

Taking these factors into context, London Underground cannot consider bringing forward station plans for Vauxhall. In any case, TfL would expect a substantial developer contribution towards any transport improvements necessary to support such a development.

* More buses for Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Question No: 3316 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Can your proposals for a 20% increase in bus services and the introduction of new bus routes in the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Opportunity Area be accommodated within your Transport Commissioner’s plans to reduce bus subsidies ? Answer from the Mayor: The transport implications of potential developments in this area are being discussed between TfL and other relevant parties in the usual way. At the relevant time, these discussions will also include any funding arrangements, should additional funding be needed. However, at this stage it appears that significant extra demand for bus services from development in this area may not be realised until towards the end of the current TfL Business Plan period. TfL will continue to keep the position under review. 67

* West London Line: passenger information Question No: 3317 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Throughout the regular Sunday closures for engineering works on the West London Line, and despite requests months ago, TfL continues to fail in providing comprehensive information to passengers about rail services that are available: eg those provided by Southern railways. What steps will you take to ensure that TfL takes such responsibilities seriously, on this and other lines in London ? Answer from the Mayor: London Overground already provides service information from other train operators to its passengers, where and when appropriate. Integrated information is provided via posters, white boards, audio announcements, text announcements on real time information screens, as well as on-train announcements.

Transport for London acknowledges that there have been problems recently and has asked its operator LOROL to investigate where the transfer of information from Southern could be improved. *

Station closures: value for money [1] Question No: 3318 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon When Tube stations are closed for essential engineering works, are station staff redeployed elsewhere or if not, what other duties do they undertake which ensures that farepayers and taxpayers are getting value from the salaries they earn ? Answer from the Mayor: Often, although no train services are running, station ticket halls remain open and staff are required to provide information on alternative travel routes.

Where staff are not needed at a closed station they may take annual leave or exchange rest days that fall during the week for time off during the weekend closure. Those who choose to work are required to report for duty as normal, and are allocated alternative duties by local managers, usually either redeployment to nearby stations to cope with the additional demand or training.

For long term closures, such as currently at Blackfriars, staff are redeployed to other local stations for the duration of the closure.

Station closures: value for money [2] Question No: 3319 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon How many hours of work by Tube station staff have been paid for by London Underground each year by line over the last four years during periods when Tube stations have been closed for essential engineering works?

68 Answer from the Mayor: No figures for this are collected. It should be noted that staff rostered for duty who chose not to take annual leave or exchange rest days are always required to report for work and will be allocated alternative duties by local managers. Please also see my answer to MQ3318 / 2009.

* Tube line closures: value for money [1] Question No: 3320 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon When a Tube line is closed for essential engineering works, are train drivers redeployed elsewhere on the network, and if not, what other duties do they undertake which ensures that farepayers and taxpayers are getting value from the salaries they earn ? Answer from the Mayor: London Underground always tries to adjust rosters to ensure that drivers are not unproductively scheduled to work during line or partial line closures. Those who choose to work are required to report for duty as normal, and will be allocated alternative duties by local managers, including training where possible.

However, it should be borne in mind that most line closures are only partial, and therefore some drivers are still required to operate services on the sections of the line that remain open.

* Tube line closures: value for money [2] Question No: 3321 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon How many hours of work by Tube train drivers have been paid for by London Underground each year by line over the last four years during periods when Tube lines have been closed for essential engineering works ? Answer from the Mayor: No figures for this are collected. It should be noted that staff rostered for duty who choose not to take annual leave or exchange rest days are always required to report for work and are allocated alternative duties by local managers as appropriate, which may include training and development or manager briefings. I also refer you to my answer to MQ3320 / 2009.

* Congestion charging payments: retail outlets Question No: 3322 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon TfL/Mayor of London advertisements about paying the congestion charge advise the public to phone 0845 900 1234. However, advisers on the phone cannot give callers the location of their nearest retail outlet and refer them to the website locator. Not every caller has internet access. Would it be possible to arrange for call staff to give callers retail locations over the phone ? Answer from the Mayor: All TfL’s call centre agents have access to information showing the nearest retail outlet to any address in the UK. TfL have reminded all staff that they should provide this information directly to customers.

As you may be aware, on 31 October 2009 the Congestion Charging retail network service provider changed from PayPoint to Epay. Epay was awarded the contract following a

69 competitive procurement process. Epay has a network of almost 7,000 outlets nationwide and offers improved coverage in the critical central London area. The move to Epay is part of a wide ranging programme that is delivering significant savings and will substantially enhance the service for drivers who pay the charge.

Congestion charging payment: credit cards Question No: 3323 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon A constituent complains that it took 55 minutes to pay the congestion charge by credit card. What is the average time such transactions have taken during October 2009 ? Answer from the Mayor: I am sorry to hear that, and TfL advise me that the average queuing time for payment calls during October was 19 seconds.

However, unfortunately there were some isolated system issues that led to longer call queues in the early part of November. During the first week of the IBM service, the average queuing time for payment calls rose to 2 minutes and 13 seconds. Since then the queue times have fallen back to a level much closer to that seen in recent months under Capita.

Once through to an operator, the time taken to actually process a payment has remained stable at around four minutes.

IBM is providing a completely new and more efficient system for running Congestion Charging and the Low Emission Zone. The new IBM system in London will enable CC Auto Pay, an automated account payment system that is planned to be in place in December 2010 making it easier for customers to pay their charge and reducing the risk of registered customers receiving a Penalty Charge. As well as providing an improved service for customers, the IBM contract delivers £200 million savings for TfL.

* Signage for disabled passengers at Tube stations Question No: 3324 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon In view of complaints that wheelchair user passengers and passengers with walking difficulties find signage to the easiest exit routes from Tube stations confusing, will you ask London Underground to review current signage so that the most accessible exit routes are clearly waymarked ? Answer from the Mayor: London Underground (LU) is not aware of any recent complaints about this issue, so if you have specific examples of stations where the signage is considered to be poor, they would be very happy to look into these.

In 2006 LU commissioned a review of its signing requirements to ensure it was meeting the needs of disabled people and other excluded groups. This was undertaken by the Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE), Transport Design Consultancy (TDC) and Mackellar Architects.

The review found that some lift routes were poorly signed and made recommendations for improvement, including greater use of pictograms.

70 A number of changes were made to the design and application of signs at accessible stations and this standard has been applied since early 2007 to stations that have been modernised and refurbished, including at all ten new step-free stations. It will be applied to all new step-free routes and at stations which already have accessible routes which undergo a modernisation or refurbishment in the future.

It's not always possible to sign 'the most accessible' route, since the needs of disabled people are different. However where there is more than one useful accessible route, all of them would be signed. In addition, the Step-Free Tube Guide contains a significant quantity of information relating to accessible routes and www.directenquiries.com allows a user to determine the most accessible route through a station for them, based on their needs. *

Reconstruction of London Bridge Station Question No: 3325 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Will you hold discussions with Southern Railways and Network Rail to ensure that Southern rail services to Brockley, Honor Oak and Forest Hill are not cut during the reconstruction of London Bridge Station? Answer from the Mayor: I would not support any reduction in overall capacity from Brockley, Honor Oak Park and Forest Hill to London Bridge during the reconstruction of the station. However, I understand there will be fewer terminating platforms at London Bridge available during the reconstruction period. I understand that Southern Railways and Network Rail are considering options to run fewer but longer trains so that more passengers can be accommodated in each train, and the works at London Bridge can be completed on time as well.

* Dial-a-Ride (1) Question No: 3326 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Please publish a table showing the total mileage of trips made by Dial-a-Ride in each of the 32 London boroughs, broken down for each of the four quarters of the financial year 2008/2009 and for each of the first two quarters of the financial year 2009/2010. Answer from the Mayor: This is attached as Appendix D.

Mileage for the boroughs covered by the Dial-a-Ride Woodford operating depot are not included for Q1 and Q2 of 2008/09 as the figures are not available. The Woodford operating area moved to a new booking and scheduling system in September 2008 only. Mileage for Newham for Q2 09/10 (operated under the Newham Door to Door scheme) is also not yet available for the same reason. *

Dial-A-Ride [2] Question No: 3327 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon All complaints to Dial-A-Ride should now receive an acknowledgement slip on request. At a recent Dial-A-Ride meeting in Havering, users complained that this was not happening

71 consistently. What will you do to improve this situation? Answer from the Mayor: All comments, complaints and suggestions received by Dial-a-Ride are logged on the day of receipt and an acknowledgement slip is sent on the same day. TfL advise me that one attendee at a recent local meeting in Havering reported not having received an acknowledgement slip after sending a letter to Dial-a-Ride. Subsequent investigation revealed that unfortunately the original complaint had not been received by Dial-a-Ride.

Due to recent industrial action affecting the postal service, delays have been experienced with mail in certain parts of London, which may have affected this particular letter. This is unfortunately beyond the control of Dial-a-Ride, which has since contacted the individual to obtain details of the complaint by telephone.

* Dial-a-Ride (3) Question No: 3328 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Please publish a table showing for each day of October 2009 (a) the average waiting time for calls to the Dial-a-Ride centralised scheduling and booking system and also the waiting times during peak periods, (b) the number of calls which were abandoned. Answer from the Mayor: The Dial-a-Ride booking office is open between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday to take booking requests. Most telephone calls requesting journeys are made during a peak between 0900 and 1130, during which time some callers wait in a queue to be answered (measured by average wait time) whilst others choose to ring off and try again later (abandoned calls).

As the booking office handles trip requests from Monday to Friday and enquiries only relating to booked trips on weekends, the number of calls received and the resulting average wait time and number of abandoned calls at weekends is less than on weekdays.

A table detailing the average wait time and number of abandoned calls for each day of October 2009 is attached as Appendix E.

Dial-A-Ride [4] Question No: 3329 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon TfL have recently written to all members of Dial-A-Ride highlighting supposed improvements to the service. The letter provides a feedback telephone number (020 7466 0251) which is at present unobtainable. What steps will you take to ensure that Dial-A-Ride users are given a telephone number that actually works ? Answer from the Mayor: Dial-a-Ride updated its telephone system on Monday 26 October. Its main call centre number - 0845 999 1 999 - remained unchanged. However a few 0207 numbers, including one of the numbers that customers can raise feedback on were changed on this date.

All 50,000 Dial-a-Ride registered members were sent by direct mail, in advance of this change, a new guide to the service detailing the new numbers including a new number through which they could raise any feedback. The guide contained the correct telephone number and is the main source that Dial-a-Ride members refer to in regards to the service.

72 An error in one telephone number in the covering letter accompanying the guide was unfortunately made, for which Dial-a-Ride apologises. The TfL website carried the incorrect telephone number for a few days, and this has now been corrected.

Dial-a-Ride took steps at the time of the change to ensure that customers would not be unduly inconvenienced by ensuring that the previous telephone numbers would continue to be in operation in parallel with the new. The previous feedback number (020 7 027 5823) has continued to be active since the change and connects callers to Dial-a-Ride Customer Services. It is intended for this number to remain active until the end of 2009, at which point a recorded message will be placed on it giving out the new number – 0207 446 0251. This recorded message will be in place until July 2010. *

Closure of CVEU police unit Question No: 3330 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon In the light of the tragic deaths of ten cyclists on London’s roads this year, with eight involving heavy goods vehicles, how do you justify Transport for London’s decision to shut down the Metropolitan Police Commercial Vehicle Education Unit (CVEU) despite the fact that 70% of lorries checked by CVEU since 2005 were found to be defective in some way ? Answer from the Mayor: TfL research shows that fewer than one in twenty cycling fatalities involved a defective HGV, whereas over a fifth involved a large vehicle changing lanes to the left or turning left. This suggests that the key priority in reducing cycling fatalities is to reduce the risk to cyclists from left turning HGVs.

This will be done by changing the design and use standards for HGVs, encouraging the retro- fitting of mirrors and safety sidebars to existing HGVs and raising awareness amongst both cyclists and HGV drivers on the need to travel safely on the road.

TfL and the Metropolitan Police are working closely together on these issues including promoting Exchanging Places Events through which cyclists experience the realities of driving an HGV.

The Metropolitan Police will continue to undertake on-street enforcement action in relation to freight operators in London. TfL will continue with its Freight Operator Recognition Scheme, which offers direct safety benefits for cyclists, including bespoke driver and freight planner training, discounted driver-licence checking services and introductory offers for driver profiling.

* Reduction of shorthaul air flights Question No: 3331 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Eurostar-style trains were enabled to run directly from Heathrow to Amsterdam, Geneva and Frankfurt. Would you support moves to reduce shorthaul flights to continental destinations by improving and extending high-speed rail routes ? Answer from the Mayor: I fully support the expansion of international rail services that improve London’s connectivity with Europe and provide a viable alternative to air travel. Proposal 1 of the Public Draft of my Transport Strategy states that TfL will work with the DfT, Network Rail, the operators of

73 international rail services and other transport stakeholders to encourage more international rail services direct to a wider range of European destinations.

* Track opportunities: Camden Road Station Question No: 3332 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Have you discussed with High Speed Two Ltd and Network Rail how the four-tracking work being undertaken at Camden Road Station could benefit the HS2 project, and what High Speed Two Ltd might do to fund a short extension of that work west to the junction at Primrose Hill ? Answer from the Mayor: TfL officers are in ongoing discussions with High Speed Two Ltd about all the aspects of their work in Greater London, including potential links between HS2 and HS1. However, HS2 are still in the process of understanding what level of infrastructure would be required to deliver this link, so it is too early to say whether an extension to the North London Railway four-tracking project would be suitable for this purpose. Nevertheless, HS2 will examine a range of options and are consulting with TfL as their work progresses. HS2 are submitting a confidential report to the Secretary of State for Transport at the end of the year.

* Olympic fast trains: Wembley-Stratford Question No: 3333 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Can you confirm that the four-tracking work being undertaken at Camden Road Station, and the 8 spare paths per hour that exist on the West Coast Main Line to Wembley would enable fast trains to connect Stratford with the Olympic venues at Wembley during the 2012 Games ? Answer from the Mayor: The Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) Olympic Transport Plan does not enable, require or permit fast trains to connect Stratford with the Olympic venues at Wembley during the 2012 Games.

However, the work you refer to will provide much needed additional rail capacity and frequency both during the 2012 Games and for Londoners and rail users on their everyday commute.

In addition, as I'm sure you are aware, the upgrade of the Jubilee line, which serves both Wembley and Stratford, will provide an additional 25 percent capacity – equivalent to 5,000 more passengers an hour – and reducing journey times by 22 per cent.

* Prosecutions in 20 mph zones [1] Question No: 3334 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon If the Ward Panel of a Safer Neighbourhood Team decides tackling speeding traffic is the priority and asks the SNT to use speed guns to check the speed of motorists in a 20mph Zone, can drivers be prosecuted if they are over the 20mph limit ? Answer from the Mayor: Drivers can be prosecuted provided the zone complies with the Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002, Regulation 16 Statutory Instrument.

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Prosecutions in 20 mph zones [2] Question No: 3335 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon How many prosecutions have there been for exceeding the speed limit in 20 mph Zones in each borough during the last year for which statistics are available ? Answer from the Mayor: The Association of Chief Police Officers has a policy that 20mph limits should be self-enforcing. As a result the MPS do not have a pre-defined Fixed Penalty Notices code for breaching a 20mph speed limit, therefore this data is not available. The offence can also be enforced via a summons if detected by police.

Systematic 20mph speed enforcement is carried out in London by use of time over distance cameras on Tower Bridge (City of London Police) and in the Blackwall Tunnel for road works. The MPS, however, does not have any record of prosecutions for speeding within the Blackwall Tunnel, and the MPS does not keep performance data for City of London Police.

* Pedestrian crossings (1) Question No: 3336 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon I have been contacted by a constituent who reports that an ‘improved’ pedestrian crossing at Replingham Road and Wimbledon Park Road has no audible bleep and merely a tactile cone to inform blind and visually impaired people when it is appropriate to cross. What is the policy of Transport for London towards the provision of both facilities? Shouldn’t both facilities be routinely provided except for specific cases where there is advice that an audible bleep is not appropriate on safety grounds for a specific crossing, perhaps due to the location of another crossing nearby? Answer from the Mayor: To meet the minimum standards required for disabled users, TfL’s policy is to provide both tactile rotating cones and audible signals at pedestrian crossing facilities. However, we may not provide audible signals if there is the potential for these to disturb local residents, particularly late at night, or if different pedestrian phases are operating at different times and the use of audible signals would introduce a safety hazard.

I was sorry to hear about the specific case you mention and audible signals should indeed have been provided. TfL will introduce these facilities within the next two weeks.

* Pedestrian crossings (2) Question No: 3337 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon disabled people (question number 1542/2009) you stated that 89% of signalised pedestrian facilities in London meet the minimum standard for accessibility for disabled users, which require that crossings be fitted with either audible signals or tactile cones. Do you consider it acceptable that 11% of crossings are not accessible to disabled pedestrians and will you consider setting a timetable to ensure that 100% of pedestrian crossings in London meet minimum standards of accessibility for disabled users?

75 Answer from the Mayor: Although clearly TfL has made good progress in ensuring that 89% of all crossings in London are accessible to disabled users, they of course wish for all crossings to be accessible. The remaining sites are being converted as part of other ongoing programmes. The national accessibility standards for pedestrian crossings have changed over the years, and the accepted approach across the country is to bring all signals up to current standards through a rolling modernisation programme. TfL follows this approach and ensures that any new crossings that are introduced meet the latest standards on accessibility.

* Congestion charging payments problem Question No: 3338 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon In the days following IBM’s takeover of the Congestion Charging contract from Capita, motorists experienced problems getting through on the phone line and there have also been problems accessing the online payment accounts. Since the IBM contract is no doubt intended to improve service levels, why has this not been the case? Answer from the Mayor: IBM is providing a completely new and more efficient system for running Congestion Charging and the Low Emission Zone. IBM has successfully run a Congestion Charging scheme in Stockholm since 2007 and so brings a wealth of experience in operating road user charging schemes.

The new IBM system in London will enable CC Auto Pay to be introduced. This is an automated account payment system that is planned to be in place in December 2010, and will make it easier for customers to pay their charge as well as remove the risk of registered customers receiving a Penalty Charge. As well as providing an improved service for customers, the IBM contract delivers £200 million savings for TfL.

The transition involved the migration of all data from Capita to three new IBM systems and the re-location of the main operation to two new offices in Coventry. Whilst, the transition was successful, and the service to motorists was maintained throughout the cut-over weekend and the first week of the new operation, I understand that there were some isolated system issues that led to longer call queues. These issues were resolved through the initial days of the new service. Staffing has been increased, including in the back office to work through discount applications, which have been impacted by the recent postal strike. As a result of the action taken, customer service levels are continuing to improve.

* Fare Increases Question No: 3340 / 2009 Richard Barnbrook Has the staging of the 2012 Olympics been a contributing factor in the recent steep rises in Tube and bus fares for Londoners – bearing in mind the requirement to complete various public transport infrastructure projects prior to 20 12? Answer from the Mayor: As I said in my announcement on 15 October, the fare increases are needed to bring stability to TfL’s financial position. Other factors are the collapse of Metronet and the fall in Tube and bus fares revenue caused by the recession.

76 The fare increases are not needed to finance the network improvements associated specifically with the Olympics which are currently being made. These projects will not only make staging the Olympics easier and help in their success but the projects will bring major benefits to Londoners which will continue long after the Olympics have finished.

* Dial-a-Ride Question No: 3341 / 2009 Richard Barnbrook Here at City Hall, there was a most welcome reception for the elderly on Thursday 22nd October 2009. However, some invitees never arrived due to the inefficiencies of Dial-a-Ride. This is a huge embarrassment to the GLA. Can the Mayor please advise what the situation is with regard to Dial-a-Ride? Answer from the Mayor: Dial-a-Ride was approached by the organisers of this event and agreed to provide guaranteed transport for any participant who wished to attend, provided that they met the Dial-a-Ride eligibility criteria.

All participants who requested transport from Dial-a-Ride were accommodated, with a number of non- members being fast tracked through the membership system two days before the meeting due to their late requests for transport. All passengers that were booked (and who did not subsequently cancel their booking) were taken to the event and were on time.

Staff at City Hall have indicated that they were very satisfied with the service provided by Dial- a-Ride and have not notified TfL of any problem that occurred on the day, although TfL did receive a single complaint from a passenger who had not booked through the event organisers, which caused some confusion. However, this passenger did subsequently attend the event.

If you have any specific issues please forward these to TfL to investigate.

Disorder at Broadcasting House Question No: 3342 / 2009 Richard Barnbrook Will the Mayor condemn the disgraceful violence and disorder perpetrated by the Unite Against Fascism organisation outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House following Mr Nick Griffin’s lawful invitation onto that evening’s Question Time programme? This behaviour resulted in three police officers being injured. Many politicians and public figures are signatories to this UAF organisation. And will the Mayor ask the Commissioner of the MPS to ban such an assembly should the BBC invite Mr Griffin onto the show at some future date? Answer from the Mayor: The disorder was actually outside Television Centre, not Broadcasting House. I believe that it was counter-productive in the fight against the offensive views of Nick Griffin and the BNP. It diverted the media’s interest away from scrutinising the unpleasantness of Mr. Griffin’s party and only succeeded in giving him even more publicity. I have no intention of banning legal protests against the BNP. I believe in the freedom of speech.

*

77 BBC Democracy Live Question No: 3343 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey Will you join with me in making representations to the BBC that its new Democracy Live website, launched this month to provide video coverage of Parliament and the devolved assemblies, should include webcasts from the GLA? Answer from the Mayor: We are very much aware of this oversight on the part of the BBC, and my office has raised it with Darren Johnson’s. I hope it will be resolved quickly.

* Junction of Fieldway Crescent/Holloway Road/Madras Place, Islington Question No: 3344 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Can you explain why it is taking so long for TfL to make any improvements to safety at the junction of Fieldway Crescent/Holloway Road/Madras Place following the first anniversary of the tragic death of community activist Lisa Pontecorvo? Answer from the Mayor: I appreciate that the length of time it is taking to progress what appear to be simple changes to the layout and operation of the junction of Holloway Road/Madras Place and Fieldway Crescent is frustrating. The timelines involved are partly due to the nature and complexity of the Transport for London Road Network and the need to balance the competing demands and priorities of all users, at both the local and strategic level. This is particularly the case at this junction, where the needs of cyclists and pedestrians crossing Holloway Road not only need to be balanced against the vehicular traffic travelling along the corridor, but also against each others’ desires to cross the road.

TfL has now developed six options providing the most appropriate changes at this junction given these competing demands on the network. Further work is required to narrow these to a preferred option(s), to take forward for more detailed development.

Acknowledging the complexities involved in delivering schemes on such a strategically important and heavily congested road network, I note that in some cases scheme delivery has taken longer than it should. TfL is continuing to take steps to address these issues and has reviewed the activities being undertaken across the business with the aim of streamlining and integrating processes to drive improvements in delivery. *

Junction of Holloway Road and Tuffnell Park Road Question No: 3345 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Please set out exactly what work is being done by TfL to make safe the junctions of Holloway Road and Tufnell Park Road? Answer from the Mayor: In the last 36 months there have been three slight collisions at this junction, and given this low level of collisions, changes at this location would not be justified on casualty reduction grounds. However, TfL has been investigating the junction in recent years as an opportunity to improve the pedestrian environment and urban realm in the area. TfL has investigated simplifying the

78 crossing on Tufnell Park Road and the possible removal of the left turn slip road to Holloway Road. These options are being discussed with the London Borough of Islington.

Current funding constraints mean that progressing the proposals to implementation will not be possible in the short term. The current plan is to agree a technically achievable and costed design that could be delivered in the future should funding become available. If this scheme is a local priority, TfL is more than happy to discuss use of Islington’s LIP funding to progress the scheme.

* Archway gyratory Question No: 3346 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Please list exactly what work is being done by TfL to make safe the Archway gyratory? Answer from the Mayor: Over a number of years TfL has worked closely with the London Borough of Islington and potential developers on options for the removal of the existing gyratory system. TfL commissioned a feasibility study, which was completed in November 2008, to investigate options for returning the currently one-way gyratory to two-way working and to facilitate the improvement of the public realm. Early assessment revealed two options with a viable business case, costing c. £10-12m. TfL has no capital funding to implement this work.

This makes the scheme dependent upon regeneration/ redevelopment of a sufficient scale generating enough section 106 monies for implementation. TfL continues to work with LB Islington to identify these external opportunities. As there is no current prospect of any such development, TfL has suspended further design work.

TfL continues to monitor the network closely to identify collision patterns and earlier this year their London Road Safety Unit undertook a safety review of the junction and a list of remedial works were identified (mainly minor changes to signs, lines and anti skid road surfacing). These works will be implemented by the end of the financial year. *

Bus services in Islington Question No: 3347 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Are there any plans to reduce or increase the frequency of any bus services in Islington? Answer from the Mayor: TfL keep bus services in Islington under regular review in the usual way. The process includes invitation of stakeholder comments, preparation of proposals and consultation. Over time this will involve changes to the frequency or general pattern of services, subject to the outcome of consultation.

For example, as part of this process recent changes include the conversion of route 38 to double-deck buses with an accompanying frequency increase and an increase in evening and Sunday frequencies on route 63 from every 10 to every 8 minutes. In January 2010 route 10 will become a 24-hour service replacing route N10 and there will be associated changes to route 33.

Further changes will continue to be brought forward for consultation as part of this process. This will include, in due course, detailed proposals for the replacement of articulated buses on routes 29 and 73. 79

Drayton Park station Question No: 3348 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Please can you let me know the progress on plans for step-free access, and other improvements such as the opening of a café, at Drayton Park station? Answer from the Mayor: Drayton Park is not a TfL managed station, but is managed by First Capital Connect. May I suggest that you take this issue up with them.

* Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal at Southwark Station Question No: 3349 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon As Chair of Transport for London, please explain why it was that a member of staff at London Underground refused permission for a volunteer from the Royal British Legion to undertake a shift collecting for this year’s Poppy Appeal when said collector arrived at Southwark Station at 7.30am on November 6th? In light of this refusal to allow a collection, will London Underground make a donation to the Royal British Legion to make up for the money lost by the Poppy Appeal due to this over officious attitude by a member of their staff?” Answer from the Mayor: London Underground has supported charity collections for the Royal British Legion (RBL) as well as a large number of other charities.

In more recent years it has become necessary, for reasons of security and fraud prevention, that any charity seeking to undertake collections at a Tube station obtain permission to do this in advance – specifying the station, date and number of collectors for which permission is sought. This ensures that local station staff have prior notice of collections and know and can check who is on the station premises at all times.

Unfortunately in this unusual case, the correct permission was not sought in advance, however I understand that subsequently the volunteer gained permission and was able to undertake the collection at the station.

I’m pleased to report that in total RBL were permitted to collect at almost 250 Tube stations this year – including Southwark, for an average of 10 days at each station over the collection period (26 October to 8 November).

* Low Emission Zone (1) Question No: 3350 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey How much in percentage terms would Phase 3 of the London low emission zone, if introduced in 2012 at the current boundary, reduce the number of people otherwise exposed in that year to concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exceeding the EU annual limit value for NO2? Answer from the Mayor: We do not yet have detailed estimates of the reduction in population exposure to NO2 that would arise specifically from the proposed implementation of Phase 3 of the London Low

80 Emission Zone in 2012. Further modelling and analysis is being undertaken to establish in more detail the impacts of the overall package of proposals and also specific individual measures. This will be available for the public consultation in 2010.

More general exposure modelling undertaken for my draft Air Quality Strategy, and set out in the Technical Appendix, suggests that the number of people expected to be exposed to annual mean NO2 concentrations above the EU limit value will fall from approximately 2.3m in 2006 to 0.7m in 2010 and 0.2m in 2015. This reflects committed schemes and proposals. The proposed LEZ Phase 3 in 2012 should lead to an incremental additional reduction over and above this base projection.

Phase 3 of the Low Emission Zone is principally designed to reduce harmful PM10 emissions and any reductions in NO2 achieved would be an incidental benefit.

* London Emission zone (2) Question No: 3351 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey How much in percentage terms would an inner London low emission zone (covering the current area of the central and western congestion charging zone) set at a standard equivalent to Phase 3 of the currently proposed London low emission zone, if introduced in 2012, reduce the number of people otherwise exposed in that year to concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) above the EU annual limit value for NO2? Answer from the Mayor: TfL has not carried out any detailed assessment of the costs and impacts of inner London Low Emission Zones at a standard equivalent to Phase 3 in 2012.

The option of a Low Emission Zone at the proposed Phase 3 standard for either inner London or the extended central London congestion charging zone is not contained within the current consultation draft of the Air Quality Strategy. I am aware that this is one suggestion arising from the consultation and TfL is considering all responses received in the course of assembly and functional body consultation. TfL does not have an estimate of the population exposure reduction in respect of the NO2 Limit Value that would arise from such a proposal. Any such analysis would involve further detailed and complex modelling.

* Low Emission zone (3) Question No: 3352 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What would be the total cost including compliance by vehicle owners to introduce Phase 3 of the London low emission zone in 2012 at the current boundary? Answer from the Mayor: The scheme would affect some 70,000 vehicles which initial estimates suggest would be non- compliant in 2012 when the scheme is proposed to commence. The total cost to operators is provisionally estimated at some £90 million to comply with the scheme requirements. Further assessment of the potential costs of Phase 3 will be carried out as part of the public and stakeholder consultation on the draft Air Quality Strategy.

The cost to TfL to implement Phase 3 of the scheme is estimated to be up to £9 million.

* 81 Low Emission zone (4) Question No: 3353 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What would be the total cost including compliance by vehicle owners to introduce an inner London low emission zone (covering the current area of the central and western congestion charging zone) set at a standard equivalent to Phase 3 of the currently proposed London low emission zone in 2012? Answer from the Mayor: TfL has not carried out any detailed assessment of the costs and impacts of inner London Low Emission Zones at a standard equivalent to Phase 3 in 2012.

The option of a Low Emission Zone at the proposed Phase 3 standard for either inner London or the extended central London congestion charging zone is not contained within the current consultation draft of the Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy. I am aware that this is one suggestion arising from the consultation. TfL will look at this issue further.

* Allotments Question No: 3354 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey I have been contacted by a constituent, in an Inner London borough who has been waiting for years for an allotment to no avail. Such boroughs are not required by law to provide allotments, unlike those in outer London. Will you join me in calling for all London boroughs to improve the arrangements between themselves so that all London residents get an equal chance of a plot? Will you also make sure that inner London boroughs do include food growing spaces in their development plans? Answer from the Mayor: I would welcome joint work by boroughs to match the demand for allotments across London with the necessary supply. I recognise that the provision of allotments in inner London can be particularly challenging and this is one of the reasons that I launched my Capital Growth initiative to provide 2012 growing spaces across London by 2012. I understand that the London Allotment Officers group met very recently to share information, including waiting lists, and has plans to meet on a regular basis. The London Parks and Green Spaces Forum is investigating how it can assist this co-ordination work through the London Benchmarking Group.

My draft replacement London Plan contains a policy on land for food (7.22). It makes clear my support for the use of land for growing food near to urban communities via such mechanisms as Capital Growth. It also states that boroughs should protect existing allotments and identify other potential spaces that could be used for community gardening, particularly in inner London. *

390 Bus route Question No: 3355 / 2009 Caroline Pidgeon Please list: A/ The current performance standards on the 390 bus route; B/ Any changes in the performance standard that have occurred on the 390 service since 2008. C/ Any proposed changes to the level of service provided on the 390 bus route.

82 Answer from the Mayor: A) The operator of route 390 is expected to meet a minimum performance standard for Excess Waiting Time (EWT) of 1.70 minutes. EWT is the average time passengers wait over and above what would have been expected if the service was running exactly as scheduled.

TfL monitors the performance of all routes and results are regularly published on their website. Those for route 390 are available through the following link: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/boroughreports/routes/perform ance-route-390.pdf

This includes both EWT and the percentage of the scheduled service that was operated.

The monitoring shows that route 390 has consistently bettered the minimum standard expected for EWT. However, the percentage of the scheduled service operated is lower than the standard of 98%. This has been mainly due to curtailment of journeys delayed by traffic congestion, which is done in order to regulate the overall service provided. Performance in this respect has improved in the most recent year and TfL keeps this under review with the operator. TfL also works with the Boroughs and others to help ensure that the impacts on bus services caused by congestion related to roadworks are minimised as far as possible.

B) There have been no changes to the minimum performance standard expected since 2008.

C) TfL plan no changes to the 390 at this time. *

Olympic Land Acquisition 3 Question No: 3356 / 2009 Len Duvall In Written Answer 2893/2009, you state that both Andrew Travers and the LDA’s legal team exposed the £160m Olympic land acquisition budget deficit. This can only be correct if Andrew Travers and the legal team were carrying out separate investigations, each unaware of one another’s activity. Was this the case? Answer from the Mayor: This was not the case. The LDA's legal and finance teams have always worked closely on all aspects of the Olympic land acquisition process.

* South Harrow Post Office Question No: 3357 / 2009 Navin Shah Will the Mayor join me in condemning the sudden closure of South Harrow Post Office and join the call for Post Office Ltd to close this gap in coverage as soon as possible? Answer from the Mayor: I am aware of the closure of South Harrow Post Office and am opposed to any further reduction in coverage of the network in London. I remain concerned at the lack of a clear vision for the Post Office network in London.

83 I will continue to monitor the level of Post Office provision across London and will raise the issue of closures with the Post Office and relevant Ministers should this become necessary.

* Timing of LEZ Phase III Question No: 3358 / 2009 Murad Qureshi As the UK looks set to be liable for EU fines on air quality in 2011 it seems perverse of you to delay the introduction of the LEX phase III until 2012. This move could be seen as an attempt to kick the air quality issue in to the long grass for your sucessor to deal with. What is your response to such a view? Answer from the Mayor: Early in 2009 I announced my intention to suspend Phase III of the London LEZ which targeted polluting light goods vehicles and vans, which was due to be introduced in October 2010. I made this decision on the basis that taking account of the current economic downturn, the potential business costs and impacts on businesses to meet the Euro 3 standard by 2010 was far greater than when it was originally announced in 2007.

Having regard to this pressure and to allow operators more breathing space to comply I have chosen to defer introducing Phase III until 2012. This strikes an appropriate balance between environmental and economic objectives.

With the introduction of Phases I and II there was significant levels of pre-compliance amongst effected vehicles categories. I anticipate that this is likely to be the case with the introduction of Phase III.

* Buskers Licences on London Underground Question No: 3359 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross What is the process by which buskers who have their licences removed, either temporarily or permanently, may appeal? Answer from the Mayor: All suspensions are subject to an open and fair appeal process which is broadly based on ACAS principles. The appeals process is Appendix 1 of the Terms and Conditions given to every busker when they first join the busking scheme.

Since July 2003, only three buskers’ licences have been temporarily suspended. Only one person’s license has been permanently removed due to behaviour towards a customer; this is currently going through the appeal process.

* EU Question No: 3363 / 2009 John Biggs Would a referendum of the Lisbon Treaty be good for London and if so why?

84 Answer from the Mayor: The British people were promised a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty by the Government, who outrageously reneged on that commitment. Unfortunately, it has been ratified by all EU member states and it is now fruitless to have a referendum on the Treaty. However, any future EU treaty must be put to the British people in a referendum. I also believe that the UK must repatriate some powers, such as employment law. That would be excellent for London as it would mean we could have a more competitive labour market, leading to more jobs and lower unemployment.

* Boris’ Folly Crossing Question No: 3364 / 2009 John Biggs This is the name given to your replacement to the Thames Gateway Bridge (TGB). Will you be proud that you condemned East Londoners to another generation of congestion, reduced access to employment, reduced investment and diminished quality of life through your misguided decision to cancel plans for the TGB? Answer from the Mayor: The Thames Gateway Bridge as previously proposed would have increased the traffic levels on residential roads in South-east London, which would have reduced the quality of life for many London residents.

As you know TfL have identified packages of measures to address the issues of congestion and accessibility in the Thames Gateway Area. These include:

- A fixed link at Silvertown - Renewing the Woolwich ferry - Options at Gallions Reach including a vehicle ferry - Improved passenger services on the Thames, through the River Concordat

All of which will provide a more comprehensive solution to the problems in the area. These proposals are all included in my draft Transport Strategy which is out for consultation.

* Olympic Legacy Question No: 3365 / 2009 John Biggs You criticised the organisiers of London 2012 in June last year for having no direction in their legacy masterplan. “There’s no point sinking all of this money into east London unless it is actually going to produce a long-term return,” you said. “What we need to have is a complete overview of what on earth we’re trying to achieve on the Olympics site and what in the long term is this really all about?” With less than 1,000 days to go till the Games, and with the recent appointment of the Olympic Park Legacy Company’s Director, can you detail your long-term plan for East London? Answer from the Mayor: A successful Olympic Legacy will be London’s single most important regeneration project for the next 25 years. My vision for east London is to deliver fundamental economic, social and environmental change, and to close the deprivation gap between the Olympic host boroughs and the rest of London. My planning priorities for the Olympic Park and the surrounding areas will be set out next year in my Olympic Legacy Strategic Planning Guidance (OLSPG), which will clarify and will emphasise the need for a planned approach to regeneration and change, embed exemplary design and environmental quality, and make sure that existing and new housing 85 needs are met – particularly for families. The Olympic Park Legacy Company is entrusted with delivering these changes on my and the Government’s behalf.

* Time for Action Update Question No: 3366 / 2009 Joanne McCartney In your Time for Action Update you state that you will promote “a more relevant curriculum to targeted 14-19 year olds in London”. Could you explain what this means; what powers you have to do this and how this will be delivered? Answer from the Mayor: Project Brodie is the relevant strand of Time for Action which is based on the recognition that, beyond enforcing attendance, we must also target the underlying causes of truancy. While the main effort rests on reducing bullying and violent behaviour, as well as placing an emphasis on early intervention and resilience for younger students, a curriculum relevant to the needs of older students (aged 14-19) will also help to prevent absences.

This last strand of work is being delivered regionally though London Councils’ 14-19 London Regional Planning Group, on which the Greater London Authority sits. The group’s work includes a focus on making education and training more relevant to employers and improving career advice and guidance across London.

Under Project Brodie, the GLA is also working with London Councils’ ‘Back on Track’ project, which focuses on improving provision in Pupil Referral Units. This stream of work will provide an opportunity to test out anti-truancy interventions in settings that have acute experiences with unauthorised absences.

* Thames Estuary Airport Question No: 3368 / 2009 Murad Qureshi Where is the evidence that Londoners would go to an airport in the Thames Estuary? Answer from the Mayor: As you will note from the report published by Douglas Oakervee, current Government predictions make clear that that further airport capacity is required by or before 2030. It is also noted in that report that without expanding London's existing airports, a shortfall of 70 million passenger movements is forecasted.

* PM 10 Emissions 1 Question No: 3369 / 2009 Murad Qureshi By how many tonnes does London have to reduce PM10 emissions from 2009 levels in order to meet the EU limit by 2011? Answer from the Mayor: Ensuring universal compliance with EU air quality objectives is not simply a matter of reducing the total tonnage of emissions. For example, on days where PM10 exceeds air quality objectives, up to one half of the PM in the air can originate from sources outside London.

86 The annual mean limit value for PM10 has been consistently met since 2006 but modelling of emissions for PM10 in 2011 show that there will remain a few areas near the busiest roads in central London that will remain at risk of exceeding the daily mean limit value.

We estimate that measures in the Strategy will reduce the overall PM10 emissions from sources within London by 470 tonnes or 20 per cent (between 2006 and 2012). Figures are not yet available for 2009 emissions. The Strategy combines general Londonwide measures with targeted localised measures focused where we believe PM10 will be a greater problem.

PM 10 Emissions 2 Question No: 3370 / 2009 Murad Qureshi By how much, in tonnes, will the air quality strategy reduce PM10 emissions from 2009 levels by 2011? Answer from the Mayor:

Initial estimates of emissions of PM10 indicate that the proposals included in the draft Air Quality Strategy (including planned measures and natural vehicle fleet turnover) will achieve a 20 per cent reduction across London between 2006 and 2012, which is around 470 tonnes.

As the Strategy sets out, we have modelled against 2012 as many of the measures have target or implementation dates for 2012. Data is not yet available for London’s air quality emissions in 2009. We anticipate some of the measures benefiting from pre-compliance during 2011. We will be doing detailed analysis of 2011 for the public draft of the Air Quality Strategy.

* Climate Change Question No: 3372 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross What levels of annual CO2 production do you expect to see from surface transport in London in May 2012? In tonnes of CO2 please. What was the annual level of CO2 production from surface Transport in London in 2008? Answer from the Mayor:

TfL’s forecast shows that in 2012, CO2 emissions will be 8.2 million tonnes for the year for London’s ground-based transport*.

The ground-based transport CO2 emissions are determined from the London Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory. Figures for 2008 will be released in early 2010. Figures given in the 2007 London Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) were for 2006 at 8.5 million tonnes.

*Includes car, bus, LU, rail, CTL, DLR, Taxi, LGV and HGV, not ground based aviation and shipping.

* Street Drinkers Question No: 3373 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross What do you think should be done to deal with the problem of Eastern European migrants who

87 are rough sleeping and or street drinking in London and yet do not qualify for hostels or provision of rehabilitation services because this is ‘recourse to public funds’ from which they are disqualified? Answer from the Mayor: The London Delivery Board is working to deal with the issue of homeless Eastern European migrants. The main service available to this group is assistance to return home and reconnect with services and networks in their home country. There are also a limited number of services providing employment advice. The United Kingdom Border Agency, which sits on the London Delivery Board, is testing out approaches to remove Central and Eastern European migrants who are not exercising their treaty rights and behaving in a harmful manner.

* Bellingham- Victoria line Question No: 3374 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross The South London Line is planned to be diverted to Bellingham in 2012. Will you consider halting your current plans to decrement this service under the GLA Act to shift funds to pay for the East London Line phase 2 instead? If not please publish the business case which demonstrates the rationale for this switching of funds? Answer from the Mayor: We would all like to see the best possible railway services in south London. The East London Line Phase 2 (ELL2) will contribute to this, and I am sure we would all welcome its construction. We also need better integration between Overground services and the Underground, and work is well underway on the East London Line to create an Overground orbital loop for the first time in the capital’s history.

My officers at TfL are working with London TravelWatch and DfT as well, to identify ways of addressing the gaps in services that result from the Thameslink programme works at London Bridge, removing the South London line service. I have also led a GLA delegation to the DfT to ask them to seriously consider the funding of the options that this study will recommend. I am delighted that the Transport Minister, Sadiq Khan, has agreed to look at the recommendations that come out of the study.

* Bus Route Performances Question No: 3375 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross Please list in order the ten worst overcrowded bus routes at morning rush hour in London according to TfL’s latest data. Answer from the Mayor: TfL plans bus services so that sufficient capacity is provided to meet the level of demand at the busiest point across the busiest hour. It plans some spare capacity in this hour to take account of surges in demand. For example, if the demand is 700 passengers across the busiest hour, it would provide 10 double decks, giving a total capacity of about 870. Therefore, all bus routes should experience similar levels of crowding in the peaks and no routes should be “overcrowded”.

TfL therefore does not hold information in this manner; but if you believe there are any routes that are overcrowded, TfL would be happy to investigate.

* 88 Bus Route Performances 2 Question No: 3376 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross Please list the ten bus routes which are most often complained about by passengers to TfL/The Mayor or via Assembly members for overcrowding and poor performance. Answer from the Mayor: The table below shows the routes with the highest number of passenger complaints about overcrowding or poor performance received by TfL in the eight months since the start of this financial year. In each case TfL is working with the relevant operator to identify solutions to the performance difficulties which exist.

Route No. of complaints 65 107

C10 98

372 96

188 55

8 50

266 49

341 48

38 45

46 44

465 44

Bus Route Performances 3 Question No: 3377 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross Please list in order the 10 worst routes for reliability performance against scheduled timetable, according to the most recent data. Answer from the Mayor: This is set out below. In each case TfL is working with the relevant operator to identify solutions to the performance difficulties which exist. A number of routes have been affected by road works which are due to finish soon, particularly so in the case of route R70.

Minimum Current Route Standard* Performance*

228 1.10 2.55 150 1.30 2.43 30 1.70 2.30 65 1.50 2.03 R70 1.30 1.94 381 1.50 1.84 158 1.30 1.82 145 1.10 1.81 366 1.30 1.81 C10 1.10 1.80

89

*Note: this represents Excess Waiting Time, which is calculated by subtracting actual waiting time from scheduled waiting time.

* Economic Impact of Traffic Signals Question No: 3378 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross What are the likely impacts of this research study on your policy and approaches to pedestrians and cyclists in London? Answer from the Mayor: This report examines the general costs of delay to road traffic at traffic signals and does not explicitly consider pedestrians and cyclists. Therefore this report will not have any direct impact on TfL’s approach to either of these road users. I am determined that any changes to traffic lights as part of ongoing TfL initiatives would not jeopardise the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. *

Complaints Question No: 3379 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross What should passengers do if they believe that Underground station staff has been rude or unhelpful to them? Answer from the Mayor: Customers can get in touch via phone, the TfL website, by letter and in person at stations.

Contact details for London Underground (LU) Customer Services are available via a link from every page on the TfL website which also contains the Complaints Policy and Procedure. In addition, passengers can contact the station Supervisor at the station to report incidents; these are then forwarded onto the LU Customer Service Centre to ensure that all complaints are captured. TfL is also updating posters at stations. Customer feedback is passed on to Directors and senior managers, and other members of staff as relevant in order to help improve services. *

Complaints 2 Question No: 3380 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross How does Transport for London process public complaints against Tube staff? How many such complaints were received in the last reported year? How many of these complaints remain unresolved? Answer from the Mayor: Complaints against staff are recorded centrally by LU’s Customer Service Centre. These are then passed to relevant local managers to ensure that particular issues are dealt with in the appropriate manner.

Information about complaints is also shared with directors and other senior managers within LU to ensure that there is visibility of customer feedback at all levels of the organisation.

90 For the current calendar year (up to 27 October 2009), LU has received 2290 complaints concerning LU staff. This includes issues such as staff knowledge/information availability and PA announcements.

The overall number of complaints should be put in the context of the number of passenger journeys made on the Tube during this period, which was more than 850 million. As of 10 November, there are 149 open cases.

* London Fire Brigade - Trapped in Lifts Question No: 3381 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross If you were trapped in a lift and the building owners or engineers were not responding to your alarm calls what would you do? Answer from the Mayor: If the building owners were not responding then I would call the Fire Brigade who, given no appropriate arrangements were available on site, would attend and release me. After my release I would wish to understand why my alarm calls had not been responded to by the responsible people on site, making it necessary for the Fire Brigade to attend and to ensure that LFEPA was taking any appropriate follow-up action with the owners.

* One million holes in London roads 1 Question No: 3382 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross I note that only 18 Borough Councils (City of London, Westminster City Council, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Hounslow, Islington, Lewisham, Redbridge and Wandsworth) have voluntarily involved themselves in the planned Roadwork’s permit scheme to help co-ordinate roadworks in London. What approaches have been made by you or TfL to the Councils which are not engaged in their project? Answer from the Mayor: I was particularly pleased that the DfT gave TfL and 18 boroughs involved in the first tranche approval to operate a common permit scheme.

All boroughs were aware of the proposed London Permit Scheme when it was raised and discussed at the London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee on 12 March 2008. All boroughs were committed to the Scheme but not all subsequently felt that they were able to proceed in applying to the DfT to operate a scheme in the first tranche. A meeting was held at the end of October, to which all 15 non-participating Boroughs were invited to be briefed on the benefits of permits and the process to make an application. TfL has offered to provide support to any of the remaining boroughs wishing to apply to operate a permit scheme and I would encourage the Leader of every borough to consider making an application. *

One million holes in London roads 2 Question No: 3383 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross Do you think that a scheme which excludes 15 of Londons Councils from roads works co-

91 ordination arrangements can be effective? Answer from the Mayor: The introduction of a common permit scheme is a significant step forward in the fight to reduce street works disruption. It will provide TfL and the 18 boroughs currently involved with greater ability to better manage, plan and coordinate the streetworks taking place on their networks and will allow them to apply conditions to a permit to seek to minimise the disruption caused by these works. The 15 boroughs that did not apply to the DfT to operate a permit scheme in the first tranche of applications are not excluded from scheme. It is for them to decide if and when they would wish to make an application and I would obviously encourage them to do so to ensure the benefits of the scheme are delivered pan-London.

A meeting was held at the end of October, to which all 15 non-participating Boroughs were invited to be briefed on the benefits of permits and the process to make an application. TfL has offered to provide support to any of the remaining boroughs wishing to apply.

Better works coordination, however, is only half of the story. If we are to make a real impact on the misery caused by road and streetworks disruption and felt by Londoners on a daily basis, I believe we must also look to provide real financial incentives for works promoters to reduce the duration of works on key traffic sensitive parts of the network, especially at peak times. This is why I am working closely with the Secretary of State for Transport to understand how we might jointly do more still in this area.

One million holes in London - Southwark Question No: 3384 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross Southwark Chamber of Commerce are very anxious about the delays and frustrations to their businesses caused by the large number of road works going on in the borough at the same moment. When and how were Southwark invited to participate in the scheme? What reason has the LB Southwark Given for not engaging with the planned roadwork’s permit scheme? Answer from the Mayor: The London Borough of Southwark was first made aware of the Scheme in March 2008. It is for each Borough to decide if and when they wish to operate the Scheme. Southwark has expressed an interest in joining the next tranche to apply to operate the Scheme and I would encourage them to do so. Southwark will need to prepare a cost benefit analysis for submission to the Department for Transport as part of their application and TfL has offered to support them as necessary.

* One million holes in London - Lambeth Question No: 3385 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross When and how were Lambeth invited to participate in the scheme? What reason has LB Lambeth given for not engaging with the planned roadwork’s permit scheme? Answer from the Mayor: The London Borough of Lambeth was first made aware of the Scheme in March 2008. It is for each Borough to decide if and when they wish to operate the Scheme. Lambeth has expressed an interest in joining the next tranche to apply to operate the Scheme. Lambeth will need to

92 prepare a cost benefit analysis for submission to the Department for Transport as part of their application and TfL has offered to support them as necessary.

* Cyclist Safety Question No: 3386 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross There is a cross-party agreement that Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) are a significant factor in cyclist deaths and any measure proposed to mitigate this is welcome. How will your new measures be co-ordinated now that you have axed the Metropolitan Police’s Commercial Vehicle Education Unit? Answer from the Mayor: The Metropolitan Police will continue to undertake on-street enforcement action in relation to freight operators in London. TfL will continue with its Freight Operator Recognition Scheme, which offers direct safety benefits for cyclists, including bespoke driver and freight planner training, discounted driver-licence checking services and introductory offers for driver profiling.

TfL and the Metropolitan Police are not complacent, however, and will be looking to maintain the enforcement drive and education work in new ways. The Traffic Operational Command Unit is reviewing all of its functions and staff. Within this review, the unit are looking at how to manage commercial vehicle enforcement in the future.

In addition, TfL has set up a Cycle Safety Action Group to co-ordinate activity relating to cycle safety across London. This follows the publication by TfL of the Mayor’s Cycle Safety Action Plan on 23 October 2009. This Group will bring together all the key organisations involved in increasing cycling safety, including representatives from the freight industry and the Metropolitan Police.

* Cyclist Safety 2 Question No: 3387 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross How will the axing of the Metropolitan Police’s Commercial Vehicle Education Unit improve safety for London’s cyclists? Answer from the Mayor: Please refer to my answer to MQ3386 / 2009.

* Cyclist Safety 3 Question No: 3388 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross How many initiatives in your new cycle safety action plan are genuinely new activities which have not been in operation previously? Answer from the Mayor: The draft cycle safety action plan was drawn together to build on the success to date in achieving safer cycling in London and to address the findings of recent research into cycle fatalities. It is this latter work that informed the need for new action on lobbying for better side guard protection, mirrors on lorries and trucks, and changes to road markings (such as Advanced

93 Stop Lines) to facilitate safer cycling. I have now raised these matters with the Secretary of State.

The research work also pointed to the need for better awareness raising among all road users. While TfL will look to new technical measures and training requirements to this end, they will also rightly look to continue and expand much of the excellent work on safety promotions and campaigns that has been developed and delivered with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.

Much of the strength of the action plan will rest in the way future activity is focused and co- ordinated through a high-level working group to determine the requisite combination of new and tried and tested measures to improve cyclists’ safety.

* London Safety Camera Partnership Question No: 3389 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross As Chair of Transport for London, how do you justify the decision to reduce funds to the Metropolitan Police Service for operation of their London Safety Camera Partnership by £2.8million? Answer from the Mayor: In 2006, the Department for Transport committed to providing TfL with £12.5m funding for road safety measures in 2009/10. The DfT subsequently withdrew this funding from TfL’s settlement. The continued funding of the London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) was therefore unbudgeted and as a result there has been a 50% reduction in funding.

TfL and the MPS remain committed to the operation of the LSCP and they are currently working on options to achieve the same road safety benefits with this new constrained funding environment.

London Safety Camera Partnership 2 Question No: 3390 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross How will your funding reduction to the MPS London Safety Camera Partnership - meaning staff will only be able to process half the yearly number of camera enforcement incidents - improve road safety in London? Answer from the Mayor: In 2006, the Department for Transport committed to providing TfL with £12.5m funding for road safety measures in 2009/10. The DfT subsequently withdrew this funding from TfL’s settlement. The continued funding of the LSCP was therefore unbudgeted and as a result there has been a 50% reduction in funding.

Ongoing work to investigate ways to fund the London Safety Camera Partnership in future is looking to ensure that more drivers who receive tickets are processed though the system to resolution: for example, receiving three points and a fixed penalty, attending a speed awareness course; or a court summons.

However, what I want is for fewer drivers to re-offend, and the evidence is that educating drivers is far less likely to produce re-offending than the set fine and points on the licence

94 option. Therefore the new way of working will focus on educating drivers in order to improve road safety.

* London Safety Camera Partnership 3 Question No: 3391 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross Why did Transport for London not inform the MPA that it was cutting funds for the London Safety Camera Partnership by £2.8million until May this year, thus leaving them inadequate time to address this in-year withdrawal of funds, resulting in an overspend? Answer from the Mayor: As soon as TfL became aware of the scale of the budgetary reductions for the whole of the LSCP, it made the MPS aware of what was expected from them. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) informed the London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) in January 2009 that it was looking to reduce the number of tickets issued by over half, so there was sufficient time to implement plans to reduce budgets.

* London Safety Camera Partnership 4 Question No: 3392 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross Will you convene a meeting between TfL and the MPA, both of which you chair, in order to discuss London Camera Safety Partnership funding issues? Answer from the Mayor: In 2006, the Department for Transport committed to providing TfL with £12.5m funding for road safety measures in 2009/10. The DfT subsequently withdrew this funding from TfL’s settlement. The continued funding of the LSCP was therefore unbudgeted and as a result there has been a 50% reduction in funding.

Discussions are already underway at a senior level between TfL and the Metropolitan Police Service on options for the future funding and operation of London’s safety camera network. The issues raised by the potential changes to the management of the camera network are operational in nature, rather than policy related. It is therefore appropriate that the discussions continue at this level.

* Outsourcing Back Office Functions Question No: 3393 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross TfL would appear to have a longterm goal of ‘outsourcing’ ‘back office’ functions such as those carried out by the London Safety Camera Partnership and CO16 Safety Camera Operations unit. Is this indicative of a long term strategy to outsource or privatise public services for which you hold responsibility? Answer from the Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) keeps the provision of services under constant review to ensure that they are provided in an effective and efficient manner which meets our duties with regard to economy, efficiency and quality.

95 As part of the programme to deliver over £5 billion of efficiencies over the duration of the TfL Business Plan, TfL has committed to examine areas of the business that may be provided on an outsourced basis more cost effectively. Where there is a comprehensive market for outsourced services, for example, human resource management, customer services, financial services and property management, TfL will undertake market testing to evaluate whether the current operation provides best value.

* Dogs Question No: 3394 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross Do you agree that certain bull breed type dogs, such as the bulldog and English Bull Terrier have a special place in British culture and that your deputy Kit Malthouse’s suggestion of wiping these breeds out entirely (in a Times newspaper column on November 2nd) undermines this? Answer from the Mayor: Weapon dogs are a growing problem in London. It is important to tackle both the owners and breeds.

Any breed has the potential to become a weapon dog if owners train them in an aggressive manner. However, given that the Metropolitan Police estimates that 90 percent of the dogs they deal with are Pit Bull Terriers, it cannot be ignored that certain breeds are inherently more aggressive than others.

There is a need to focus on some breeds more than others and controlling ownership of the types of dogs which are more likely to be used as weapons.

* Press Conferences Question No: 3395 / 2009 John Biggs Given your love of media exposure, why do you not hold regular open press conferences? Answer from the Mayor: I am available to the media around three times a week as I make visits to all parts of London. I have also done countless in-depth interviews and profiles with the national media, as well as detailed questioning on specific issues and live phone-ins with the public. I have also done hundreds of interviews with regional, local, BME, faith and gay media.

A weekly press conference would reduce my availability only to the media who are inclined and can afford to send journalists every week to City Hall. Any journalist can always find me out and about on visits in the Capital.

* Mayoral Advisers Question No: 3397 / 2009 John Biggs Do all still do a full week’s work for their money? How can you demonstrate this?

96 Answer from the Mayor: All Mayoral advisors work the hours they are contracted to do. I am absolutely satisfied that Londoners receive excellent value for money from the Mayoral team.

* DLR extension to Dagenham Dock Question No: 3398 / 2009 John Biggs What is the likelihood that you will follow through with your suggestion to extend the DLR to Dagenham Dock. If so, when can you feasibly anticipate that this will happen? I ask in particular because at the last Mayors Question Time you advised that some elements of your transport strategy will never be implemented, and are not therefore worth the paper they are written on. Is this one of them? Answer from the Mayor: The DLR extension to Dagenham Dock is an integral part of the plans for developing over 10,000 homes on Barking Riverside and for this reason it is included in my draft Transport Strategy as a transport priority for east London. The scheme has no funding within the current TfL Business Plan and could only be delivered in the period post 2018 and with Government funding support. The timing for delivery of DLR to Dagenham Dock is very much driven by the programme for delivery of homes at Barking Riverside.

I have written to three separate Ministers over the course of the year seeking guidance on the next steps for the DLR extension and to date, no responses to any of these letters have been received. As a result, it is unlikely that the scheme will be able to proceed through the Transport and Works Act process and a new application would need to be made at a later date once funding for the scheme is available and the timing of development at Barking Riverside is more certain. The programme for delivery of homes at Barking Riverside has slipped, and this puts TfL in a position where it is difficult to proceed as the scheme would be premature and unable to stand up on funding grounds or need.

Notwithstanding this, as I have stated, the scheme has support in my Transport Strategy and London Plan as part of the integrated solution for Barking Riverside. TfL will work to ensure the scheme is safeguarded until such time it is appropriate to promote a new Transport and Works Act Order application. This will require active support from the Government given the very clear link between this scheme and housing delivery.

Tube Lines extra time Question No: 3399 / 2009 John Biggs What is your reaction to Tube Lines request for an additional three weekends of closures this year on the Jubilee line? Is it not the case that you huff and puff publicly about the unacceptability of extra closures but then generally agree to their requests in private? Answer from the Mayor: You are right that I have expressed my extreme disappointment that Tube Lines is not going to complete the upgrade of the Jubilee line by the contractual date of the end of this year. It is indeed deeply frustrating that they have not been able to complete the work within the programme originally agreed and I am keenly aware of the disruption customers are enduring as a result.

97 What is clear however is that the upgrade must be completed and Tube Lines must be given access to the railway in order to do this.

London Underground is working urgently with Tube Lines to ensure they have a credible plan in place for delivery. Although this has yet to be finalised, we now know, regrettably, that the delivery of the upgrade will be late and therefore further closures to the line will be necessary into 2010.

In the meantime, in the interests of getting this critical work done, and for Jubilee line customers to be able to benefit from the upgrade improvements at the earliest possible opportunity, additional access is being granted where it is possible to do this without causing significant disruption.

* Barking as Olympic venue Question No: 3400 / 2009 John Biggs Do you see scope for any Olympic or Paralympic facilities to be built in Barking and Dagenham? I ask this of course following your recent eagerness to hold the shooting event in Barking, promising even to stand up to the British Olympic Association by ‘banging your shoe on the desk’, such was your frustration that their demands were outweighing taxpayers’ interests. A week later you conceded to the senior officials and shattered Barking’s hopes of being part of the Games and its legacy. Can you offer any reassurance that this traditionally overlooked and deprived borough will benefit from investment as part of the Games? Answer from the Mayor: I am keen that Barking & Dagenham should be able to play a key role in delivering a successful Games, and work around the potential hosting of training, operations and logistics facilities is being taken forward by the London Organising Committee. Officials from the Government Olympic Executive, in conjunction with GLA staff, are also in discussion with the Council on these possibilities. You are wrong about how this decision was taken. I did not get support from Government for the proposal to host the shooting in Barking which I continued to argue for.

* Tall buildings Question No: 3401 / 2009 John Biggs What is your stance now on tall buildings? Answer from the Mayor: Tall buildings will continue to have a place in London, in locations such as Canary Wharf and parts of the City of London. However, they should only be allowed where they will not harm local character, the setting of historic buildings and World Heritage Sites, key views or the amenity of surrounding areas. They should also make a significant contribution to local regeneration and the achievement of broader spatial planning goals. Boroughs that wish to support tall buildings in their area should be encouraged to complete an urban design analysis to ensure these objectives are met.

The draft replacement London Plan sets out the above approach as a policy to be followed by boroughs and developers.

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98 Crossrail Levy Exemptions Question No: 3402 / 2009 John Biggs What rules will you apply if exempting a development or area from the requirement to pay a ‘Crossrail Levy’ and how will you ensure this is judged as fair? Answer from the Mayor: The issues affecting area and development exemptions from the proposed policy to secure contributions towards Crossrail through the planning system are complex. Subject to the outcome of next month’s examination in public into the Crossrail funding alterations to the London Plan, I do not propose to make area-based exemptions. The expectation will be that all office development involving net additional floorspace of 500 sq m within the charging area shown in annexes 1 and 2 to the draft supplementary planning guidance on use of planning obligations in the funding of Crossrail (and, in some circumstances explained in paragraph 4.24 of the draft guidance, in other parts of London) will make a contribution. One of the reasons for having a policy of this kind is to enable developers and others to be clear about what will be expected.

As the guidance explains, however, under planning law and Government guidance, each planning application must be considered on its individual merits and the circumstances of each will have to be examined. It may be that requiring a contribution could put the economic viability of a scheme at risk, for example, and the guidance and draft London plan alterations it supports explicitly recognizes this. Officers are having discussions with stakeholders about how questions of viability can be assessed in particular cases. As each application is different, I cannot set out in advance blanket rules governing how every application will be dealt with. I can say, however, that they will be assessed thoroughly by professional staff, and decisions will be taken transparently and in accordance with the law.

There is a separate funding stream for Crossrail based on a proposed Business Rate Supplement (BRS) which is being taken forward, under different legislation. The BRS will be paid by occupiers of buildings with a rateable value of more than £50,000. I have published a draft prospectus on my proposals for a BRS which made clear my intention to charge the full 2p across Greater London and I am currently considering the responses to consultation. The BRS legislation does not permit me to make area-based exemptions.

* Tube Lines report Question No: 3403 / 2009 John Biggs What pressure have you applied to Tube Lines to hurry the publishing of their report into the delayed completion of engineering works on the Jubilee line? Answer from the Mayor: Following London Underground’s challenge to Tube Lines in August to undertake an independent review and present a clear and credible path to delivery, Tube Lines did indeed initiate two reviews.

Both these reviews are almost complete and it is clear that Tube Lines’ delivery of the upgrade will be delayed.

London Underground is engaged with Tube Lines to ensure they have a credible plan in place for delivering the upgrade. Although there is as yet no finalised programme or firm proposed completion date, it is clear that further closures to the line will be necessary into 2010. The focus now is to ensure that the new programme is robust and takes into account the need to complete the upgrade whilst also minimising disruption. 99

Tube Lines Extra Time 2010 Question No: 3404 / 2009 John Biggs Have you given Tube Lines a deadline by which they must specify the exact number of closures they are demanding for 2010, and the specific dates of these? Answer from the Mayor: London Underground (LU) is working urgently with Tube Lines to ensure it has a credible programme for delivery in place. We expect to have more details about the programme by early December.

LU is obliged to apply the Access Code of the PPP contract in its management of Tube Lines application for closures.

* Diversity works Question No: 3405 / 2009 John Biggs What are the key objectives and work strands of Diversity Works and how have these changed since you assumed the mayoralty? Answer from the Mayor: DWfL's objective is to encourage and enable businesses to harness the benefits of a diverse workforce and supplier base. It does this by offering:

• An interactive website with advice, case studies and guides • A gold standard diversity system, with validation of attainment for businesses at Gold level. • A programme of events with key business leaders to address diversity issues.

My policy statement “Equal Chances for All” identifies Diversity Works as a key instrument in ‘Supporting the development across the London economy of diverse markets, workforces and suppliers”. Partly influenced by “Equal Chances for All” and also to respond to changes in the diversity agenda, the DWfL team are enhancing the Gold Standard system to include a new procurement standard and are developing structured business support products.

* Woolwich Ferry Question No: 3406 / 2009 John Biggs One of the conclusions offered in the report investigating the need for further river crossings in East London was for increased ferry services. Doesn’t the decision to bring forward the last sailings of the Woolwich Ferry on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays contradict this? Answer from the Mayor: The scheduled times of the Woolwich ferry service have not changed since TfL took over responsibility for the ferry in 2000. *

100 Olympic Legacy 2 Question No: 3407 / 2009 John Biggs An East London newspaper reported, ‘Mr (Andrew) Altman (Director of Olympic Park Legacy Company) set out a five-year plan for the development of the park between 2014 and 2019. He said there would be almost 5,000 new homes by 2019, with 2,000 riverside apartments overlooking the stadium in addition to the 2,800 units in the athletes’ village. Businesses would have moved into the media centre and waterways would be open to the public.’ Is this all still achievable? Answer from the Mayor: The Olympic Park Legacy Company is currently working to develop a sound and coherent business plan which focused on the phased delivery of all elements which will make up the long term development of the Park. The business plan takes account of both the fiscal environment and the commercial property cycle over the next decade. By the time the Company reaches the development phase between 2014 and 2019 it is expected that the property cycle will be on the increase and investment and development activity will coincide with this upward trend. The Company’s corporate business plan will be ready in April 2010.

* Bicycles on the DLR Question No: 3408 / 2009 John Biggs Given that the DLR is a relatively modern network, and given your aim of encouraging more and more Londoners to cycle, could the current adaptations of the DLR to extend trains to three carriages not have incorporated measures to allow capacity for bicycles to be carried? Answer from the Mayor: The capacity enhancement measures being put in place on the DLR are to meet the forecast passenger demand with three car services being used as appropriate to meet that demand; to seek to include special measures for bicycles would detract from this aim. The system itself, in terms of access, does not lend itself to bicycle use, the rail vehicles are not equipped to handle them and risk assessment indicates that safety factors make it unacceptable for full-sized bikes to be carried on DLR. DLR is investing £300,000 this year on a programme of developing secure and well lit cycle facilities at stations. *

Dagenham Prison Question No: 3409 / 2009 John Biggs Having finally received your written replies, do you feel embarrassed now that your hidden interventions in the proposal to build a prison in Dagenham have been exposed? Answer from the Mayor: I have not made any "hidden interventions" in the proposal to build a prison at Beam Park West. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have indicated that it wishes to locate a prison on this specific site and the LDA has been working closely with them and the relevant local authorities in order to develop a proposal that maximises the benefits for the local community and supports the regeneration potential of the wider area.

The MoJ's aspirations to build a prison in the wider Beam Reach area has been in the public domain since 2007 and as I have stated previously, I am in full agreement with Assembly Members that there should be extensive local consultation on the prison proposal through the

101 planning process as details around the specific Beam Park West proposal develop further.

Dagenham Prison 2 Question No: 3410 / 2009 John Biggs Do you believe that your hidden interventions in the proposal to build a prison in Dagenham without talking to local government undermines your self-declared status as a transparent Mayor? Answer from the Mayor: I have not made any "hidden interventions" in the proposal to build a prison at Beam Park West. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have indicated that it wishes to locate a prison on this specific site and the LDA has been working closely with them and the relevant local authorities in order to develop a proposal that maximises the benefits for the local community and supports the regeneration potential of the wider area.

The MoJ's aspirations to build a prison in the wider Beam Reach area has been in the public domain since 2007 and as I have stated previously, I am in full agreement with Assembly Members that there should be extensive local consultation on the prison proposal through the planning process as details around the specific Beam Park West proposal develop further.

* Columbus Tower Question No: 3411 / 2009 John Biggs Was your assertion of partnership with the Boroughs always doomed to crash in flames? Answer from the Mayor: No.

* Colombus Tower 2 Question No: 3412 / 2009 John Biggs Would you have accepted the application for Colombus Tower had the developers not offered a contribution towards Crossrail? Answer from the Mayor: Had the applicant not offered a contribution towards Crossrail the development would not have complied with existing London Plan policy, draft alteration London Plan policy or the draft Crossrail SPG. The application would not in these circumstances have meet the policy tests as there would not have been a sound reason to take it over. Indeed, had Tower Hamlets Council resolved to approve such an application I would in all likelihood have directed refusal, as I have on other schemes where a required Crossrail contribution was not made.

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102 Whitechapel Road / Vallance Road Junction Question No: 3413 / 2009 John Biggs In response to my question 2815/2009 regarding a recent fatality at Whitechapel Road / Vallance Road junction, you said that defects had been identified following the police inquiry and that work was in hand to address these. Can you detail exactly what works are in hand, what further works you propose to undertake, and a timeline for this? Answer from the Mayor: The Police identified that some road markings should be repainted and that a traffic signal call- box should be repositioned. The road markings at this junction have already been repainted. TfL intends to have re-positioned the call-box by the end of this year.

* Cycling Safety Plan Question No: 3414 / 2009 John Biggs Please can you give further details about the ‘trial of safety measures such as Trixi mirrors’ which I read to be a feature of this plan. Answer from the Mayor: Improving safety for all road users is one of my key priorities and Trixi mirrors are an example of an innovative measure that has potential to be of help to cyclists. It is a simple idea, namely that mirrors can be attached to traffic signals and other street furniture to give drivers better sight of cyclists, and may be of particular benefit to drivers of large goods vehicles. TfL has engaged consultants to quantify what benefits such mirrors may have and how best to locate them. TfL propose to submit an application for a limited, closely monitored on-road trial in 2010 and hope that such a trial, if permitted, will demonstrate that these mirrors are effective in helping drivers to see vulnerable road users in close proximity to their vehicles.

I have also written to the Secretary of State calling for the mandatory fitting of extra safety mirrors to Heavy Goods Vehicles.

The draft cycle safety action plan is currently the subject of public consultation and I am keen to see if this process will identify other innovative approaches to improving safety. Clearly, as with the trial of Trixi mirrors to which you refer, these would require careful assessment to determine their usefulness and / or appropriateness as part of the cycle safety toolkit.

* Cycling Safety Plan 2 Question No: 3415 / 2009 John Biggs You propose to call on freight companies to install sidebars or other safety devices on HGV’s that are currently exempt, how do you propose to escalate this if your initial plea to HGV companies isn’t successful? Answer from the Mayor: I support a London campaign actively to encourage operators to voluntarily fit side-guards (or other safety devices) to HGVs that currently fall under this exemption. I have already written to the Secretary of State for Transport asking him to consider revisiting these exemptions. *

103 Homophobic Hate Crime Question No: 3416 / 2009 John Biggs Do you propose to support London Borough of Tower Hamlets in their recent attempts to crack down on homophobic attacks in response to an increased number of attacks committed recently? If so, how? Answer from the Mayor: As Chair of the MPA I have sought reassurance from the Commissioner that, given the recent rise in homophobic attacks in the capital, all is being done to tackle this heinous hate crime.

I fully support the community-centred, partnership approach that Tower Hamlets Borough is undertaking to combat hate crime and address community concerns. I would be happy to consider direct requests for support as appropriate, as would the Deputy Mayor who has responsibility for Communities, Social Cohesion and Equalities.

Tower Hamlets Borough is engaging with its statutory partners, LGBT focussed NGOs, Business Community and the local LGBT community to tackle homophobic crime.

* Anti-homophobic initiatives Question No: 3417 / 2009 John Biggs What anti-homophobic initiatives are you intending to take over the course of the next year and what anti-homophobic messages are you intending to promote? Answer from the Mayor: I am committed to ensuring that everyone in London has their right upheld not to be a victim of hate crime and that all such crimes are dealt with rigorously. I have sought re-assurance from the Commissioner that, given the recent rise in homophobic attacks in the capital, all is being done by the MPS to tackle this heinous hate crime. Anyone affected by, or witnessing a hate crime should report it to the police.

The Mayor believes hate crime must be high on the agenda if we are to ensure perpetrators are held to account and reduce the risk of it happening in the first place. Furthermore, the Mayor is urging anyone affected by, or witnessing a hate crime, to report it.

I am also investing in preventing hate crime by tackling homophobic bullying in schools through funding Stonewall to produce a DVD with FIT theatre, to be distributed across secondary schools in London.

* Anti-homophobic bullying in schools Question No: 3418 / 2009 John Biggs Do you have plans to be involved in any further anti-homophobic bullying in schools initiatives? Answer from the Mayor: Whilst I do not currently have plans to be involved in any specific anti-homophobic bullying in schools initiatives, Project Titan and all Time for Action initiatives are strongly committed to promoting equalities, reducing anti-social behaviour (including bullying) and supporting young people in need. I would strongly encourage all schools to make sure they have adequate policies in place and deal with problems efficiently and effectively.

104

A 2007 Stonewall survey discovered that 51% of schools reported one or more incidents of homophobic bullying having occurred in the previous term. The Government has made tackling bullying in schools (including homophobic bullying) a key priority and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has made it clear that no form of bullying should be tolerated. Bullying in our schools should be taken very seriously; it is not a normal part of growing up and it can ruin lives.

* LOCOG ticketing Question No: 3419 / 2009 John Biggs What is your view on those accompanying disabled spectators to Olympic events being given free tickets? Answer from the Mayor: LOCOG is unable to provide free tickets to any groups as it is relying on ticket sales to generate 25% of the £2bn required to stage the Games. However, I am determined that tickets for the Games are as affordable and accessible as possible, and LOCOG is talking with disabled groups on a range of options to be developed and announced next year.

* Fans in Front Question No: 3420 / 2009 John Biggs I see the logic behind this campaign in wanting to target enthusiastic sports fans to assure that the venues are filled. Would there would be scope to extend it to charities/community organizations / schools? Answer from the Mayor: The ‘Fans in Front’ concept seeks to ensure that seats around the field of play are filled with passionate spectators, as this will provide athletes, other spectators and media with a great atmosphere inside our venues. The plan is at an early stage and so no decisions have been made on the details of how the scheme will operate, but it should be noted that these will not be free or subsidized tickets.

* Cycle Superhighways Question No: 3421 / 2009 John Biggs What consultation has been carried out with cyclist groups prior to the designing of your cycle superhighways? Answer from the Mayor: The overall Cycle Superhighways concept and route network have been discussed with both national and local cycle groups, for example the London Cycling Campaign and CTC. The specific interventions to be considered for each route have been discussed with a range of local stakeholders including the relevant Boroughs and the London Cycling Campaign.

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105 Single Non-Emergency Number Question No: 3422 / 2009 John Biggs Anthony Browne and Ian Henderson, TfL, commissioned a report to look into the impact of a single non-emergency number for London and held a meeting on 6 November to discuss this. What actions have arisen from this meeting? Are you in favour of a single non-emergency number? Will one be implemented during your current term of office? Answer from the Mayor: A single number for government services and information has proved very popular in many North American cities, which is why I asked Anthony Browne to commission TfL to do a feasibility study into whether such a number could work in London. When the study has been completed and presented to me, I will decide on whether to take the project forwards.

* Single Non-Emergency Number 2 Question No: 3423 / 2009 John Biggs How much input, in terms of both monetary value and staff resources, would the GLA be prepared to commit to this project? Answer from the Mayor: I cannot decide what resources to commit until after the feasibility study has been completed.

* 16-18 year Olds Oyster Cards Question No: 3424 / 2009 John Biggs Since TfL’s failure to distribute on time thousands of oyster cards to young people in higher education and their resultant policy to allow those who held an out-of-date oyster card on to buses, I have had complaints from a number of constituents detailing instances where young people have been refused entry on to buses or ejected from buses, and consequently missing college lessons. I was assured by TfL that bus drivers would be briefed on the situation to avert such oversights – can you explain how this breakdown of communication has occurred? Answer from the Mayor: As you know the postal strikes had an unfortunate impact on the ability of every organisation to send and receive post. As a result, the distribution of new Oyster Zip cards from TfL to children, as well as applications for cards was delayed.

Each year, TfL reminds bus operators not to accept expired Oyster Zip cards after 30 September. This is to ensure that only those passengers who are entitled to the concession may benefit from it. Once it became clear that the distribution of new cards would be impacted by the postal strikes, TfL took steps to ensure bus drivers were aware of the need to temporarily accept expired cards. This message was directly targeted at bus drivers as well as their managers. Should any bus passenger still experience any problems with their Zip card, I would ask them to contact TfL Customer Services on 0845 300 7000 so that their issue can be resolved.

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106 ESOL Funding Question No: 3425 / 2009 John Biggs Following the transition to local-borough funded ESOL now that the Learning and Skills Council have withdrawn funding, how are the boroughs getting on in identifying the need for ESOL courses? Have you given the boroughs specific deadlines as to when they must report this information back? Who is taking charge of this piece of research? Answer from the Mayor: The Learning and Skills Council have not withdrawn funding for ESOL. The Local Authority role under the Government’s new approach to ESOL is to undertake local assessments of need that then feed into commissioning arrangements of the LSC. Local Authorities should be completing these local assessments at the time of writing. The GLA does not have any formal role in this process. Richard Barnes recently chaired a roundtable on ESOL with key stakeholders that explored how the GLA might build on local assessments to develop a London-wide policy.

* Young People’s Question Time Question No: 3426 / 2009 Jennette Arnold a) Can you give me the definition of ‘dysfunctional household’? b) Can you tell me what evidence you have to support your view that there is a difference in “the physical size of the brain of a kid being brought up in a dysfunctional household compared to a kid who has a happy stable family” as you stated in your answer to questions about ‘crime in London’ at Young People’s Question Time in September? Answer from the Mayor: There are too many children in London being brought up by parents with chaotic and unstable lives. There are children raised with a constantly changing male presence, or no father figure at all or by parents with substance abuse problems. The statistics clearly show that some, though by no means all, children brought up in such households have severely reduced life chances, as well as an increased likelihood of offending and anti-social behaviour. My Time for Action strategy, engaging with partners across local and central government and the voluntary sector, aims to raise such children's aspirations and give them more opportunities to turn them away from a culture of anti-social and criminal behaviour.

There is evidence that there is physiological and neuro-anatomical consequences from an aggressive upbringing. It appears that brain development, function and behaviour can be affected by emotional and physical stresses on children.

* New Bus For London Question No: 3427 / 2009 Jennette Arnold In the Finance and Policy Committee Projects Approval report of the 9th of October, the New Bus for London Project is listed under the header ‘Projects to be approved by the Finance and Policy Committee greater than £50m’. Is this an indication of the actual cost for this project? Answer from the Mayor: No. As referred to in my answer to question 3215/2009 and detailed in the Finance and Policy Committee papers from which you quote, the design and development cost of the project is

107 currently estimated at £3.3m. The current procurement strategy envisages that the new buses will be acquired, operated and maintained by bus operating companies.

* Hall Farm Curve Question No: 3428 / 2009 Jennette Arnold At the 2012 Games and Beyond meeting at the Waltham Forest Assembly Hall on June 9th, you responded to questions about the Hall Farm Curve in a rather surprised way saying: “Oh there used to be a line there, didn’t it?” You also promised the audience that you would take action to look into the feasibility of reinstating this rail link and would call on TfL to produce a ‘decent paper’ on it. Why did you not to tell my constituents there and then that you had written to the Chief Executive of LB Waltham Forest a month earlier telling him TfL is not in a position to fund this scheme and referring him to Network and the Department for Transport? Answer from the Mayor: I am pleased to be able to report that TfL officials have looked into the feasibility of re-opening the Hall Farm Curve. The work found that reinstating the line offers good value for money, with passenger benefits outweighing the costs. However, the line is not part of the London Overground network and so is under direct control of the Government. Due to financial constraints TfL would not be able to fund the scheme. I will ask TfL to make sure it fully considers the case for the Hall Farm Curve when preparing representations to the Department for Transport for future funding. *

Oyster Rollout On National Rail Question No: 3429 / 2009 Jennette Arnold In June this year, you said that you remained hopeful that Pay As You Go acceptance across London would be achieved towards the end of this year or at the latest at the start of 2010. However, on page 116 of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, it says that Oyster Cards will be accepted on all London National Rail stations by the end of 2010. Could you explain the discrepancy? Answer from the Mayor: As I announced on 23 November, Oyster pay as you go will be introduced on National Rail services within Greater London from 2 January 2010. The error on page 116 of the online version of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy will be corrected to reflect this. *

Waltham Forest Transport Links To Olympic Site Question No: 3430 / 2009 Jennette Arnold Many of my constituents in the Olympic borough of Waltham Forest are concerned about lack of decent transport links to the Olympic site and the Stratford City Development in particular from Chingford and the North of the Borough. At the 2012 Games and beyond meeting at the Waltham Forest Assembly Hall on the 9th of June, you promised the people of Waltham Forest that you would look into this lack of connectivity, possibly through the use of buses. Have you done so yet?

108 Answer from the Mayor: TfL is currently undertaking two pieces of work on the bus network related to Stratford City and the Olympic Games period. Firstly it is developing plans for changes to the bus network to meet the changes in demand arising from the opening of Stratford City shopping centre in 2011. This work is nearly complete and the intention is to initiate consultation on this early in 2010. Secondly TfL, in conjunction with the ODA, is reviewing the forecast increase in demand during the Games themselves. This is quite dependent on the exact programme of events and it is unlikely that plans for bus service changes will be finalised until 2011.

* Leyton Underground Station (1) Question No: 3431 / 2009 Jennette Arnold People in Leyton have been campaigning for years to get the side entrance of Leyton Underground Station reopened at peak times to alleviate congestion. In response to this local campaign by users and residents, London Underground maintains they do not have the requisite funds to invest in the essential work. Can you give me a breakdown of the costs involved in fully equipping and staffing this much needed access point? Answer from the Mayor: Bringing the side entrance into daily operation would require substantial investment including installing new Oyster ticket gates, additional public address, CCTV, lighting, and other customer safety provisions. It would also potentially involve changes in the layout of the adjoining ticket hall as well as the public footway outside the station.

It will not be possible to provide an accurate estimate of the costs involved to do this without undertaking preliminary assessment work and a feasibility study at the station, which in itself would involve a budget. In the current economic climate, where TfL is seeing both a loss in revenue as well as increased costs due to Metronet, there is no funding available to do this.

* Leyton Underground Station (2) Question No: 3432 / 2009 Jennette Arnold Users of Leyton tube station have raised their concerns with me about the narrow pavement and lack of space for people waiting for buses outside Leyton station. There is often not enough room for people to wait on the pavement and, although the area was recently reconfigured, the narrowness of the actual highway means that there are still safety concerns. Can you look into finding a solution before the situation gets completely out of hand? Answer from the Mayor: The pavement is indeed narrow at this point, but it is within TfL’s guidelines for the siting of bus stops and they consider it to be safe. There is little chance of the footway being widened any further. The reconfiguration you mention, which provided more space for the bus shelter at the back of the pavement, was a considerable piece of engineering by the London Borough of Waltham Forest as it is on the edge of the bridge over the railway.

Unfortunately, there is no reasonable alternative location for the stop that would not significantly worsen the ease of interchange for passengers as there are no other locations on the bridge for the stop to be located. The only other locations would be either south of Calderon Road or north of Trelawn Road. Both of these locations would place the stop more than 200m from the station, thus significantly worsening interchange opportunities and significantly impacting accessibility for those passengers with mobility difficulties. 109

* Olympic Land Acquisition Question No: 3433 / 2009 Len Duvall In Written Answer 2892 / 2009 regarding the failure of the Patience Wheatcroft Panel to identify the £160m hole in the Olympic Land Acquisition budget, you stated that “there were no triggers to the Board or Senior Management which would have suggested that the Olympic land budget should be a specific area of focus for the panel”. If there were no “triggers to the board or senior management” under your administration, we must infer that there were no such ‘triggers’ under the previous administration. Do you agree with this view and, if so, why have you not sought to convey it to those who have deliberately attempted to ascribe culpability to the previous board. Answer from the Mayor: The original land commitments were entered into under the previous Board and the financial consequences were quantified and agreed at that time. Whilst there were indeed no initial triggers indicating a problem under my administration, the recommendations made in the Forensic Audit Panel report confirmed the need for improved financial controls, processes and systems.

The improvements in governance arrangements and other operational processes, made under the new LDA leadership, allowed these historic systemic failures to be identified and decisive remedial action to be taken.

* Olympic Land Acquisition 2 Question No: 3434 / 2009 Len Duvall In Written Answer 2892 / 2009 regarding the failure of the Patience Wheatcroft Panel to identify the £160m hole in the Olympic Land Acquisition budget, you state that the “primary focus [of the Panel] was on projects and activities highlighted in the Evening Standard allegations”. Does the fact that you assembled a Panel, at a cost of £50,000 to the taxpayer, with the specific remit of investigating politically motivated allegations (that largely transpired to be untrue) instead of carrying out high-quality due diligence work, confirm that the Panel was little more that a witch-hunt? Answer from the Mayor: The Forensic Audit Panel was a valuable piece of work that helped the LDA’s new leadership and myself to assess the organisation’s strategic direction and refocus its priorities. Furthermore, the panel successfully identified areas of systemic weakness, which the new LDA Board has been tackling vigorously.

The improvements instituted by the new Board in response to the Forensic Audit Panel’s recommendations, allowed the issues within the Olympic directorate to come to light and enabled the Agency to respond swiftly to balance the books.

* Olympic Land Acquisition 4 Question No: 3435 / 2009 Len Duvall In reference to the exposure of the £160m Olympic land acquisition ‘black hole’, Andrew Boff

110 AM recently stated in a letter to the East London Advertiser that “it took Boris to throw some light on the secretive culture of the agency”. However, from the account of Andrew Travers (Budget Monitoring Sub-Committee, 14.07.09), who stated that “in authorising a payment I noticed that the supporting paperwork indicated that the commitment was in excess of the budget available”, it would appear that the deficit was identified by a routine process not associated with any specific due diligence work you had commissioned. Has Mr Boff has overplayed your role in identifying the deficit or was its exposure due to work commissioned by you? Answer from the Mayor: If it had not been for the changes in governance and operational processes made under my administration, the problems within the LDA’s Olympic Legacy directorate may not have come to light when they did, leading to far greater implications for London.

In particular, processes instituted by the new LDA Board at their first Board session in September 2008, led to delegation levels being reduced, enabling a greater scrutiny of LDA activity and payments. This led to the over-commitment being identified, investigated and responded to.

* Olympic Land Acquisition 5 Question No: 3436 / 2009 Len Duvall In Written Answer 2894/2009 you state that the Olympics Delivery Committee’s role was to “oversee the regeneration brought by the 2012 Olympics”. Since land acquisition at the site is a fundamental part of the regeneration process, did the Committee have a role in scrutinising this process and, if so, did your decision to dissolve the Committee remove one of the means by which the black hole could have been discovered earlier than it in fact was? Answer from the Mayor: The Olympic Delivery Committee of the previous LDA Board was ineffective in its scrutiny role - it failed to recognise the need for tighter governance arrangements and improved processes and systems. This resulted in there being no triggers for the previous Board to identify the Olympic cost overrun.

The new arrangements put in place under my administration reduced delegation levels and increased project and programme scrutiny through new Investment and Audit, Risk and Performance Committees. This improved upon the previous arrangements and enabled the over- commitment to be identified within months of my election.

* Olympic Land Acquisition 6 Question No: 3437 / 2009 Len Duvall In Written Answer 2895/2009 you informed me that the LDA’s Chief Executive, Sir Peter Rogers, and its Chairman of the Board, Harvey McGrath, signed off the LDA’s Annual Governance Statement for 2007/8 on the 29 October 2008. Why, despite being in post for almost six months and having commissioned a host of expensive consultants to carry out due diligence, did Peter Rogers and Harvey McGrath feel sufficiently confident in the LDA’s accounts to sign them off, despite there being a deficit in the Olympic land acquisition budget? Were your Chief Executive and Chairman ‘asleep at the tiller’.

111 Answer from the Mayor: The Chair and Chief Executive of the LDA have demonstrated robust leadership in pushing through the changes needed at the organisation and they recognise that there is still more to do. The Annual Governance Statement for 2007/8 clearly recognised that more work was needed to fully resolve inherited systemic weaknesses in LDA management arrangements.

The initial areas of attention for the new Board were those highlighted publicly by media allegations and the Forensic Audit Panel, including the issues surrounding LDA investment in smaller, riskier community based projects. However, changes to operational processes and due diligence work in respect of Olympic land were also initiated very early on and enabled the Olympic land over-commitment to be identified. This issue was dealt with decisively and effectively.

LDA Legal Consultancy Question No: 3438 / 2009 Len Duvall Why did the LDA’s legal department depend upon outside legal firms (DLA Piper & Eversheds) to carry out due diligence work on their behalf relating to the sufficiency of the budget for Olympic Park land acquisition and how much did this work cost the LDA? Answer from the Mayor: The LDA's legal team was aware of the complexity of the land acquisition process and associated commercial transactions which had taken place over a period of seven years on the Olympic Park. The LDA wished to provide independent, open and full disclosure of this information to the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC).

From the outset, the legal and financial teams worked together to shape a vendor due diligence process that would deliver the commercial, technical, legal and financial information that the OPLC would need ahead of any transfer of land from the LDA to the OPLC. This due diligence work went beyond determining the sufficiency of the budget for Olympic Park land acquisition; it covered all aspects of the land assembly and the related commercial transactions on the Olympic Park.

The LDA had procured a panel of external law firms to advise on these transactions over the previous seven year period and so it was an effective and efficient use of resources to work with these external law firms on the due diligence. The legal and finance teams of the LDA commissioned the work from their external advisers (financial and legal) on the due diligence and assisted and monitored their work throughout.

Expenditure on the legal portion of the vendor due diligence was £0.23m, which represents less than 1% of the LDA’s Olympic budget in 2009/10.

* LDA Legal Consultancy 2 Question No: 3439 / 2009 Len Duvall Other than the due diligence work commissioned to investigate the Olympic land budget deficit, what other legal firms have carried out consultancy work for the LDA legal department since you became Mayor and at what cost?

112 Answer from the Mayor: The LDA’s legal team leads on all legal matters and has not commissioned any consultancy work from legal firms. The in-house team is supported by a legal panel of external firms who sometimes provide counsel on specific issues that may arise in the course of everyday business, in order to ensure that the LDA remains compliant with statute. *

LDA Consultancy Question No: 3440 / 2009 Len Duvall How many different, external consultants have you employed to carry out due diligence work on the LDA and at what cost? Answer from the Mayor: Three firms (KPMG, Eversheds and DLA Piper) were employed on vendor due diligence ahead of the possible transfer of land assets to the Olympic Park Legacy Company at a total cost of £400,000. *

LDA Board 1 Question No: 3441 / 2009 Len Duvall In Written Answer 2901 / 2009, you failed to answer the following question, stating that I had ‘misinterpreted’ the debate: ‘Are you worried by the heated debate at the 16 September meeting of the LDA Board, in which your latest appointment, Anthony Browne, described the work ‘GLA Economics’ in producing the LDA’s 2010-2014 Investment and Financial Strategy as “completely and utterly flawed”? He went on to say that the strategy “massively understates business support and international promotion; massively overstates climate change and that no reliance should be placed on it at all”. Do you concur with this view?’ Please answer my question directly, with specific reference to Mr Browne’s above quotes. Answer from the Mayor: Your question is based on mistaken assumptions. GLA Economics produced the methodology, not the Investment and Financial Strategy, which is pulled together by LDA officials.

The methodology is at an early stage of development, and it is not a perfect science. As such there are limitations on the extent it can be used to guide major investment decisions, and those deciding the investment strategy should be aware of those limitations. It is quite right that Anthony drew the board’s attention to the shortcomings of the methodology in the board meeting. GLA Economics have noted the limitations and are now refining the methodology.

* LDA Board 2 Question No: 3442 / 2009 Len Duvall In Written Answer 2902/2009, you failed to answer the following question, stating that I had ‘misinterpreted’ the debate: At the 16 September meeting of the LDA Board, Edmund Lazarus stated that “we have had various representatives from the Mayor’s Office addressing meetings and they have put forward 113 diametrically opposite views of the Mayor’s priorities”. Do you agree with this assertion and, if not, please state on grounds you disagree with it. Mr. Lazarus clearly stated that your representatives had provided “diametrically opposite” views of your priorities, presumably leading to confusion among board members. With this in mind, please answer the above question directly. Answer from the Mayor: Mr Lazarus was clearly highlighting the fact that my advisors are passionate about their own areas of responsibility and may well consider their own portfolios to be the most important and most worthy of LDA funding. However, the LDA has a robust method of evaluating returns on investments, and LDA Board members are empowered to make independent investment decisions based on facts presented to them. Whilst I note that advisors views on the importance of a project may well differ, the facts that it needs to fit with LDA investment principles, and is subject to robust scrutiny, will ensure that the right decisions are made. *

Chairing the MPA Question No: 3443 / 2009 Joanne McCartney How much time do you spend each week on this role? Answer from the Mayor: I was elected on a mandate to make London safer and it remains my top priority. That was why, at the first opportunity, I made myself chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority. I spend as much time as is necessary chairing the MPA to make ensure the Metropolitan Police is democratically accountable to Londoners and continues to work to make London a safer place, but I never stop thinking about how to reduce crime.

* Mayor’s Fund Question No: 3444 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Can you please provide details of the Shoreditch pilot being undertaken by the Mayor’s Fund? When will the evaluation of this pilot be available? Answer from the Mayor: The Mayor’s Fund for London are not part of the GLA. The details of the Shoreditch programme will available on the Mayor’s Fund website when they have been confirmed: http://www.mayorsfundforlondon.org.uk/.

* Mayor’s Fund (2) Question No: 3445 / 2009 Joanne McCartney How much has been raised to date? Answer from the Mayor: The Mayor’s Fund for London are not part of the GLA. They are an independent charity and, as such, their funds raised for 2009 will be reported to the Mayor’s Fund Trustees and the Charity Commission in the usual way. *

114 * Mayor’s Fund (3) Question No: 3446 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Does the Fund have a planned programme of deliverable projects? If so can I please have a copy? Answer from the Mayor: The Mayor’s Fund’s programme intentions are set out on their website and they are currently working with partners to design their programme for delivery to be rolled out through 2010, exactly as planned.

Truancy Patrols Question No: 3447 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Have you set up any specific truancy patrols as was suggested in your initial Time for Action proposals? If so, where have these been operating? Answer from the Mayor: Truancy patrols are operated jointly by MPS and Local Authorities. As a result of the apparent disparities across London Boroughs in how they are deployed and perceived, we undertook a comprehensive joint survey with London Councils over the summer. The survey examined the extent and effectiveness of enforcement measures in all boroughs to us determine which approaches have the greatest impact in solving non-attendance and truancy.

The findings of this survey, combined with our ongoing research of the role of the courts in increasing attendance in schools, will inform our enforcement proposals under Project Brodie. These will be developed in partnership with London Councils and the Metropolitan Police Service, and will complement our other work on addressing the reasons for truancy.

* Adult Volunteers Question No: 3448 / 2009 Joanne McCartney What work have you done to promote adult volunteering in organisations such as the Scouts/Guides and other such organisations? Answer from the Mayor: I am a huge advocate of the value of volunteering and am actively promoting opportunities across all organisations. Through the Volunteering London group we are developing actions to promote valuable volunteering opportunities for groups such as the Scouts and Guides.

I have also put in place a dedicated volunteering web page which can be found at www.london.gov.uk/volunteer which highlights both the do-it.org.uk's national volunteering database and the events volunteering calendar through which opportunities can be promoted.

I am also an advocate of the YOU London partnership of uniformed youth groups, and recently hosted a briefing session at City Hall with young leaders and volunteers from YOU London’s presentation team. They are an inspiring group of young adults and I look forward to helping to promote their work as they launch across London's boroughs over the coming year.

*

115 Academies Question No: 3449 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Please update me on the progress you are making with your Academies plan? Answer from the Mayor: We are making good progress. The LDA has been leading this programme and reports that work is progressing to set up the Mayors Academy trust (or body) to oversee the development of the programme. The LDA will also partner with a core education provider for our first academy project which is expected to be in the London Borough of Enfield. Discussions with other local authorities and the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) are continuing to identify further opportunities.

* Youth Funding (1) Question No: 3450 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Is it true that you/LDA are planning a £765,000 reduction in the Young Londoners’ Fund? Answer from the Mayor: It is not true that the LDA is planning a £765,000 reduction in the Young Londoners’ Fund. The sum referred to is expenditure previously budgeted for 2009/10 but which has been re-profiled into 2010/11. Additional time was taken getting the contracting process right eg involving young people themselves in the assessments to ensure relevance to their needs which had a knock on effect on issuing contracts with the third sector delivery partners.

* Youth Funding (2) Question No: 3451 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Are you or the LDA planning any reduction in the Young Londoners’ Fund or any cuts to services for young people? Answer from the Mayor: The LDA has no plans for a reduction in the £4.36m Young Londoners’ Fund. The LDA’s investment in the £14m Mayor’s Youth Offer, spanning 2007 to 2010 will be completed on 31 March 2010. It is currently in the middle of its business planning process for 2010-11. *

Time for Action Steering Board Question No: 3452 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Are you in charge of the Time for Action work plans and the Steering Board? Answer from the Mayor: As my letter to you of 17 November 2009 says, I chair the Executive board for the programme. That Executive also includes the Deputy Mayor for Policing, the Mayor’s Adviser for Young People, and the Mayor’s Youth Ambassador. I receive regular updates on all work plans as a matter of course.

* 116 ‘Green’ Skills and Training Question No: 3453 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Are you doing any work with London’s further education institutions to encourage them to offer skills and training in ‘green’ industries? If so, what? Answer from the Mayor: The Low Carbon Skills Programme currently being delivered by the LDA so far comprises four distinct elements – the Retrofit Employer Accord Pilot (Retrofit Academy), Low Carbon Skills for London research, International Benchmarking research and the creation of a Low Carbon Skills Forum for London. Many of the LDA’s existing programmes have a “green” element already, and the LDA is also looking at what more could be done in these areas.

The Forum will analyse labour market information from both the research and the pilot activity and use it to influence and improve both the supply of ‘green skills’ and the demand for them in London. The Association of Colleges has been invited to represent the Further Education sector on the Forum and through this, the LDA aims to inform and influence the provision for green skills and training in London.

The work of the Low Carbon Skills Forum will also be closely aligned to that of the LSEB and will inform a wider strategy for the sector in London. Further information on this programme is being developed and will be replaced in due course.

* Police Estate Strategy Question No: 3454 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Has Kit Malthouse finished his summer review of police estate, as he explained in the Evening Standard on 11 June 2008? What were his findings, and when will they be made available? Answer from the Mayor: Following on from Kit Malthouse’s announcement that the estate strategy would be reviewed, an estates panel was set up in October 2008 to review the estate strategy and communication strategy.

Work on the estate strategy is ongoing and the current intention is for the associated strategies to be reported to the relevant MPA committee in early 2010.

* * Blue Light Museum Question No: 3456 / 2009 Joanne McCartney In answer to my question 2757/2009 In October 2009 you stated that there were no legal obstacles to the setting up of the museum. How do you then account for a report to the Strategic and Operational Committee of the MPA on 3 September that lists a number of legal obstacles, which you Chair, notably stating that; “The MPA has no express power to create or fund a museum”, and that “Counsel has previously advised that it is very difficult to argue that a museum which focuses upon the history of policing in London would ‘reasonably support’ the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force”?

117 Answer from the Mayor: My earlier response reflected the legal advice available to me at the time. The GLA has contributed £15k for a feasibility study to explore how this museum might best be developed.

The findings from this feasibility study will be available by the end of November, and will be presented to the Strategic and Operational Committee of the MPA at their next meeting in early December. The study will address relevant issues, including any legal ones, and recommend a way forward.

* * City Hall Open Days (2) Question No: 3459 / 2009 Joanne McCartney This year 6239 visitors attended the open day. In my question 0523/2009 you stated that last year City Hall attracted “around 6,000”. Does this not show that the open day is still popular if marketed adequately? I ask you again to re-consider opening up City Hall on selected weekends to the public so that they can tour the whole building, not just the limited areas that are open to the public during normal working hours? Answer from the Mayor: I don’t disagree that City Hall is popular with Londoners. However, as I stated in response to question MQ2773 / 2009, the number of visitors attending this year on the open day were less than in previous years. When you take into account that the open day was part of London Open House, which is marketed substantially across London and this year City Hall was open longer hours than in any previous years, it does show that despite adequate advertising we cannot justify the expense of opening up the building for one weekend every month. The cost of opening City Hall for the additional weekends is £44,000 and that doesn’t include the additional money that would be required to market the openings adequately.

* Dangerous Dogs Question No: 3460 / 2009 Joanne McCartney A constituent has contacted me to state that his neighbour’s cat was mauled by a dog, yet the police stated that this could not be recorded as a crime and no action was taken. Is this correct? Answer from the Mayor: The MPS would require more detailed information in order to give an informed response to the example given in the question.

* 307 Bus Route Question No: 3461 / 2009 Joanne McCartney I understand that TfL have agreed to extend the 307 bus route to Barnet General Hospital which is greatly welcomed. However, important health services have recently transferred from Enfield to Barnet General Hospital and many patients and relatives are extremely disappointed that this extension will only commence in October 2010. Could you please ensure that TfL extends this route much sooner – it is greatly needed?

118 Answer from the Mayor: TfL would be happy to extend the 307 to Barnet General Hospital from an earlier date. However, to do so requires additional bus terminating space at the Hospital; and finalising a design that is acceptable to all parties involved has taken longer than originally hoped. October 2010 is now a realistic date for reaching final agreement on the design and construction of this.

* Prison Vans Question No: 3462 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Is the safety of Londoners being compromised by TfL banning prison vehicles from using bus lanes? Answer from the Mayor: The Traffic Signs regulations published by the DfT and which apply throughout England and Wales state that vehicles with more than eight seats (excluding the driver) are permitted to use bus lanes. TfL has considered a request from the High Sheriff of London and Serco (the operator of prison vehicles) for prison vans with fewer seats to be permitted to use TfL bus lanes. TfL was unable to agree to the request since this would be contrary to national regulations and thus any change would involve the DfT and have implications beyond London. Neither Serco nor the High Sheriff of London suggested to TfL that public safety was at risk with the current arrangements and, therefore, it is not the case that the safety of Londoners is compromised by this decision. It has been suggested that prisoners are delayed arriving at court when they travel in smaller vans; this is a scheduling issue for the Prison Service and Serco. TfL has offered assistance in this area in the past, but it has never been taken up.

Bus lanes are critical to the effective operation of a reliable bus service in London and to allow other vehicles, particularly large vehicles, to share facilities with public transport reduces their effectiveness.

* Safer Travel at Night Question No: 3463 / 2009 Joanne McCartney What will be delivered this year as part of this scheme? Answer from the Mayor: An integrated programme of activity has been planned by TfL, its police partners and other key stakeholders in the run up to the busy Christmas period when more people are out and about and the demand for late night travel increases. This programme includes:

• A comprehensive multi-media communications campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of using illegal cabs, laws relating to taxis and private hire vehicles and safety advice. This year's campaign is again heavily promoting the CABWISE text service, where you text the word ‘CAB’ to 60835 (60TFL) and get the numbers for one taxi and two local licensed minicab operators sent directly to your mobile phone.

• A heavy schedule of anti-touting enforcement activity undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Safer Transport Command (previously the Transport Operational Command Unit and Safer Transport Teams) and City of London Police across the transport network. Core activities will include evening patrols in hotspot locations from Wednesday to Saturday, covert anti-touting operations, high visibility enforcement activities to detect

119 and deter illegal cab drivers, compliance activities (vehicle and licensing checks using Automatic Number Plate Recognition) and crime prevention and public education activities. In addition to regular patrols, a number of large scale operations will be run in December involving TfL, Safer Transport Teams and MPS units - Operation Sapphire and Operation Clubs and Vice which aim to crack down on illegal cabs and get people home safely.

• Continued provision of late night marshalled taxi ranks in Beckenham, Bromley town centre, Kingston town centre, Leicester Square, Liverpool Street station and Romford town centre. *

New Bus for London Question No: 3464 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Can you please update me with progress on your new bus? Answer from the Mayor: TfL remains on schedule to award the contract to design and develop the new vehicle by the end of this year. Two bidders have been shortlisted following evaluation of initial tenders. The detailed design and development phase will last for approximately two years with the first prototype on the streets by mid 2011 and the first production vehicles being delivered in early 2012.

Piccadilly Line Upgrade Question No: 3467 / 2009 Joanne McCartney Is there likely to be any delay to the planned upgrade for the Piccadilly Line? Answer from the Mayor: The Piccadilly line upgrade is one of the key elements of the work programme to be delivered during the second period of the Tube Lines PPP contract, which commences in July 2010 and runs until the end of 2017. London Underground (LU) has asked the PPP Arbiter to set a fair price for the works and the Arbiter’s review is in progress. He has indicated that he expects to publish his draft direction on costs before Christmas.

LU’s priority in its continuing discussions with the Arbiter and with Tube Lines is to see that Tube Lines delivers on its two principal challenges – to deliver all the improvements it has promised on time, and in a way that delivers value for money for London’s fare payers and taxpayers.

At this stage it would be unhelpful for me to speculate on the outcome of the Arbiter’s review or the ongoing discussions, but it remains our current intention that the upgrade should be completed by 2014. The early stages of the project continue to progress, with Tube Lines currently evaluating tenders in order to appoint a rolling stock supplier.

*

120 Increases in Fares Question No: 3468 / 2009 Navin Shah Harrow Council recently passed the following motion: “Council deplores the decision by Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, to increase bus fares by 12.7% overall and tube fares by 3.9% overall at a time when RPI inflation is 1.1%. Council is dismayed to hear that six more accessibility schemes for tube stations are being abandoned and that some bus and tube routes passengers will face less frequent services. These increases will wipe out by many times any of the savings of 12p a week made by the zero increase in the GLA precept -based on increases in previous years. Council notes that the Mayor claims that he can find £5 billion ‘efficiency savings’ in the TfL budget, and urges him to concentrate on this rather than increasing fares which hit the most hard-up in the middle of a recession. Council also notes that the Mayor will lose £70 million by halving the size of the congestion charge zone; will lose £50 million potential revenue by dropping proposals to charge the most polluting 4x4 vehicles and will lose £30 million in revenue by the replacement of ‘bendy’ buses. This money would be far better spent on providing cheap reliable public transport at the same time as improving traffic flow and cutting noxious vehicle emissions. Council instructs the Chief Executive to convey this motion to the Mayor of London, to the Brent and Harrow London Assembly Member as well as to the Leaders of the Labour, Conservative, LibDem and Green Groups on the London Assembly.” This motion was passed on the abstention of the ruling, majority party. Would the Mayor agree this is confirmation his fares package is indefensible? Answer from the Mayor: I appreciate the fares increases are not welcome at a time when Londoners are feeling the effects of the recession and it is not a decision I have taken lightly. Indeed, I have been persuaded of the need for the increases only after ensuring that every efficiency possible is being made at TfL. It is only because enormous efforts are being made that the total of £5 billion can be achieved.

As I said in my announcement on the fares revision on 15 October, the increases are needed to bring stability to TfL’s financial position, in sharp contrast to the damaging volatility and uncertainty brought about by the previous administration’s approach. Other factors are the collapse of Metronet and the fall in Tube and bus fares revenue caused by the recession.

Far from being indefensible, the package of increases is essential to protect the elderly, the young, the poorest, and disabled Londoners, and it allows us to go forward to deliver the vital improvements that Londoners deserve – including Crossrail, the upgrade of eight Tube lines, new trains, the cycling revolution, and a host of other improvements ahead of the 2012 Games. *

Wembley High Road Fire Question No: 3469 / 2009 Navin Shah Will the Mayor join me in commending the London Fire Brigade in the successful rescue from and management of the recent fire on Wembley High Road, where over 50 residents were evacuated in the middle of the night? Answer from the Mayor: Yes, I would congratulate the London Fire Brigade for the safe evacuation of 50 people from adjoining properties and businesses on 4 May 2009.

121 * Representation Question No: 3470 / 2009 Navin Shah Does the Mayor believe suspension from local authorities should bar representation on the GLA’s functional bodies? If not, why not? Answer from the Mayor: Please see my answer to MQ3195 / 2009.

* Planning Application Question No: 3471 / 2009 Navin Shah Councillor David Ashton, Leader of Harrow Council, has recently admitted to a full meeting of the Council his letter to you imploring you reconsider your recommended rejection of the Edgware Town FC Planning application (which you then did) was based on the false information that “the site has therefore remained unused for over three years” when in fact matches were still being played in 2008. Given Cllr Ashton’s admission, will the Mayor now - revisit his decision to overturn a recommendation of rejection following the receipt of David Ashton’s letter? - Accept that vital importance of transparency in planning decisions, which was somewhat undermined by Cllr Ashton’s methods of representation to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning. - Check the facts reported to him by his political colleagues? - Refuse to base future planning decisions on unsubstantiated and unchecked personal correspondence from members of his own political party? Answer from the Mayor: I am in receipt of a letter from Cllr Ashton clarifying the position in respect of the most recent use of the site. I accept that transparency in decision-making is a fundamental part of the planning process and I do not believe that has been undermined in this case. It is not unreasonable, nor unusual, for a local member to make representations to me in respect of planning applications in their borough. I had no reason to believe any of the information contained in Cllr Ashton’s original letter was inaccurate and accepted it in good faith. It is not possible, nor would it be a good use of my officers’ time, to verify every detail contained in correspondence submitted in relation to strategic planning applications. *

Unfit for Office Question No: 3472 / 2009 Navin Shah Would a heavy penalty for fraud imposed by the Standards’ Board render, in your moral judgement, a Councillor ‘unfit for office’ on a functional body? Answer from the Mayor: Please see my answer to MQ3195 / 2009.

* 122 Unfit for Office 2 Question No: 3473 / 2009 Navin Shah What, in your judgement, would render a Mayor appointee ‘unfit for office’ on a functional body? Answer from the Mayor: Please see my answer to MQ3195 / 2009.

* Brent Cross Question No: 3474 / 2009 Navin Shah As the Mayor may know, the Brent Cross development was rejected in a public inquiry in 2000 on the basis that the future regeneration scheme for 2000 residential units was nebulous. The Secretary of State defined Brent Cross as a regional shopping centre in an out-of-centre location and should therefore be developed after local town centres which are favoured first. The developers consequently repositioned Brent Cross as a new town centre in order to address this criticism. However, on the recently reduced plans for BXC, there is no commitment to any of the future phases which would deliver community infrastructure including the train station, hotels, offices, parks, jobs and so on. Only the shopping centre and 795 residential units are now promised. - Does the Mayor believe Brent Cross should be continued to be viewed as a ‘new town centre’ in light of the reduced housing provision? - What is the now revised total level of affordable housing? - What consultation of the GLA has occurred in this revision? - Has the Mayor’s Housing advisor thus accepted a decreased affordable housing target for the London Borough of Barnet? What is the new target? Answer from the Mayor: I continue to support the vision for Brent Cross as a new town centre. My understanding is that the application has always proposed housing to be staggered across most of the phases. The first phase includes significant infrastructure works, a mix of uses including retail and housing, specifically the re-provision of the existing Whitefields Estate and Rosa Freedman sheltered housing centre. As set out in my officers’ report, February 2009 (PDU/1483/01), it is understood that this mix of uses has been proposed since the application was submitted, known as the ‘Primary Development Package’. Other phases would follow, and are likely to become more viable as the initial infrastructure costs are absorbed.

On this basis the total level of affordable housing will be subject to review over the lifetime of the project. My officers are still in discussions with the applicant regarding this matter. However, the current offer proposed by the applicant in the Primary Development Package will be subject to further testing (notwithstanding the delivery of the replacement Whitefields Estate and Rosa Freedman sheltered housing). It is proposed that all remaining phases will have a 15% minimum level of affordable housing with the opportunity to go above this should viability allow.

Barnet Council has led consultation on amendments to the application. I have not formally considered any changes to the application since consideration at the consultation stage in February 2009. My officers have, however, been discussing changes with the Council, the applicant and other stakeholders. Should the Council resolve to grant planning permission I will

123 be required to consider changes since February 2009 and the merits of these in the context of London Plan policy and any other material representations.

Barnet Council’s affordable housing delivery target, 2008/11, is not affected by any changes to the Brent Cross scheme. *

Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee (HACC) Question No: 3475 / 2009 Murad Qureshi When, if ever, do you intend to take your Mayoral appointed place on the HACC? Answer from the Mayor: I have asked the Director of Development and Environment to nominate an officer to represent the GLA at the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee.

* Taxi Vehicle Types Question No: 3476 / 2009 Murad Qureshi In light of the pollution levels from black cabs, should the Public Carriage Office (PCO) allow black cabbies to use other types of vehicle than those the PCO currently approves? Answer from the Mayor: I welcome and would like to encourage applications from any vehicle manufacturer regarding the approval of alternative, low emission vehicles which could be licensed as taxis in London.

Any vehicle licensed as a taxi in London must meet the Conditions of Fitness which details the minimum requirements the vehicle must meet in order to be licensed. Following a recent High Court Judgment in Liverpool related to this matter, TfL is now considering whether this judgment means a review of the Conditions of Fitness in London is required. TfL expects to formally announce the next steps in the process by the end of the year.

* Drinking Fountains Question No: 3477 / 2009 Murad Qureshi Why should Londoners pay for water from public drinking fountains when we have never had to before? Answer from the Mayor: I strongly support efforts to promote better access to tap water for Londoners. To achieve that I have kick-started a number of initiatives.

We have recently refurbished the drinking water fountain in Trafalgar Square which will soon provide free drinking water.

We are also actively promoting drinking-water fountains that will provide free water through our existing initiatives including The Mayor’s ‘Helping a London Park’ and ‘Great Spaces’ schemes.

124 To enable London to have free access to tap water when they are out and about we have already successfully launched, with Thames Water, the winning carafe design as part of LondononTap campaign and look forward to its rollout across the hospitality sector in London.

As part of the LondononTap campaign a HydraChill pilot has also been provided to Transport for London for installation at Hammersmith bus station. I support the LondonOnTap campaign and any new and exciting initiatives like HydraChill which aim to provide a 21st Century solution.

During the pilot there will be a 20 pence charge for water to prevent misuse and waste of water with all the proceeds going to charity.

* Camden Town Escalator 1 Question No: 3478 / 2009 Murad Qureshi Which company was contracted to carry out the refurbishment of the escalator at Camden Town Tube station? Answer from the Mayor: Tube Lines were responsible for the refurbishment of the escalator at Camden Town station as part of their PPP obligations. The work itself was undertaken by TLES (Tube Lines Escalator Services).

* Camden Town Escalator 2 Question No: 3479 / 2009 Murad Qureshi The Camden Town escalator was closed for a full three months for refurbishment, causing considerable inconveneince to the many people who use the station. Who agreed such a long closure and what assessment was made of the closure plans? Answer from the Mayor: Refurbishing Tube escalators is an intricate and complex task.

Escalators on the London Underground (LU) network are heavy duty machines, built to withstand much more stress than normal escalators: they operate over 20 hours a day, seven days a week, 364 days a year over a 40 year lifespan.

Each escalator is unique and custom built for every location, which often requires individual parts to be specially made.

Tube Lines, who undertook the refurbishment of the escalator at Camden Town, operated a 2 shift per day working system (18 hours per day) to complete the work. This allowed the refurbishment to be delivered in just over 12 weeks, which is the average duration of a refurbishment of an escalator on the Tube network.

Under the PPP contract Tube Lines have an entitlement to such closures for escalator refurbishment/replacement that LU is obliged to agree. LU always assesses the impact of such closures and puts operational arrangements in place to manage safety.

*

125 Ban on old Private Hire Taxis and Black Cabs Question No: 3480 / 2009 Murad Qureshi You propose to impose a blanket ban on private hire vehicles and black cabs above a certain age and yet you have ditched the compulsory six month road worthiness tests on black cabs. How will you ensure some owners won’t simply run their vehicle into the ground in the last year of its proscribed life, thus generating far more emissions than a properly maintained older vehicle? What incentives will there be for owners to maintain older vehicles properly? Answer from the Mayor: Until any changes to the current standard are made all taxis will be required to continue to meet the current standards for vehicle emissions (Euro III). In addition to the annual inspections, TfL has a dedicated compliance team who will continue to conduct on-street compliance inspections on taxis and private hire vehicles. These inspections will ensure vehicles continue to comply with licensing standards and emissions standards, during the entire term of the vehicle license.

* Working with Government on Air Quality Question No: 3481 / 2009 Murad Qureshi In your air quality strategy you claim to be “working together on a shared approach” with the government to tackle air pollution in London. Would you care to let me know what has so far been achieved by this shared approach? Answer from the Mayor: GLA and TfL officials have worked closely with Government whilst developing the Air Quality Strategy.

This has included:

• Supplying data and policy information on London’s air quality measures to Government

to assist with the time extension for meeting PM10 limits • Agreeing modelling assumptions and ensuring we are working from the same baselines • Identifying potential measures at the national and regional levels to tackle air quality

My Strategy sets out a range of measures some of which need Government assistance in order to be implemented, such as a common framework for low emission zones across the UK, funding further low emissions zones, and developing NOx certification and testing standards for equipment. I am also lobbying Government to unlock other doors including extending scrappage incentives to include taxis and support take up of electric vehicles.

I am also working with Government to identify measures that they will undertake nationally to ensure that EU limit values are achieved. The challenge of reducing PM10 and NO2 levels is a shared one and requires action not only from London government but also from national government.

* Ownership of Strategies Question No: 3482 / 2009 Murad Qureshi At a recent meeting with the Assembly’s Transport Committee you were at pains to distance yourself from items in your transport strategy. Is there anything similarly in your air quality

126 strategy that you would care to disown? Answer from the Mayor:

My Air Quality sets out a range of measures drive down PM10 and NO2 emissions within London.

These measures are necessary and will help reduce emissions of PM10 by up to 35 per cent by 2015 and emissions of NOx by up to 40 per cent in London.

I look forward to receiving the London Assembly’s comments on my draft Strategy.

* Air Quality Strategy 1 Question No: 3483 / 2009 Murad Qureshi The current draft of your Air Quality strategy indicates that the measures it proposes will reduce NO2 by about 35 - 40% by 2015, but states that we need to achieve a reduction of over 80% if we are to meet EU limits (let alone World Health Organisation recommendations) - thus demonstrating in part the scale of the problem we face if we are to achieve this obligation. What measures would in fact be needed for London actually to meet EU limits by any given year? Will these be set out in subsequent drafts of your air quality strategy - if only to show the scale of the remaining problem? Answer from the Mayor:

NO2 is a national issue and requires further action from central Government. At present it is not yet clear what measures central Government is going to put in place to deal with NO2 nationally. Within my Air Quality Strategy I have identified policies that I can implement in London, these have been developed to be cross cutting and flexible and can achieve real improvements in air quality in London.

I am also pressing for Government action on the following areas: a) Use of tax incentives b) Certification scheme for NOx abatement equipment c) A national framework for low emission zones and financial support d) Extended scrappage schemes to increase uptake of cleaner vehicles e) Grant schemes for vehicle retrofitting f) Funding for new low-emission technology g) Funding for energy efficiency schemes h) Publicity campaigns and targeted information to those at risk from poor air quality

The scale of the NO2 challenge is vast and I will work further with central Government to identify measures. The next draft of the Strategy will set out further details of actions Government will have to take to meet the NO2 limit values.

* Vehicle Numbers and Emissions Question No: 3484 / 2009 Murad Qureshi Your air quality strategy clearly states that “Road transport is the dominant source of PM10 emissions in central London, contributing 83 per cent in 2006” and “Private vehicles…are responsible for approximately 65 per cent of London’s PM10 and NOx emissions.” However, although tailpipe emissions may fall thanks to cleaner cars and increased numbers of electric vehicles, “tyre and brake wear emissions between 2006 and 2015 are not projected to decrease,

127 due to the technical difficuties of tackling this source of emissions.” Would you therefore like to see a reduction in the absolute numbers of private vehicles on London’s roads? Answer from the Mayor: The absolute number of vehicles in central London has already been reducing owing to ongoing initiatives like the Congestion Charging zones and TfL’s continued promotion of smarter travel to encourage a shift to cleaner modes of transport. However, emissions of air pollutants on a per car basis are comparatively low, which is why some of the major proposals in the draft Air Quality Strategy, such as the Low Emission Zone, are focused on more individually polluting vehicles such as HGVs, coaches and buses.

The challenge going forward is to manage the tyre and brake wear emissions from all vehicles in London and that is why I am keen to work with central Government and the European Union to reduce emissions of PM by supporting the development of new technologies.

* School Run Question No: 3485 / 2009 Murad Qureshi Should parents drive their children to school? Answer from the Mayor: My draft Transport Strategy (October 2009) makes clear the objective of encouraging mode shift to cycling, walking and public transport, not only to tackle congestion, but also to improve peoples quality of life and the environment. I support parents making a choice about the best mode to choose for these journeys.

For the school run, this is being delivered through a comprehensive package of support that includes free and discounted travel for under-18s, delivery of school travel plans including support for cycle training, cycle parking, curriculum materials and campaigns such as ‘Walk on Wednesdays’ to encourage more active travel. Nearly 90% of London schools now have a travel plan and where ‘after’ surveys have been completed (at approximately 1,800 schools) an average 6.2% reduction in car use has been achieved, demonstrating the success of the programme.

* Air Quality Strategy 2 Question No: 3486 / 2009 Murad Qureshi Your Air Quality strategy states that your decision to introduce Phase III of the LEZ is “an appropriate balance between environmental and economic objectives.” (Page 49). Health concerns are not mentioned. Do you not consider the health implications of London’s poor air quality important enough to consider as part of this decision? Answer from the Mayor: I am committed to improving the health and quality of life are the drivers behind the Air Quality Strategy. The decision to introduce LEZ phase III in 2012 represents a sensible balance between the need to improve air quality and helping small businesses during recession.

The Low Emission Zone and all its phases, continues to be an integral measure within the Air Quality Strategy that focuses on pollutant emissions from some of London’s more individually polluting HGVs’ buses and coaches.

128 However, in the current economic circumstances, the potential business costs for operators to meet the LEZ requirements in 2010 are more significant than when the LEZ was confirmed in 2007. The proposed deferral of the scheme for vans and mini buses allows operators more time to comply with the requirements and thus mitigates some of the potential negative impacts for businesses.

As part of the development of the Air Quality Strategy we are commissioning further research into the health impacts of poor health quality. This will inform the public consultation draft of the Strategy.

Air Quality Strategy 3 Question No: 3487 / 2009 Murad Qureshi Do you consider your Air Quality Strategy an ambitious one? What aspirations does it contain? Answer from the Mayor: My draft Air Quality Strategy is an ambitious one. My vision, as set out in my Strategy is to protect the health of Londoners and increase their quality of life by significantly improving the quality of the air they breathe. That challenge is a great one and my Strategy sets out a range of measures to achieve this.

The Strategy sets out a range of measures that will reduce PM10 emissions in central London by up to 35 per cent by 2015, and from road transport across the whole of London by 40%. My strategy also contains measures to reduce NOx emissions by up to 40% by 2015 in London.

The Strategy is out to consultation with the London Assembly and I am looking forward to hearing further suggestions for improving the Strategy. *

Air Quality Strategy 4 Question No: 3488 / 2009 Murad Qureshi Your Air Quality Strategy refers to stringent special measures used intensively for short periods of time to restrict or prevent vehicle movement into or within an area. What would trigger these special measures, how stringent will they be and how do you intend to convey the relevant information to road users in a timely manner to enable compliance? Answer from the Mayor: Please refer to my answer for MQ3287 / 2009.

* Diverting Traffic Question No: 3489 / 2009 Murad Qureshi If traffic is to be temporarily diverted from Marble Arch, Euston Road and Tower Hill to reduce pollution concentrations on certain days - where do you expect the traffic to be diverted to? How many vehicles would this displace? Answer from the Mayor: As explained in the Assembly consultation draft of my Air Quality Strategy, detailed assessments of potential options such as temporary traffic diversions and their impacts will be carried out in

129 conjunction with Boroughs. Any study of traffic diversions, required to deal with extreme local air pollution concentrations would have regard to the impacts on local roads. *

Housing Policy Question No: 3490 / 2009 Nicky Gavron What position does the mayor take about policy proposals that would: - cut affordable rented housing in the UK (including London) to just 10% of current stock? - scrap secure tenancies and replace with 6 month short-hold tenancies? - bring rents up to market rates? Answer from the Mayor: None of the policy proposals in your question are reflected in my draft London Housing Strategy or draft replacement London Plan. Both of these documents contain targets and policies that clearly demonstrate my firm commitment to increasing the amount of affordable housing, including social rented housing, in London.

* Planning Applications Containing Affordable Housing Question No: 3491 / 2009 Nicky Gavron - How many housing units in planning applications referred to you have been given permission since you took office? - How many units of affordable housing were contained in these applications? - How many were intended for intermediate units? - How many were intended for social rented units? Answer from the Mayor: The Planning Decisions Unit does not, as a matter of course, collect the information requested in the first part of your question, but all reports on applications referred to me are available on the GLA website, and contain details of the number of units involved, and whether planning permission was granted.

Decisions about tenure are dealt with by the local planning authority through S106 agreements which are normally finalised after planning permission has been agreed. This information is not available to me.

Planning Applications Containing Affordable Housing 2 Question No: 3492 / 2009 Nicky Gavron How many planning applications referred to you have been re-submitted with lower levels of affordable housing? Answer from the Mayor: I am aware that there may be some schemes there were referable to the Mayor, where the applicant has subsequently sought to vary the affordable housing contribution. However, this has been done through a variation in the section 106 agreement (which is not referable to the

130 Mayor) rather than a revised application. I am not aware of any schemes that have been re- submitted with lower levels of affordable housing provision.

* Affordable Housing Investment Question No: 3493 / 2009 Nicky Gavron Of the 200 largest strategic sites for development of housing described by your housing advisor almost a year ago at the 2nd December 2008 Planning and Housing Committee, can you please provide a progress report on these sites which answers the following questions: - How many sites have received money from the HCA London housing budget, which you direct? - Can you please name these sites? - Of the sites that have received funding how many units will be produced for social rent / intermediate / market? - On how many sites has work started? - On how many sites has work been completed? - How many sites that have received money are not currently under construction? Answer from the Mayor: Since this meeting I have published my London Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment and Housing Capacity Study 2009. In its Appendix 1 (http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/planning/housing-capacity/index.jsp) you will find a full listing of sites (by address and borough) with planning permission or allocated for housing in borough development plans. The top 200 sites to which my Housing Advisor referred are those sites with an approved planning permission and on which more than 150 homes will be built.

This listing also shows the phasing for each site. The definition of these phases is on page 24 of the Study. All Phase 1 sites have implemented planning permissions.

Sites where all the homes have already been built out are not included within this Study nor were they included in my Housing Advisor’s list of 200 sites. This information can be found on my London Development Database (http://ldd.london.gov.uk/LDD/LDD/)

Each quarter Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) publishes a quarterly Investment Statement together with a list of sites receiving an allocation, and this can be found at (http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/london). These only show the affordable housing tenure breakdown. Information about the full tenure breakdown of each site can also be found on my London Development Database.

HCA London pays over its funding in two tranches – at start on site and upon practical completion – so sites not currently under construction will not have received funding.

* London Plan - Intermediate Housing Eligibility Threshold Question No: 3494 / 2009 Nicky Gavron By raising the intermediate housing eligibility threshold from a household income of £61,000 to £74,000 you will increase demand for a limited supply of this type of public funded housing. How do you think this additional competition will impact on the opportunities of lower income

131 families, those households with an income of less than £60,000, to own their own intermediate- priced home? Answer from the Mayor: Of itself, the change I will propose in my draft strategy will not negatively impact on the opportunities for low income families to access intermediate housing, which should continue to be provided for households throughout the London Plan income range.

* Affordable Housing Demand Question No: 3495 / 2009 Nicky Gavron Based on the Table 1: Housing requirements, 2007 to 2017 – Main scenario of the 2008 London Strategic Housing Market Assessment, over this ten year period the proportional need for social housing to intermediate housing is respectively 80%/20% (or in number of homes 145,600 social rented / 36,500 intermediate). Given the level of demand, why does your draft Housing Strategy and draft London Plan seek to move to an affordable housing balance of 60% social rent / 40% intermediate rent? Answer from the Mayor: As stated in my draft replacement London Plan, the proposed split between social rented and intermediate housing has been informed by the SHMA and other relevant factors including the role intermediate housing can play in helping Londoners get a first step on the housing ladder, reducing the call on social rented housing, freeing up social rented homes, providing wider housing choices and securing a more balanced social mix on mono-tenure estates. Account has also been taken of the way intermediate housing development can extend the effectiveness of scarce public resources by increasing overall housing output through partnership working with the private sector.

* 0845 number Question No: 3496 / 2009 Valerie Shawcross Buskers complain that they are forced to spend over £20 plus per week phoning the pitch booking line and waiting in lengthy queuing arrangements on line which clock up high cash costs for the buskers. Why does TfL not simply have an engaged tone when the lines are busy? Please account for how much money was raised by this phone line in the last year, and what happened to this money? Was this profit received by BT or TfL? Answer from the Mayor: When London Underground (LU) first brought the scheme in-house an engaged tone was used. More buskers complained about this than the use of an 0845 number and LU switched to the call waiting system that is currently in use.

LU has received a little over £900 over the last year from this service, which is used to offset the significantly larger cost of running the busking scheme.

All LU customer contact lines use an 0845 number.

132 Safety Barriers Question No: 3497 / 2009 John Biggs Are you consulting with Boroughs before removing guard rails and safety barriers on the TfL road network? Answer from the Mayor: Yes – TfL consults the relevant Borough as a matter of course. There are also road safety audits before and after removal of guard railing, to ensure the decision to remove railings which do not provide a clear safety benefit are correct.

* Fare Increases and Council Tax Question No: 3498 / 2009 John Biggs Are fare increases a stealth tax? Answer from the Mayor: The fares increases are hardly a stealth tax – I have been quite open about them and the reasons why they are necessary.

I am doing all I can to ensure they are kept as reasonable as possible, not least by insisting that TfL achieves substantial cost savings without affecting front line services.

I am also protecting those least able to pay by maintaining all existing discounts and free travel concessions. *

ORN (1) Question No: 3499 / 2009 Richard Tracey Since many of the hotels for officials, the media and the IOC are located very close to the upgraded Central Line or to the javelin train from Kings Cross to Stratford, why do these people need exclusive Olympic lanes on London’s roads? Answer from the Mayor: The Javelin service and London Underground Network should not be seen or used as alternatives to the Olympic Route Network - the Javelin and Underground services will transport thousands of spectators to the Olympic Park every day whilst the latter will transport athletes, media and other officials quickly and reliably between accommodation centres and the Olympic Venues. However, it is my view that members of the Olympic Family should use London’s fantastic public transport system wherever this is possible and practical, and following correspondence I have had with Jacques Rogge we are in discussions with LOCOG and the IOC about facilitating this. *

ORN (2) Question No: 3500 / 2009 Richard Tracey Why would sponsors of the Games be allowed to use the ‘Zil’ lanes on the ORN, yet the largest contributor to the Games, i.e. the British taxpayer, would not be allowed into these lanes?

133 Answer from the Mayor: Commercial sponsors of London 2012 will deploy staff to work at the Games as much as anyone else. However, it is my view that members of the Olympic Family should use London’s fantastic public transport system wherever this is possible and practical, and following correspondence I have had with Jacques Rogge we are in discussions with LOCOG and the IOC about facilitating this.

* ORN (3) Question No: 3501 / 2009 Richard Tracey Will those who contravene the Olympic Route Network be given the maximum fine of £5,000? Answer from the Mayor: A court imposed fine of £5,000 is the maximum allowed under the 2006 London Olympic and Paralympic Games Act. However, the Act also allows for Penalty Charge Notices to be issued in the same way as by TfL and other local authorities, and I expect this to be the way the ORN is enforced other than in exceptional circumstances.

The ODA aims to encourage maximum compliance with the various traffic management measures necessary for the successful running of the Games. The ODA will use widespread publicity and communication ahead of the Games to ensure road users understand the purpose and importance of the ORN.

* ORN (5) Question No: 3503 / 2009 Richard Tracey How will you ensure that all of London’s drivers are aware of the extra conditions imposed by the ORN and do not accidentally park on newly restricted roads, or drive in the temporary Olympic lanes? Answer from the Mayor: The ODA will use widespread publicity and communication ahead of the Games to ensure that road users understand the purpose and importance of the ORN to the success of the Games. The ODA, in partnership with TfL, Highways Agency and the London Boroughs, is developing a signage strategy across the ORN.

* ORN (6) Question No: 3504 / 2009 Richard Tracey What specific ‘schemes, works and developments’ will be taking place on the ORN from 2010 and how much disruption will they cause on London’s roads? Answer from the Mayor: The ODA is working with TfL, Highways Agency and the London Boroughs to identify what schemes, works or developments will be needed to deliver the ORN, and will provide a full breakdown of permanent and temporary works by mid 2010.

134 ORN (7) Question No: 3505 / 2009 Richard Tracey Have you used traffic modelling to examine how the travel times of Londoners will be affected by the ORN? Answer from the Mayor: The ODA has been working with delivery partners and has carried out high level strategic modelling of the ORN. More detailed modelling will be carried out as the measures are developed. *

ORN (8) Question No: 3506 / 2009 Richard Tracey What work have TfL and the ODA done with businesses to investigate the effect of the ORN on deliveries and customer access to businesses? Answer from the Mayor: The ODA is already engaged with the business community through representative organisations, such as the Federation of Small Business, Chamber of Commerce and London First. As the ODA prepares more detailed plans for the delivery of the ORN it will work with those individual businesses to identify their operational requirements during Games-time. *

ORN (9) Question No: 3507 / 2009 Richard Tracey Have TfL and the ODA examined the impact of ‘Zil’ lanes on response times for emergency services vehicles? Answer from the Mayor: Emergency vehicles, when they are responding to an emergency, will have access to the lanes on the ORN at all times.

* Tube Upgrades Question No: 3508 / 2009 Richard Tracey Will the Mayor update the Assembly on the timetable for all Tube upgrades? Answer from the Mayor: Waterloo & City line – upgrade completed in 2006, as planned.

Jubilee line – Tube Lines’ contractual completion date is 2009, however it has become clear that the programme has slipped and completion is not now expected until well into 2010.

Northern line – Tube Lines’ contractual completion date is the beginning of 2012.

Victoria line – contractual complete date is 2013; due for completion in 2012.

135 Piccadilly line – contractual completion date is 2014.

Sub-Surface lines (Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan) – due for completion in 2018.

Bakerloo line – due for completion in 2020.

* PAYG on Mainline Trains Question No: 3509 / 2009 Richard Tracey Will the Mayor update the Assembly on when Oyster PAYG on mainline trains will be introduced? Answer from the Mayor: As I announced on 23 November, Oyster pay as you go will be introduced on all National Rail services within Greater London from 2 January 2010.

* Pier Upgrades Question No: 3510 / 2009 Richard Tracey Will the Mayor outline the timetable for the work on upgrading river piers to be carried out? Answer from the Mayor: An update on plans to upgrade river piers will be given at the next River Passenger Services Concordat Working Group meeting on Monday 7 December. I know that you are a part of the Working Group and refer you to this meeting.

* Cycle Superhighways Question No: 3511 / 2009 Richard Tracey When can Londoners expect to see the first two Cycle Superhighways in operation? Answer from the Mayor: The main construction programme is planned to start in early 2010, with the first two routes opening in summer 2010.

* London Travelwatch (1) Question No: 3512 / 2009 Richard Tracey Does the Mayor think it is a good use of money to spend £1.5m a year on London TravelWatch when Passenger Focus represents the interests of bus and rail passengers for the rest of the UK at no cost to regional government? Answer from the Mayor: London TravelWatch is a transport users watchdog set up to represent the interests of travellers in and around London. I have no responsibility for the setting of the budget for London TravelWatch. This is a matter for the London Assembly. 136

Passenger Focus is an independent watchdog set up by the government to represent the interests of travellers nationally, including in and around London. With a strong emphasis on evidence-based campaigning and research, their work is generally well respected by both user groups and the transport industry.

Public transport use in London is on such a significant scale that it overshadows the national scene - for example, last year, over two billion trips were made by bus in London and over one billion trips were made on London Underground. Travelling Londoners need to know that there is an independent body representing them which is capable of effectively representing their interests, although I imagine that there are a number of ways that this could be achieved. I am certainly keen to see the most effective use of public funds and look to the Assembly to review the case for funding London TravelWatch.

* London Travelwatch (2) Question No: 3513 / 2009 Richard Tracey Is it not time for London TravelWatch to be merged with Passenger Focus to provide a national passenger representative group across all modes and regions of public transport in the UK? Answer from the Mayor: There is already a connection between the two organisations, as a member of the London Travelwatch Board is appointed to the board of Passenger Focus; although I understand that at some meetings, for example on rail issues affecting London, a representative from both organisations attends.

I do not believe that Passenger Focus would, at present, be able adequately to represent the interests of travelling Londoners. The sheer scale of public transport use in London means that any organisation that held the remit to represent the interests of passengers in the capital would need to allocate significant resources and expertise to serving Londoners. In my opinion, this does not mean that there have to be two separate organisations, and I would encourage the Assembly to review the case for funding London TravelWatch compared to alternatives including merging its activities with Passenger Focus.

* London Travelwatch (3) Question No: 3514 / 2009 Richard Tracey Does the Mayor agree that the London TravelWatch Board would appear to represents the interests of opposition Members more than public transport users in London? Answer from the Mayor: The London TravelWatch Board consists of a Chair and 12 other members. The Board should independently represent the interests of travellers in and around London and not be dominated by a particular interest group. However, the membership of the London TravelWatch Board and the process for agreeing appointments is a matter for the Assembly.

*

137 London Travelwatch (4) Question No: 3515 / 2009 Richard Tracey Could the Mayor summarise the main achievements of London Travel Watch since its new Chair was appointed? Answer from the Mayor: London TravelWatch is a transport users watchdog set up to represent the interests of travellers in and around London. I have no responsibility for scrutinising the performance of London TravelWatch. The performance of London TravelWatch is monitored against its objectives by the Assembly's Transport Committee. This was last reported upon at the 8 July Transport Committee.

* London Travelwatch (5) Question No: 3516 / 2009 Richard Tracey Does the Mayor agree that the appointment of political activists to the Chair and Deputy Chair of London TravelWatch is in the best interests of passengers? Answer from the Mayor: London's travellers need a strong and independent voice. I believe that it is important that London TravelWatch and its Board seek to represent the interests of travellers in and around London.

* Oxford Street Buses Question No: 3517 / 2009 Richard Tracey How many bus routes are being diverted away from or around east Oxford Street during the Tottenham Court Road Crossrail construction works? Answer from the Mayor: It is proposed that from 16 January 2010, all eastbound traffic will be diverted away from the eastern end of Oxford Street (between Newman Street and Tottenham Court Road) for a period of 11 months. This is while utility replacement or strengthening works are undertaken to pipework, some of which dates from the 1820s onwards, in advance of tunnelling and excavation work taking place in the area from 2011.

This work has been brought forward as a result of the Crossrail project and the rebuilding of Tottenham Court Road station. Detailed assessments have now revealed that this work would place strain on the utilities beneath Oxford Street, risking their failure. This work must be complete before the excavations begin and cannot be done without closing a short section of one lane on Oxford Street.

Eastbound traffic on diversion would include seven daytime or 24 hour bus routes: the 7, 8, 10, 55, 73, 98 and 390 (24hr). In addition, seven night bus routes would be affected: the N7, N8, N10, N55, N73, N98 and N207. The route 25 (24hr) would start its eastbound journey and terminate its westbound journey at New Oxford Street; this would be the only westbound service affected.

*

138 Thames Water Question No: 3518 / 2009 Richard Tracey Since you and Thames Water have both expressed support for an early warning system via text message to notify river users when raw sewage is released into the Thames, will you contact Thames Water to encourage them to implement this service as soon as possible? Answer from the Mayor: Thames Water have an agreed scheme for giving warnings of sewage discharges from Mogden Sewage Works to river users. This is due to be operational in the next few weeks.

As this is a new system I would be pleased to be kept informed as to how well the system works.

* Morden Road, Merton Question No: 3519 / 2009 Richard Tracey Whilst I support TfL’s decision to remove unnecessary guard rails from Morden Road, will you instruct TfL to plant trees along this busy road to provide a visual barrier for the many residential properties on this road? Will you consider planting trees on similar roads with heavy traffic and residential properties? Answer from the Mayor: TfL has inspected sections of Morden Road where guard railing has been removed to determine if trees could be planted. They found that the footway was not sufficiently wide to allow trees to be planted.

I have however committed to planting more street trees on similar roads. My tree planting initiative, which aims to plant 10,000 street trees by 2012, has identified priority areas for tree planting and 4000 new street trees are to be planted across 20 boroughs.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to plant trees exactly where people want to see them and tree officers follow the ‘right place, right tree’ principle and take account of factors such as soil conditions and the presence of services.

* Crossrail levy Question No: 3520 / 2009 Richard Tracey Since you have granted developers in Nine Elms with an exemption from the Crossrail levy, will you offer a similar exemption to Merton businesses who would rather contribute towards their local BID than Crossrail? Answer from the Mayor: The areas within which it is proposed that the policy to enable contributions towards Crossrail to be raised through the planning system are shown in annexes 1 and 2 of the draft supplementary planning guidance on “Use of Planning Obligations in the Funding of Crossrail” – basically central London and the northern part of the Isle of Dogs. Paragraph 4.24 of the draft guidance explains circumstances in which it might be appropriate to seek contributions elsewhere, but I think it is unlikely that sites in Merton will be caught by them.

139 There is a separate funding stream for Crossrail based on a proposed Business Rate Supplement (BRS), which is being taken forward, under different legislation. The BRS will be paid by occupiers of buildings with a rateable value of more than £50,000. I have published a draft prospectus on my proposals for a BRS which made clear my intention to charge the full 2p across Greater London and I am currently considering the responses to consultation. The BRS legislation does not permit me to make area-based exemptions.

* Freedom Pass Subsidy (1) Question No: 3521 / 2009 Richard Tracey How has the Government justified to you its plan to halve pensioners’ bus passes in London by removing 49% from the concessionary travel subsidy? Answer from the Mayor: The Government announced on 4 November that, subject to consultation, it intends to cut London's previously announced 2010-11 grant to help provide free bus travel for people over 60 outside of the area in which they live by 49%. Providing this service became a statutory requirement in 2008. It appears that London's grant is being sent to help provide the service elsewhere in England.

The Government has given no justification to why it is almost halving London's grant to help provide the Freedom Pass. This is, unfortunately, just another example of the Government making demands of local government, without providing the means. I would encourage all stakeholders to respond to the DfT's consultation by the deadline to persuade ministers to reverse their decision. Otherwise an ever increasing share of the costs of the Freedom Pass scheme are likely to fall on London council tax payers.

* Freedom Pass Subsidy (2) Question No: 3522 / 2009 Richard Tracey How will the Government’s decision to slash £30m from the concessionary fares subsidy affect your plans to extend the Freedom Pass to overland rail before 0930? Will this negatively affect the view of the Train Operating Companies and will it even be able to go ahead? Answer from the Mayor: I remain committed to seeking to extend the Freedom Pass 24/7 to all forms of public transport in London, including the Overground trains if a satisfactory deal can be negotiated.

TfL will be pursuing this with the Train Companies in 2010. If this extension can be successfully negotiated, I would hope that the Boroughs will still be able to share the cost with me.

I will be holding discussions with London Councils on how best to take this forward.

* Freedom Pass Subsidy (3) Question No: 3523 / 2009 Richard Tracey Considering the opposition were so keen in 2008 to mislead the public by saying that London Councils were aiming to cancel the Freedom Pass, how telling of their attitude towards London

140 do you think it is that the Government have now come clean and slashed the Freedom Pass budget from London by £30m in favour of redistribution to the north and more marginal areas such as Exeter and Derby? Answer from the Mayor: Please see my reply to MQ3521 / 2009.

* Freedom Pass Subsidy (4) Question No: 3524 / 2009 Richard Tracey By cutting the subsidy, have the Government forced another burden on already underfunded borough Councils? Answer from the Mayor: When the Government introduces new burdens on local government it is essential that they provide sufficient funding to enable individual authorities to cover reasonable implementation and ongoing administration costs. London Boroughs are now being penalised because the Department for Transport failed to allocate sufficient funding to enable all local authorities in England to fund the costs of providing free bus travel across England for the over 60s from April 2008 onwards.

I have agreed a five year funding deal with borough Leaders to secure the future of the Freedom Pass scheme which provides protection to council taxpayers from the full effects of inflation and fare increases. The deal also secures my manifesto commitment to introduce 24 hour travel for pass holders on Transport for London services which has now been up and running since January.

I cannot, however, protect boroughs or council taxpayers from the effects of arbitrary reductions in grant funding from central government for concessionary fares or other services. Transport for London and London Councils will continue to work closely together to assess the implications of the grant cut and ensure the Freedom Pass scheme is protected.

As public finances become more constrained over the next few years it is important that the GLA, London Councils and boroughs work closely together to ensure that we maximise the share of national resources allocated to the capital. At a time when the Government is planning to take an additional £560m a year from London’s business ratepayers to subsidise local authority services in the rest of England it cannot be right that London’s share of the national cake for vital services continues to decline.

* Draft Transport Strategy Question No: 3525 / 2009 Richard Tracey Your draft Transport Strategy acknowledges the difficulties caused by the poor resilience of the Blackwall tunnel. In light of this and your commitment to smooth traffic, will you review Transport for London’s decision to remove funding for the dedicated removal vehicle which cleared the tunnel after the regular accidents which occur there? Answer from the Mayor: The free vehicle recovery service provided at Blackwall, Rotherhithe and Limehouse Tunnels has not been removed.

141 * Shaftsbury Avenue Question No: 3526 / 2009 Richard Tracey Congestion appears to have worsened on the west end of Shaftsbury Avenue since the road layout changes have been completed. Could you please confirm that there has been no permanent loss of capacity due to these alterations on this critical route? Answer from the Mayor: Shaftesbury Avenue is managed by Westminster City Council, which introduced road layout changes to better serve all users in the area, with special regard to the urban and pedestrian environments. The proposals were examined by TfL through the Traffic Management Act Notification procedure applicable to borough roads in the Strategic Road Network. This procedure ensures that the impacts of schemes on traffic are assessed and mitigated. It was TfL’s view that the overall effect of the changes would be to better distribute capacity amongst road users. Taking into account the needs of all users of Shaftesbury Avenue, there is no loss of overall capacity.

* Bus route 200, Wimbledon Question No: 3527 / 2009 Richard Tracey Can you provide an update on whether TfL will be relocating the bus stop outside the Centre Court Shopping Centre for route 200 in the light of the serious concerns about the congestion at its current site? Answer from the Mayor: The bus stops outside the Centre Court shopping centre are an important part of the transport interchange at Wimbledon and give good access to the station, the shopping centre and for interchange between bus routes. Accordingly they are used by a large number of passengers.

TfL reviewed whether routes 57 and 131 could instead serve stops on Worple Road, or whether route 200 could stop on Queens Road. They found that around 3,000 trips on route 57 and 2,000 trips on both routes 131 and 200 would be affected. These passengers would be disadvantaged by having to walk further to alternative stops and would potentially see a reduced frequency of service as they would lose out on ‘common stop’ opportunities to South Wimbledon and Colliers Wood. Given that a very large number of passengers would be inconvenienced, TfL does not believe that moving the bus stops to other roads is desirable.

However, it may be possible to better utilise the existing space. The London Borough of Merton is the highway authority here and is progressing an alternative design for the stop. The scheme seeks to provide two inset taxi bays and move the bus stop flag forward a few metres. This would allow buses to use the full length of the bus stop and enable them to align appropriately with the kerb. Furthermore, the repositioning of the bus stop flag would encourage waiting passengers to stand on a wider section of the pavement. Currently, utility works are in progress in the area and in order to avoid further disruption to traffic, the bus stop and inset bay works are delayed until these can be completed.

TfL has also introduced initiatives to every student to travel outside of the peak where it is possible for them to do so. A large number of school children can gather at these stops, particularly during the peak periods, and this contributes to the congestion here. TfL is progressing work with the borough on a pilot project to encourage the students of Ricards Lodge and Ursuline High Schools to change their travel behaviour by either walking to school or travelling earlier in the morning. A programme of activities has been established at the two 142 schools, including pre-school social clubs and incentives to encourage children to walk and to arrive at school earlier. Initial indications are that the programme has had some benefits and this is being kept under review.

* Northern Line Question No: 3528 / 2009 Richard Tracey Does the Mayor have any aspirations to extend the Northern Line to St Helier hospital, if and when funding allows? Answer from the Mayor: There are currently no plans to extend the Northern line beyond Morden to St Helier Hospital.

Whilst London Underground has previously looked at a possible extension to Morden South, the initial assessment indicated that this would have a poor business case with the estimated costs likely to considerably exceed the additional benefits such an extension would bring.

Regular bus services already provide good access to the Northern line in this area, and Morden South and St Helier already have direct rail services to central London.

* Tramlink Question No: 3529 / 2009 Richard Tracey How much would it cost to extend the tram from Morden Road towards Cricket Green and Mitcham town centre? Answer from the Mayor: It is not possible to provide a substantive response to the question as TfL has not examined a Tramlink extension along the suggested alignment.

* Social Housing Question No: 3530 / 2009 Richard Tracey As Chair of the HCA London Board, if there are further funding request for social housing in Mitcham and Morden will you take into account the high proportion of social housing that has been built in this area in the last 15 years? Answer from the Mayor: I have agreed an affordable housing target with the London borough of Merton for 2008-11. The Homes and Communities Agency, the borough and its investment partners will work to deliver these objectives, in line with my draft housing strategy that sets out my commitment to mixed tenure development in sustainable communities. *

143 Sita recycling plant Question No: 3531 / 2009 Richard Tracey If the Sita recycling plant in Benedicts Road submit a revised planning application to you, will you take into account the inappropriateness of large lorries squeezing down narrow streets, as well as the smell that would be inflicted on local residents? If you receive a planning application for this plant, will you meet with a delegation of local residents who would be affected by the decision? Answer from the Mayor: Merton Council has sent updated information and documentation to my officers in relation to this planning application. This information is currently being considered with a view to providing a Stage 1 response to Merton within the next six weeks. The response will also include feedback from Transport for London, which will be considering the issue of freight movements and the transport impacts of the scheme, in discussion with Merton Council’s transport officers. This, together with other matters such as design, energy and environmental effects will be taken into account by myself and Merton Council in the consideration of the planning application. Local residents also have the opportunity to write to Merton Council planning department to express any concerns about the scheme.

In relation to your last point, due to my diary commitments I am not in a position to meet local residents in relation to planning applications.

Cycle Superhighway Question No: 3532 / 2009 Richard Tracey As the Cycle Superhighway to Merton will now stop at Colliers Wood rather than South Wimbledon (as originally proposed), will TfL funding be made available in future to complete the link along Merantun Way so that there is a full cycle route through to Morden? Answer from the Mayor: Although it is not possible at this stage to extend the superhighway to South Wimbledon, this does not preclude the possibility of extending the route there in future.

TfL has committed funding to designing a cycling link between the end of the Cycle Superhighways route at Colliers Wood, and the Merantun Way junction with Morden Road. Construction of any future extensions to Morden are beyond the scope of the Cycle Superhighways project budget, although TfL has committed to work with the London Borough of Merton to explore potential funding options for additional cycling infrastructure in this area.

* PCO Enquiry Question No: 3534 / 2009 Roger Evans Whilst the answer to 3098/2009 is welcome, would the Mayor consider launching an independent enquiry into the PCO to ensure that lessons are learnt and these mistakes are not repeated? Answer from the Mayor: Whilst this recent case was indeed a serious one which has since been addressed I do not feel an independent enquiry into the PCO is necessary. TfL appointed a new Director of Taxi and Private Hire, John Mason on 28 September and he has started to review all aspects of the

144 services delivered by the Directorate and deserves the opportunity to implement the changes and improvements he identifies and feels are necessary. *

Closures Question No: 3535 / 2009 Roger Evans Thank you for your answer to 3118/2009. However, whilst I understand the need for the upgrade work on both the District Line and the mainline rail line between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, replacement bus services are not a satisfactory alternative. When it takes one of my constituents longer to travel from Upminster to Euston than from Euston to Manchester then there is clearly an issue that needs to be addressed. How much longer will this situation continue? Answer from the Mayor: Alternative transport arrangements during line closures are carefully planned by TfL to provide the most effective service possible. On the District line, in particular, London Underground has provided a combination of fast and stopping replacement bus services to speed journeys.

The District line is in the midst of a comprehensive programme of track and ballast renewal. This is vital to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the line. Work is also being carried out to prepare the track for changes associated with the Crossrail project.

Currently, approximately 60% of this work programme on the District line east of Whitechapel has been completed. Closures are planned up to six months in advance, and between now and May 2010 the number of closures expected on particular sections of line east of Whitechapel is approximately one every three to four weeks. Beyond May 2010 there will be a requirement for further closures to complete this work, and more details of these will become available in due course.

Of course, as with the rest of the Tube network, there will also be an ongoing requirement for periodic weekend closures for other essential maintenance. In the longer term the signalling upgrade on the District line, to provide more frequent and reliable services, and the reconstruction of Whitechapel station for Crossrail, are also likely to require a programme of closures.

* North Acton Tube Station Question No: 3536 / 2009 Richard Barnes Residents living beside North Acton Tube station have been informed by TFL to expect a further three months of night time essential repair work on the bridge across the Central Line at the station. This will involve a significant amount of grinding and cutting work on concrete and steel, which will create a major disturbance. Can the Mayor ensure that TFL staff are instructed to carry out all the noisy work during the earliest part of the work shift to alleviate as far as possible the misery for nearby residents? Answer from the Mayor: It is standard practice for London Underground to limit noisy works to times when it will least disturb neighbours. Where practical, this means noisy works are carried out only during the day. In areas where the work can’t safely be done while trains are running – such as at North Acton – noisy works are restricted to the early part of night shifts, where possible.

145 The works in question have only recently started and are expected to take three months. The majority of the works to the footbridge at North Acton, including repainting, relocation of cameras and installation of pigeon mitigation, will not generate noise.

Ahead of the start of works we advised residents that there would be 15 night shifts (01:30 – 04:30) during which noisy mechanical tools would need to be used. This use is restricted to the first two hours of each shift and is essential preparation for the ‘non-noisy’ work that forms the remainder of the shift. Five of these shifts have been completed with ten remaining.

* West Hampstead Station Closures Question No: 3537 / 2009 Brian Coleman Small traders in West Hampstead, including pub owners, restaurateurs, and shop keepers, have suffered a distinct drop in trade as a result of regular simultaneous weekend closures of the Jubilee Line, London Overground, and Thameslink. Would the Mayor instruct Transport for London to improve the co-ordination of its weekend closures with First Capital Connect so that this situation is avoided in future? Would he also consider the provision of a shuttle service to connect West Hampstead with Northern Line stations at Belsize Park and Chalk Farm when further weekend closures occur? Answer from the Mayor: London Underground (LU) works closely with Network Rail and other transport operators to co- ordinate its upgrade programme works with engineering works taking place on other transport networks, in order to minimise the overall disruption to customers.

Due to the intense nature of the Jubilee line upgrade there has unfortunately been little flexibility to avoid Jubilee line closures taking place at the same time as work on the London Overground network in the West Hampstead area.

However, LU continues to provide appropriate alternative transport arrangements whenever closures are necessary and LU, London Overground and First Capital Connect work closely to co-ordinate closure information to ensure that information is available to customers in as many different formats as possible so that they know what alternatives routes are available.

Whilst a shuttle service between West Hampstead and stations on the Northern line like Belsize Park and Chalk Farm might seem like a viable option, in fact the journey time for customers would increase.

Jubilee line rail replacement services from West Hampstead currently take around 6 minutes to Finchley Road and 26 minutes to Baker Street. Whilst the geographical distance between West Hampstead and Belsize Park/Chalk Farm is less than that to Baker Street, due to the roads connecting to Belsize Park/Chalk Farm the existing buses that already take this route allow 26 minutes journey time.

Additional travel time would also be needed for customers to travel to central London from Belsize Park/Chalk Farm using the Northern line, meaning overall travel time would be significantly increased.

146 Diamond Jubilee Question No: 3538 / 2009 Brian Coleman What work has your office undertaken on preparations for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012? Answer from the Mayor: GLA officers have met informally with representatives from the Royal Household and others to discuss ideas for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and how the GLA might support this. It has been agreed to convene a working group and follow up meeting to further discuss options. We want to make the whole of 2012 a year to celebrate and remember.

* Lord Mayor of London Question No: 3539 / 2009 Brian Coleman As he retires from the office of Lord Mayor of London will you congratulate Alderman Ian Luder on a successful year? Answer from the Mayor: Of course I extend my heartiest congratulations to Alderman Ian Luder on a successful year as the 681st Lord Mayor of London. In one of the most difficult economic environments he has promoted the City of London with aplomb to help ensure that we remain the world’s leading financial centre. I wish the new Lord Mayor, Nicholas Anstee, all the very best as the 682nd in the role.

* London Food Board (2) Question No: 3541 / 2009 Brian Coleman Is the Food Board selective about what food it promotes? Answer from the Mayor: The work of the Food Board promotes action to ensure all Londoners have better access to good, healthy, sustainably produced, affordable food.

Actions arising from the London Food Strategy aim to:

Reduce the negative environmental impacts of food; Improve Londoners’ health through food; Support a vibrant food economy; Celebrate and promote London’s food; and Develop London’s food security

* London Food Board (3) Question No: 3542 / 2009 Brian Coleman Who sits on the Food Board?

147 Answer from the Mayor: The current Food Board brings together leading figures from the food industry, agriculture, community groups and government. Rosie Boycott chairs it. Current membership includes representation from the following organisations:

Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency NHS Supply Chain The Soil Association The Association of Convenience Stores School Food Trust Regional Public Heath Group - London Growing Communities Defra Living Roofs Capel Manor College Cafe Spice Namaste Centre for Food Enterprise London Parks and Green Spaces Forum London Development Agency London Councils Sustain East Anglia Food Link Friends of the Earth Duke of Cambridge Newham Community Food Enterprise Newham Community Food Enterprise London Farmers' Markets Government Office for London City of London Corporation

The Food Board is currently going through a process reviewing its operation to create the necessary membership, infrastructure and operating culture to ensure the best use of time, collective experience and resources required to ensure Londoners have better access to good, healthy and affordable food.

* London Food Board (4) Question No: 3543 / 2009 Brian Coleman Is there any benefit to having a Food Board? Could we also create a “Cheese Board” for London on which various “Big Cheeses” could sit? Answer from the Mayor: I am extremely passionate about food and how we ensure all Londoners have better access to good, healthy and affordable food. I also want Londoners to benefit from the enjoyment of cultivating beautiful green spaces for food growing alongside the social aspects of meeting and working with people in their locality. There is a tremendous upsurge of interest in food in response to concerns about food prices, food miles and the environment.

The current Food Board brings together leading figures from the food industry, agriculture, community groups and government. It aims to push the envelope in terms of what is possible in relation to food supply and quality of food available to Londoners particularly the interrelationship with social cohesion and health.

148 Under the auspices of the GLA its ambition is to operate as highly effective innovation/incubation group, generating ideas, mobilising and facilitating proof of concept/piloting projects before passing the baton to other bodies with the motivation and resources to scale up and sustain these in the future.

* 384 Bus Route Question No: 3544 / 2009 Brian Coleman Will the Mayor of London urge TfL to double the frequency of the 384 bus route between High Barnet and Cockfosters stations at the beginning and end of the school day, so as to meet the anticipated additional demand from students and staff attending JCoSS, the UK’s first Jewish cross-communal secondary school, and to propose a meeting between TfL and the school’s representatives to consider further ways of promoting the use of public transport to travel to and from the school. Answer from the Mayor: TfL has discussed transport issues with the school’s representatives during the planning application process. It is TfL’s understanding that the school intend to provide their own coaches to meet a significant part of the anticipated student demand and that an increase in frequency on route 384 will not therefore be required.

* Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain Question No: 3545 / 2009 Brian Coleman Will the Mayor congratulate His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain on his fifty years of service to the Greek Orthodox Community in Great Britain and recognise the significant role that the Greek and Cypriot Communities play in the life of London? Answer from the Mayor: Yes, I am delighted to congratulate the Archbishop and I am pleased to recognise that over several centuries, the Greek and Cypriot communities have made great contributions to the culture and economy of London.

* Sir Keith Park Question No: 3546 / 2009 Brian Coleman Will the Mayor congratulate Terry Smith, Chairman of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign, together with the many supporters of this campaign, for their efforts on achieving a statue of Sir Keith Park in Trafalgar Square and a permanent memorial in Waterloo Place, and agree that this is a fitting tribute to this great hero who contributed to victory in the Battle of Britain? Answer from the Mayor: I will indeed congratulate both Terry Smith and the many supporters of this campaign for their efforts in realising the statue of Sir Keith Park. As I mentioned in my speech when the statue was unveiled in Trafalgar Square they have shown a dogged persistence and a refusal to accept defeat against overwhelming odds that could have been inspired by the Battle of Britain itself.

*

149 London Community Sports Board (1) Question No: 3547 / 2009 Andrew Boff How many times has the London Community Sports Board met? Answer from the Mayor: To date, the London Community Sports Board has met twice.

* London Community Sports Board (2) Question No: 3548 / 2009 Andrew Boff What decisions and action have been taken by the London Community Sports Board? Answer from the Mayor: The Board has decided to support the workplan set out by the GLA Sports Unit for the distribution of the Mayor’s investment of £15.5 million in grass-roots sport. This workplan entails the funding being distributed through three broad funding streams: facilities; skills; and sport-based interventions.

The Board’s primary role will be to oversee the distribution of the Mayor’s investment as well as identifying ways in which the delivery of sport and physical activity can be supported and strengthened across London.

* London Community Sports Board (3) Question No: 3549 / 2009 Andrew Boff Will you ensure that the agenda and minutes of each meeting of the London Community Sports Board will be placed online and will be accessible through the GLA website? Answer from the Mayor: I will ensure that this is done.

* London Community Sports Board (4) Question No: 3550 / 2009 Andrew Boff Of the £15.5m that you promised for grass-roots sport in London, how much has been spent, to which projects has it been allocated, and how much of the rest has been earmarked? Answer from the Mayor: To date, a total £629,088 has been spent on the following five projects:

Make a Splash (mobile swimming pools): £325,562 Panathlon Challenge (disability sport): £83,526 Street Athletics: £130,000 London Boxing Academy: £60,000 Beyond Sport London Award (won by the Ebony Horse Club, Brixton): £30,000

150 Of the remainder, £7.5 million has been earmarked for facilities, approximately £2.5 million for skills, and approximately £5 million for sport-based intervention programmes. *

London Community Sports Board (5) Question No: 3552 / 2009 Andrew Boff Has match funding been achieved for the £15.5m that you are spending on sports? Answer from the Mayor: So far, match funding has been secured for our initial pilot projects. Moving forward, match funding will continue to be secured on a programme-by-programme basis and I am confident that we will meet or exceed our match funding target.

* Sports Legacy (1) Question No: 3553 / 2009 Andrew Boff Will you encourage 2012 to create a page on their website where Londoners can find information on their local sports clubs? Answer from the Mayor: This information already exists on the London 2012 website under the ‘Get Involved’ section of the corresponding page for each Olympic and Paralympic sport.

Sports Legacy (2) Question No: 3554 / 2009 Andrew Boff Please provide an update on the development on your Londonwide facilities strategy? Answer from the Mayor: The development of a London-wide facilities strategy is an extremely complex piece of work that requires the support of a number of key stakeholders, including Sport England, the national governing bodies of sport, local authorities and others. We have begun work on this with GLA planners and will continue to make progress in the coming months.

* Sports Legacy (3) Question No: 3555 / 2009 Andrew Boff Your report ‘A Sporting Future for London’ states that you will encourage all authorities that have yet to undertake a needs and evidence based approach to planning for community sport to do so by the end of 2012. How many authorities have yet to undertake this type of approach and which authorities are they? Answer from the Mayor: As detailed in the Mayor's Legacy Plan, a London Facilities Plan is to be developed. This is in its initial stages and discussions are continuing with Sport England about how to utilise their

151 comprehensive set of facility planning tools to ensure that a needs and evidence based approach to planning for community sport across London occurs.

Part of the initial stages of this approach will be to assess the extent to which this work has already taken place, including analysis of which boroughs have made full use of Sport England's facility planning tools to ensure a consistent set of information is produced across all boroughs.

* Sports Legacy (4) Question No: 3556 / 2009 Andrew Boff What progress has been made in your work with local authorities, national governing bodies, the Football Foundation, the London Marathon Trust, the private sector and others to provide new facilities or refurbish existing facilities? Which facilities have been upgraded or built as a result of this work? Answer from the Mayor: Significant progress has been made. A £7.5 million programme of investment in community sports facilities was launched in October, along with the first of our temporary mobile swimming pools – which will provide over 77,000 swimming lessons to Londoners each year.

Full roll-out of this investment programme will begin in early 2010, with the first of a series of open bidding rounds.

In addition, working with the London Playing Fields Foundation, local authorities, the Pro- Active partnerships and major governing bodies including the FA, the LTA the ECB and the RFU we have identified multi-sport playing field sites that we will be upgrading and protecting.

* Olympic Monument (1) Question No: 3557 / 2009 Andrew Boff Are you intending to put up a monument to the Olympics in the Olympic Park? Answer from the Mayor: No. However, I am keen to see a plan for a visitor attraction in the Olympic Park developed.

* Olympic Monument (2) Question No: 3558 / 2009 Andrew Boff How much will the Olympic monument cost, and will the taxpayer be required to make any contribution? Answer from the Mayor: The costs associated with developing a visitor attraction are dependent on design and this is yet to be agreed. However, I am hoping that the proposal can largely be financed through private donations.

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152 Olympic Monument (3) Question No: 3559 / 2009 Andrew Boff Who will choose the artist commissioned to design the Olympic monument? Answer from the Mayor: The decision will be taken by me and the Olympics Minister following advice from relevant stakeholders.

* Olympic Monument (4) Question No: 3560 / 2009 Andrew Boff After 2012, we will have an Olympics stadium, an Aquatics Centre, a Velodrome and an Olympic Park. Will all of these venues not be a sufficient monument to the London Olympics? Answer from the Mayor: I am not proposing a monument to either the Olympic or Paralympic Games. However, I am keen to explore the potential for a visitor attraction to be developed in the Olympic Park which will contribute further to the success of the Park after the Games.

LED Panels for Bus Stops (1) Question No: 3561 / 2009 Andrew Boff What is your opinion of the project for LED panels to be placed on the roofs of bus stops in London? Answer from the Mayor: I am happy to support London’s cultural industry in general and this project in particular, provided it does not interfere with TfL’s bus operations and does not require TfL to divert any of its funding to support it. *

LED Panels for Bus Stops (2) Question No: 3562 / 2009 Andrew Boff How many bus stops will be involved in this project and how will the bus stops be selected? Answer from the Mayor: There will be at least 33 (one per borough) and perhaps as many as 66 depending on costs and how much funding the artist secures from the Arts Council. The stops will be selected by the Arts Council, the borough concerned, TfL and Clear Channel, TfL’s bus shelter advertising supplier. *

LED Panels for Bus Stops (3) Question No: 3563 / 2009 Andrew Boff How will vandalism of the LED panels at the bus stops be prevented? 153 Answer from the Mayor: Unfortunately, vandalism can never be prevented entirely, however TfL has provided the artist with its operational requirements – including vandal-resistance. Any repairs would have to be at the artist’s expense.

* LED Panels for Bus Stops (4) Question No: 3564 / 2009 Andrew Boff What will be the cost of the project to place LED panels on the roofs of London bus stops? Answer from the Mayor: There will be no cost to TfL. The artist has put in a bid to the Arts Council for funding.

* Olympics and Hackney Marshes (1) Question No: 3565 / 2009 Andrew Boff How many football pitches on East Marsh in Hackney will be converted into parking spaces for the Olympics? Answer from the Mayor: An accreditation area, coach park, and parking spaces for Blue Badge holders will be temporarily located on East Marsh during the Games. To accommodate these facilities, 11 football pitches will be temporarily relocated to South Marsh. The football pitches will be fully reinstated after the Games with improved drainage facilities.

* Olympics and Hackney Marshes (2) Question No: 3566 / 2009 Andrew Boff How long will these football pitches be out of action and when will the Olympic authorities return them to local football teams? Answer from the Mayor: In May 2011 the use of East Marsh as playing fields will cease temporarily to allow the construction of an accreditation area, coach park and parking spaces for Blue Badge holders for use during the Games. The East Marsh football pitches will be fully reinstated with improved drainage facilities after the Games, for use at the beginning of the football season in September 2013. *

Olympics and Hackney Marshes (3) Question No: 3567 / 2009 Andrew Boff Are there any contractual agreements in place which stipulate that the football pitches on East Marsh will all be returned to the local league after the Olympics?

154 Answer from the Mayor: There is a legally binding condition attached to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games planning permission that requires the football pitches to be reinstated after the Games.

* Olympics and Hackney Marshes (4) Question No: 3568 / 2009 Andrew Boff How many football pitches on East Marsh are already being used by Olympic authorities for other purposes? If football pitches have already been taken over, please detail what communication has taken place with the Hackney & Leyton Football League on this matter. Answer from the Mayor: An area of East Marsh is currently being used for the storage of soil for the development of the permanent link bridge from East Marsh to Eton Manor in 2010. Although no football pitches have been taken out of use for this purpose, the ODA has relocated three rugby pitches on the North Marsh. The ODA is working very closely with the London Borough of Hackney, who have led discussions with the various sporting organisations who currently use East Marsh and have published a consultation document which includes a section covering the use and transformation of East Marsh over the next five years.

* Olympics and Hackney Marshes (5) Question No: 3569 / 2009 Andrew Boff What will be the impact of the ODA’s proposed wind turbine for East Marsh on the football pitches at this site? Answer from the Mayor: The ODA is planning to build a wind turbine on the Eton Manor site in the north of the Olympic Park. There is also an opportunity for the London Borough of Hackney to install a second wind turbine on East Marsh to provide further renewable electricity to the local area. The London Borough of Hackney is exploring this opportunity and is leading on public consultation work with the local community.

* Olympics and Hackney Marshes (6) Question No: 3570 / 2009 Andrew Boff What consultation has taken place regarding the ODA’s proposed wind turbine for East Marsh? Answer from the Mayor: The London Borough of Hackney is exploring the opportunity to build a Wind Turbine on East Marsh and is leading on public consultation work with the local community.

* Dagenham Prison Question No: 3571 / 2009 Andrew Boff What acreage of land did the Ministry of Justice indicate would be required for the proposed

155 prison at Dagenham? Answer from the Mayor: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) indicated they needed a site with a minimum area of 15 acres in conjunction with a number of other site characteristics. The LDA is working with the MoJ to ensure that the proposed prison facility is planned in a way that does not jeopardise the potential of adjoining land.

* Wind Turbine Question No: 3572 / 2009 Andrew Boff How can the placing of a wind turbine on Hackney Marshes be consistent with the promise to return the football pitches to use after the Olympics? Answer from the Mayor: Hackney Council is exploring this opportunity along with the local community, and does not anticipate any change to the planned number of football pitches on East Marsh should the plans for the turbine go ahead.

* Olympic Employees Question No: 3573 / 2009 Andrew Boff How many Tower Hamlets residents are employed on the Olympic site? Answer from the Mayor: Of the 4,842 people currently working on the Olympic Park site 20% are from one of the five Host Boroughs and, of those, 3% have a permanent address in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

* Elections Question No: 3574 / 2009 Andrew Boff For the 2012 elections would the Mayor prefer a £5million+ electronic count where the bulk of the costs would go to a foreign computer company or a £3.5million manual count where the bulk of the costs would go into Londoner’s pockets? Answer from the Mayor: The Authority’s Scheme of Delegation quite properly gives the Chief Executive, in his role as the Greater London Returning Officer, the right to take all the decisions about how GLA elections are delivered. That accords entirely with the practice across the country that politicians contest elections, and do not decide how they should be run.

* Buskers (1) Question No: 3575 / 2009 Andrew Boff Will you allow buskers to provide their contact details to tube passengers?

156 Answer from the Mayor: Buskers are not permitted to hand out or distribute material while on London Underground property because the locations in which buskers are permitted to perform are often narrow and congested. This has been the case since the busking scheme started in 2003. *

Buskers (2) Question No: 3576 / 2009 Andrew Boff What are the restrictions on trading applied to buskers? Answer from the Mayor: Buskers are granted a free license to perform on LU premises in specific locations and at specific times.

They are not granted the right to sell merchandise as the areas where many of the pitches are located are often very congested – buskers are requested to observe all other safety conditions associated with the Underground.

This has been the case since the scheme was introduced in 2003.

* Affordable housing (1) Question No: 3577 / 2009 Andrew Boff Of the family sized affordable homes built since 2000, in each year, how many had and did not have private gardens? Answer from the Mayor: Specific information as to whether affordable homes do or do not have gardens is not available.

* Affordable housing (2) Question No: 3578 / 2009 Andrew Boff Of the family sized affordable homes built since 2000, in each year, how many have been flats and how many houses? Answer from the Mayor: Reliable information input by boroughs to the London Development Database on completions of affordable family homes is only available for the last five financial years:

Flats Houses 2004/5 439 1578 2005/6 472 931 2006/7 751 1130 2007/8 961 885 2008/9 1318 646 *

157 Stolen Bikes (1) Question No: 3579 / 2009 Andrew Boff Does the Safer Neighbourhood Team covering Brick Lane in Tower Hamlets have the relevant equipment to tackle the sales of stolen bikes, for example do they have a bike chip reader to detect stolen bikes? Answer from the Mayor: The officers in the Weavers Safer Neighbourhood Team, currently covering the Brick Lane market area, are all trained in identifying stolen bikes registered on Immobilise.com and run regular crime prevention awareness days where members of the public can have their bikes marked and registered. The team is in the process of obtaining Immobilise.com readers and is also looking to purchase a data tag reader, which are used by the industry for marking bikes.

The team has also received additional police funding to work with local authority agencies, including market inspectors to run proactive operations to combat the illicit sale of pedal cycles in Brick Lane. For example, Operation Devoran, which ran in September 2009, resulted in three arrests and the recovery of seven cycles. The team also run weekly patrols and has a focus on the identification of stolen bikes.

* Stolen Bikes (2) Question No: 3580 / 2009 Andrew Boff Bikes from all over London are sold on Brick Lane, does the Safer Neighbourhood Team covering the area receive any additional resources to tackle the sale of stolen bikes? Answer from the Mayor: Please see my response to MQ3579 / 2009.

* Stolen Bikes (3) Question No: 3581 / 2009 Andrew Boff Could the Operation Support Unit made up of Special Constables be utilised on occasions to drive away those wanting to sell and those wishing to buy stolen bikes on Brick Lane? Answer from the Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service at Tower Hamlets is currently restructuring its Special Constable capacity and is looking to increase the number of Special Constables from 70 to 200. Part of these new officers’ roles will be to support those who are already undertaking patrols and providing a presence in Brick Lane (the borough’s identified town centre area). Coupled with ongoing partnership operations with the local authority, the borough will continue to target those involved in the illicit sale of stolen bicycles in the area.

* Ebury Street house Question No: 3583 / 2009 Gareth Bacon How much has been spent on marketing, estate agents, fees and Council Tax during the 7 years that TfL owned the house bought for Bob Kiley in Ebury Street? Have any other houses been

158 bought for TfL employees, if so then why and how much has been spent on those homes? Answer from the Mayor: The property was occupied by the former Commissioner from 2001 until 2007. TfL have been marketing this property via specialist local agents since August 2007. A sale was agreed approx. three months ago and exchange of contracts is anticipated by 14th November. No fees or marketing costs have to date been paid to the agents marketing the property but a fee of £50,875 will be payable to them on completion of the sale. The property has been let since 25th October 2008 at a rental of £1750 per week and the tenant has been liable for Council Tax on the property since that time.

TfL has not purchased any other properties for employees.

TfL landlord Question No: 3584 / 2009 Gareth Bacon In its story about Bob Kiley’s house, the Evening Standard reported that TfL does not want to be in the landlord business. What other unnecessary property does TfL own and what plans are there to divest it for a capital receipt? Answer from the Mayor: TfL regularly reviews it property portfolio and aims to release assets not closely associated with its operational business. Where there is development potential TfL works to optimise that potential and so maximise the receipts it obtains for reinvestment in its infrastructure. If there is no development potential the assets are sold on the open market.

TfL’s Business Plan assumes that over the Plan period it will raise £607m from property sales and development.

* Pension Protection Fund Question No: 3586 / 2009 Gareth Bacon TfL are seeking a judicial review against the premium levied by the PPF against the likelihood of the pension plan becoming insolvent and argue that instead of £9m in 2009 and 2010, it should be £252,000 instead. Since the PPF was created in 2005 how much does TfL estimate it has been forced to over pay? Have the other GLA Group members faced the same problem? Answer from the Mayor: LDA As the LDA does not operate their own Pension Fund, but contributes to three main Schemes (Principle Civil Service Pension Scheme, the Local Government Pension Scheme and the Homes Communities Pensions Scheme). They are not liable to pay funds into the Pension Protection Fund directly.

All the funds which the LDA contribute to are actuarially assessed for viability and liquidity by the relevant scheme administrators (e.g. the Local Government Pension Scheme is administered by the London Pension Fund Authority (LPFA) on behalf of the LDA; the LPFA will inform the LDA of any shortfall requiring funding).

TfL The TfL Pension Fund is governed by the Pension Act and as a result is classed as a private

159 sector pension arrangement which is liable to pay Pension Protection Fund (PPF) levies. The TfL Pension Fund has paid £5,778,024 in respect of the Public Sector Section of the Fund covering the years 2005 /06 to 2009/10. The pension schemes in which other members of the GLA Group participate are statutory schemes and are not required to pay a levy to the PPF.

The judicial review application which has been made concerns the sections of the Fund to which the employees of the former Metronet Companies belong (the Metronet Sections). Following those companies entering PPP Administration, on 5 September 2007 TfL became jointly and severally liable for the pension obligations of the Metronet Sections, thus affecting “scheme rescues”, which meant that the PPF was not called upon to meet the Metronet Companies’ obligations to those sections.

If the PPF had used TfL’s credit rating to assess the levy for those sections, rather than the rating of the Metronet Companies, the levy which the TfL Pension Fund is now liable to pay in respect of years 2008/09 and 2009/10 would have amounted to £252,000 instead of just over £9 million.

GLA The Greater London Authority is a scheduled body of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) which, by law, is exempt from the Pension Protection Fund levy.

LFEPA The firefighter pension schemes are not covered by the Pensions Protection Fund, they are pay as you go schemes, with benefits paid from employer and employee contributions. Any fund deficit is covered by payments from the Department for Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury. This is the case for both the new and old firefighter pension schemes.

Non-frontline staff at the London Fire Brigade are part of the LGPS – so the GLA answer on LGPS will cover them too.

MPA The MPS/MPA are not part of the scheme and are therefore not required to pay a levy to the Pension Protection Fund.

Police officers and MPA/police staff are members of the Police Pensions Scheme {PPS} or the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme {PCSPS} respectively. The Home Office acts as scheme manager for the PPS and Cabinet Office for the PCSPS.

Both schemes are final salary, defined benefit schemes that have no managed pension fund; because in each case the cost is met from revenue.

For the PPS there is a notional account that represents the fund. The income comprises a combination of employee pension contributions, employers contributions and transfer values. The Home Office provides a top up grant to cover any deficit in the fund required to meet the costs.

Similar provisions apply to the PCSPS, where costs are paid from the Civil Service Superannuation Vote to which all participating bodies make employer and employee pension contributions.

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160 Tranquil Havens Question No: 3587 / 2009 Gareth Bacon What is the timetable for the Mayor’s proposed “tranquil havens” scheme, and which areas does the Mayor have in mind as suitable locations? Answer from the Mayor: Central government has proposed that, in pursuit of the requirement in the European Environmental Noise Directive, it would identify ‘Quiet Areas’ following liaison with local authorities. This is expected to happen during 2010. I have proposed that a second tier of ‘Tranquil Spaces’ be identified at the same time. These would be areas of more local importance, and would be identified by boroughs rather than by me.

* Green Regeneration Question No: 3588 / 2009 Gareth Bacon Further to the Mayor’s recent announcement of £100 million of green initiatives to help regenerate deprived areas of London, how will the projects to benefit from this scheme be identified, and what will be the criteria for these projects? Answer from the Mayor: The question refers to the Mayor's launch of the £100m Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas (‘JESSICA’) fund; which will invest in decentralised energy and waste projects.

The ‘JESSICA’ holding fund is administered by the European Investment Bank (EIB). It comprises cash from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and London Waste and Recycling Board (LWaRB) and sites contributed by the London Development Agency (LDA).

An Investment Board including LWaRB and LDA Board members and officers, chaired by the Greater London Authority; will take decisions on investment of the JESSICA fund. Decisions will be based on EIB’s recommendations arising from the set-up of decentralised energy and waste ‘urban development funds’ (UDFs) in 2010.

The Board will agree how projects will be identified and the investment criteria to be used by the UDFs. Projects supported will also need to achieve outputs set out in London’s 2007-13 ERDF Operational Programme.

* Decentralised Energy Question No: 3589 / 2009 Gareth Bacon How will the Mayor’s decentralised energy prospectus help to achieve a green energy revolution in London? What proportion of London’s energy supply will be provided by the 14 projects currently underway, once completed, and are there plans to support any further projects in London? Answer from the Mayor: I am committed to delivering 25 per cent of London’s energy supply from decentralised sources by 2025. The prospectus prepared by experts from business and all tiers of government sets out

161 measures that the public sector are taking to remove barriers to success and ultimately harness the private sector’s financing and delivery capability.

Projects currently supported by the LDA will provide between 1% and 2% of London’s energy supply by 2025. In addition, we are providing Energy Masterplanning support focusing on identifying and catalysing new opportunities for decentralised energy. The LDA has committed £16 million to support decentralised energy over the next four years. A significant portion of the Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas (JESSICA) fund will also aim to support decentralised energy.

Whilst the projects underway form only a small proportion of the overall decentralised energy supply target, the investment is designed to unlock the market for decentralised energy in London. The Prospectus explains this market potential, the rationale for the market stimulus and the commercial case for private investment in these projects and the sector as a whole. *

Recycling Rates Question No: 3590 / 2009 Gareth Bacon Will the Mayor congratulate London’s boroughs on increasing their collective household recycling rate to 29% in 2008/09, from 25% in 2007/08, and Bexley and Harrow in particular for achieving the highest annual recycling rates in London of 51% and 43% respectively? What more needs to be done to improve recycling in Newham and Tower Hamlets, which have the lowest rates in London? Answer from the Mayor: I am pleased to see that London’s recycling rate for household waste has increased from 25 per cent in 2007/08 to 29 per cent in 2008/09 and I wish to thank London’s boroughs for all the hard work they have put in to achieve this. However London still performs worst out of all the English regions and when you consider that London’s municipal waste recycling rate average in 2008/09 was only 24 per cent the story does not sound so good. Collectively London still has a long way to go to achieve the recycling rates we need to.

You are correct in that there are some very high achieving London boroughs in particular Bexley with 51 per cent household waste recycling and Harrow, Richmond and Greenwich all achieving household waste recycling rates in the low forties. You identify Tower Hamlets as one of the worst performing London boroughs but I would like to point out that they have improved by six percentage points from 13 per cent in 2007/08 to 19 per cent in 2008/09 and I congratulate them on this improvement.

London does need to do a lot more if we are to achieve the targets I am proposing and my forthcoming draft municipal waste management strategy will set out exactly what this is but in short it is a combination of convenient access to recycling collection systems, coherent and consistent information on what, where and why recycle and the right incentives to encourage Londoners, and London boroughs, to make that little bit extra effort. *

TGWU Fairshare Question No: 3591 / 2009 Gareth Bacon TfL employees are having money deducted from their monthly earnings in order to pay the TGWU Fairshare scheme. A TfL employee has complained to me that he is losing money and he has no say in the matter. The TGWU justify this by saying non-members benefit from the

162 services they provide but the complainant does not support TGWU nor has given permission for these amounts to be deducted. Why is this measure being forced upon TfL employees against their will, how is this measure not illegal under the Closed Shop legislation from the 1980s and what can be done to stop it and protect the TfL employees who do not want to subsidise the TGWU? Answer from the Mayor: Fair Share was introduced in certain areas of Surface Transport as part of the 2005 pay negotiations with TGWU (now Unite), when TfL was under the chairmanship of the former Mayor.

TfL is currently participating in a test case which is considering the consistency of Fair Share arrangements with UK law relating, amongst other things, to deductions from wages. Unite have given TfL an indemnity to cover all of TfL’s costs relating to managing this litigation and any financial consequences if Fair Share is found to be unlawful. This case was heard in July 2009 and a decision is awaited. It would not be proper for me to comment further until the outcome of the case is known.

* Osterley station (1) Question No: 3592 / 2009 Tony Arbour Please can you explain why the plans for step-free access at Osterley station have stalled? Answer from the Mayor: As set out in the recently published TfL Business Plan, the economic slowdown, combined with the impacts of the collapse of Metronet, has meant that TfL revenue has reduced and costs have increased.

In order to safeguard funding for key projects, (most importantly the Tube line upgrades which will deliver a 30 percent capacity increase) savings have had to be made in several areas. For London Underground this has meant the cancellation or deferral of a number of projects including, regrettably, the plan to make Osterley station step-free.

LU will continue to increase the accessibility of the Tube over time, building on the foundation of 58 step-free stations already in place. In addition LU will continue to improve accessibility at stations through enhancements including tactile strips on platforms and stairs and visually contrasting handrails. These improvements have already been completed at Osterley, through the modernisation of the station earlier this year. *

Osterley station (2) Question No: 3593 / 2009 Tony Arbour What would be the cost of installing lifts at Osterley station? Answer from the Mayor: The estimated cost for the project to install lifts is £12.8m.

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163 Osterley station (3) Question No: 3594 / 2009 Tony Arbour How many passengers use this station a) each day, b) each year? Answer from the Mayor: On a typical weekday around 3,350 passengers use Osterley station. Approximately 2,200 customers use the station on a Saturday and 1,500 on a Sunday. The number of passenger journeys using Osterley station annually is around 2 million.

* Crossrail Levy Question No: 3595 / 2009 Tony Arbour Kingston has no underground service at all and will not benefit from Crossrail. Under these circumstances would it be more appropriate for funds, payable by businesses and developers in the Royal Borough, towards ‘Crossrail levy’ to be diverted to extend London Overground services or the District Line to Kingston? Answer from the Mayor: I do not agree that Kingston will not benefit from Crossrail. Indeed my draft prospectus on my proposal for a business rate supplement noted that Kingston will see £18.3M in annual transport and earnings benefits.

The areas within which it is proposed that the policy to enable contributions towards Crossrail to be raised through the planning system are shown in annexes 1 and 2 of the draft supplementary planning guidance on “Use of Planning Obligations in the Funding of Crossrail” – basically central London and the northern part of the Isle of Dogs. Paragraph 4.24 of the draft guidance explains circumstances in which it might be appropriate to seek contributions elsewhere, but I think it is probably unlikely that sites in the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames will be caught by them.

Where the proposed Crossrail policy does not apply, the general London Plan policy (6A.4) on priorities in the use of section 106 agreements applies. This makes clear that affordable housing and transport are to be given the highest importance.

There is a separate funding stream for Crossrail based on a proposed Business Rate Supplement (BRS), which is being taken forward, under different legislation. The BRS will be paid by occupiers of buildings with a rateable value of more than £50,000. I have published a draft prospectus on my proposals for a BRS which made clear my intention to charge the full 2p across Greater London and I am currently considering the responses to consultation. The BRS legislation does not permit me to make area-based exemptions.

* School buses (2) Question No: 3597 / 2009 Tony Arbour How many of those school buses are provided free of charge? Answer from the Mayor: All the services in the 600-series are open to any passenger though of course the majority of users tend to be school students. Children up to 16 and those in full time education up to 18 do

164 not pay bus fares on any TfL service. Hence the funding arrangements are the same as for any TfL bus service. *

School buses (3) Question No: 3598 / 2009 Tony Arbour Are those buses that are not free of charge solely funded by paying customers? And if not, how is the rest of the funding provided and by whom? Answer from the Mayor: Please refer to my answer to MQ3597 / 2009.

Bus stops Question No: 3599 / 2009 James Cleverly In response to question 1991/2009, you stated that TfL were implementing a new process of engagement in which they would write to residents and businesses where a bus stop would be installed, moved or removed. Has this new process of engagement been implemented yet? Answer from the Mayor: As I outlined in response to your question 1991/2009, TfL intends to implement the new process of engagement by the end of this year. This position has not changed.

* Helicopter Noise (1) Question No: 3600 / 2009 Tony Arbour The noise from helicopters flying and landing near to Barnes Bridge is intolerable for local residents. Will the Mayor write to the Department for Transport encouraging it to undertake a full review of the impact of helicopter noise in London and implement policies to mitigate this form of noise pollution, as recommended by the Environment Committee’s report in 2006? Answer from the Mayor: The designation of routes for helicopter flight paths through London's airspace is a matter for the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority. I would be happy to write to the Secretary of State for Transport requesting that he commission a full review of the impact of helicopter noise in London.

* Helicopter Noise (2) Question No: 3601 / 2009 Tony Arbour Will you encourage the DfT to set up a working group with the Civil Aviation Authority, local authorities and affected residents groups to examine the management of airspace and the mitigation of helicopter noise? Answer from the Mayor: In response to question MQ3600 / 2009 I agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Transport requesting that he commission a full review of the impact of helicopter noise in 165 London. In that letter I am also happy to also encourage him to set up a working group with the Civil Aviation Authority, affected local authorities and appropriate stakeholder groups.

* TfL Schemes Question No: 3602 / 2009 James Cleverly How many TfL schemes are there in Bexley and Bromley, including small-scale works such as changes to bus stops, which were approved whilst the previous Mayor was in office but have yet to be implemented? Please provide details of these schemes. Answer from the Mayor: The implementation of a six schemes in Bromley have been delayed for technical design reasons. One scheme in Bromley has been cancelled because changing traffic patterns mean that it is no longer necessary. No schemes in Bexley have been delayed or cancelled.

* Woolwich Ferry Question No: 3603 / 2009 James Cleverly When will the investigation into future plans for the Woolwich Ferry be completed? Answer from the Mayor: TfL has commissioned further work which will investigate options for upgrading the Woolwich ferry. A report is due in early February 2010.

* Childhood obesity (1) Question No: 3604 / 2009 James Cleverly The Department of Health has downgraded predicted obesity rates by 2020 to 30% amongst 2- 11 year olds and 24% amongst 12-18 year olds, but is there any actual evidence that measures taken such as Change4life and health inequalities measures have been successful rather than a failure of interpretations for the future that are based on a current trend? Answer from the Mayor: I am encouraged to hear that the rate at which obesity is increasing appears to be slowing. However, the numbers of overweight and obese children are still too high and I will continue to keep this issue clearly in my sights and work with partners to reduce the numbers. It seems likely that the encouraging trend from 2000 to 2007 is due to the combined efforts of families, schools, health services, and government. With such a complex issue, requiring multiple responses, it is not always possible to attribute success to specific initiatives. NHS colleagues report that there are encouraging indications from the Change4Life programme but it is too early to see the full effects. What matters is that we continue to take partnership action, and its impact continues to be monitored and evaluated and the emerging lessons widely applied.

Childhood obesity (2) Question No: 3605 / 2009 James Cleverly With the recent downgrading of predicted childhood obesity rates to 2020, are there any

166 estimates on how this impacts upon London’s different groups and whether the healthy eating and exercise message is getting through to the poorest communities? Answer from the Mayor: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) reports there is a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of obesity interventions targeting specific socio-economic, ethnic or vulnerable groups. Recognising this, my Health Inequalities Strategy places emphasis on working with London communities, health partners, and academics to gather information and build better evidence about what works for diverse groups.

The NHS is monitoring childhood obesity through the National Child Measurement Programme and is closely tracking trends so I trust we will be better able to understand the impact of programmes on different communities over time. Findings for London to date show significant inequalities in the risk of obesity with children from the poorest authorities having the highest rates and children from black ethnic minority groups having higher rates than other ethnic groups.

The Health Survey for England provides useful trend data over a longer period but the numbers are too small for accurate analysis below borough level. My Health Team continues to work with the London Health Observatory to support their work on the Survey and we have invested in a ‘London Boost’ to improve the usefulness of the information and look forward to seeing what can be learned from more detailed analysis.

* Voluntary and Community Sector Question No: 3606 / 2009 James Cleverly How do you plan to engage and work with the VCS in order to involve them in reducing health inequalities and ensuring the communities and groups they work with have access to services? Answer from the Mayor: My draft Health Inequalities Strategy recognises the key role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in reducing health inequalities and promoting individual and community well-being. Future work with the sector will build on the comprehensive approach to engagement so far, which I am pleased to hear has been welcomed by our VCS partners.

We have already begun to act on some of the specific requests from the sector, for example by establishing Community Voices for Health to provide a mechanism for regular dialogue with the VCS, particularly those smaller organisations with limited capacity to engage through more formal structures. We look forward to hearing more from community groups during the consultation and to benefiting from their active involvement in planning delivery and improving the accessibility of public services.

In addition, I urge boroughs and the NHS to invest in the VCS and support their involvement in a wide range of local initiatives with the potential to reduce health inequalities - including local strategic partnerships, ‘place-shaping’ programmes, the wide range of initiatives on specific issues such as physical activity, and ongoing work to influence health-related services. *

London Ambulance Service (1) Question No: 3607 / 2009 James Cleverly Will the LAS have full access to the Olympic Route Network in order to still operate a full service in the whole of London during the Olympic and Paralympic games? 167 Answer from the Mayor: Yes, the LAS will have full access to the ORN when responding to an emergency.

* London Ambulance Service (2) Question No: 3608 / 2009 James Cleverly Will any additional funding for resilience and emergencies include the LAS as well as the MPS and Fire Brigade and if so, what level of funding are they likely to gain? Answer from the Mayor: I will shortly send a response.

Additional information provided on 4 December 2009: If this question relates to extra funding for the Olympics, that lies with the Home Office rather than the London Regional Resilience Forum.

If your concern relates to a different issue it would be helpful to get a slightly fuller question in order to ensure I am able to provide an appropriate answer.

* London Health Commission Question No: 3609 / 2009 James Cleverly Thank you for your answer to 3122/2009. Considering the ESF was set up to improve actual employment opportunities, skills and job prospects rather than improving an individual’s fitness for work, how will ‘Health as a Cross Cutting Theme in London’ increase real job opportunities? Isn’t it also taken as a given that paid employment is beneficial to mental and physical well- being, therefore how will funding to promote this to ESF employers help the unemployed become employed? Answer from the Mayor: A key ESF objective is to improve the employability of unemployed and economically inactive people. Health as a cross-cutting theme will contribute directly to this objective by helping to increase participants’ mental and physical wellbeing in ways which help them to become job- ready and improve their prospects for holding down a job on a long-term basis.

The strong evidence that paid employment is beneficial for mental and physical health has a major proviso: it depends on the quality of the job. The London Health Commission’s employer campaign: “Good jobs – good for health and good for business” will provide a simple, practical framework which ESF providers can use to negotiate directly with employers to help them to make their jobs “good” and their work sustainable for ESF participants.

* CQC Annual Health checks Question No: 3611 / 2009 James Cleverly In the recent annual health check results for hospital trusts, Queen Mary’s, Queen Elizabeth and Bromley Hospital Trusts all rated as weak for financial management. Failing to control finances means an unequal delivery for services by hospitals and the creation of post code lotteries. How can the GLA, either on its own or in conjunction with Government, address this creation of

168 inequality of service in London? Answer from the Mayor: As is evidenced in my Health Inequality Strategy, I am very concerned about the entrenched levels of health inequality in London. One theme of my strategy explicitly addresses equitable access to high quality health and social care.

Financial challenges faced by trusts, whether temporary in nature or more deepseated and structural, can indeed have a bearing on the quality and accessibility of service.

The detailed proposals which I envisage taking forward as my response to the issue of inequitable access (however it has arisen) can be found under Objective 2 in the Health Inequality Strategy.

With respect to work being taken forward by the NHS, I support the strategic direction outlined in “Healthcare for London” as the sensible way forward and note that this is a view also shared by the pan - London Health Scrutiny Committee on this subject. *

Woodcote Road/ Beddington Gardens traffic lights Question No: 3612 / 2009 Steve O’Connell Six years ago TfL installed traffic lights at the junction of Woodcote Road and Beddington Gardens in my constituency. This has significantly reduced the air quality in Woodcote Road. Will the Mayor therefore instruct TfL to remove these traffic lights? Answer from the Mayor: TfL is unaware of any evidence to suggest that air quality has been reduced in the area because of traffic signals. However, TfL is more than happy to discuss with the London Borough of Sutton the removal of any signals which they believe are no longer required, and I am aware that TfL is already engaged in similar discussions with London Borough of Bexley and other Boroughs at their request. I will ask TfL officers to contact the Borough to discuss this junction.

* London Housing Benefit figures Question No: 3613 / 2009 Steve O’Connell Do you agree that the latest statistics that 40% of inner London families receive some form of housing benefit are deeply worrying and the figures reveal the failure of past regional and national policies? Answer from the Mayor: The DWP figures reveal that Hackney is the only one of the fourteen inner London boroughs where this is the case, but nevertheless it is indeed clear evidence of the failure of previous policies. *

Incentivising home building Question No: 3614 / 2009 Steve O’Connell Would the Mayor welcome a change in national housing policy that would incentivise London borough councils to build homes rather than penalising communities for new developments 169 because of a lack of accompanying services or new infrastructure? Answer from the Mayor: Yes. *

Audit of public sector land Question No: 3616 / 2009 Steve O’Connell Given LDA is to carry out an audit of under-used land on which to build affordable housing, does the Mayor think there is scope for further audits of other public sector bodies to identify land that could be used to create new homes? And should these public sector bodies include central Government departments, NHS London and other organisations not under the Mayor’s direction but could have the potential to help solve London’s housing shortage? Answer from the Mayor: Yes, there is scope to do more with public sector land in London, the majority of which is outside the responsibility of the GLA – owned by national government and its agencies and local government. I will take a lead with land in the GLA group, but expect all pubic sector landholders to seek to play a full part in using their assets to help deliver the homes London needs.

* Hotel Capacity (2) Question No: 3619 / 2009 Kit Malthouse Will you consider including in the London Plan greater clarity on where it is appropriate for local authorities to resist further intensification of hotel capacity in areas of existing concentration? Answer from the Mayor: My replacement London Plan is currently subject to public consultation and I welcome any suggestions on how it can be made more effective in achieving my vision and objectives for London.

* Route 228 Question No: 3620 / 2009 Kit Malthouse Please can the Mayor outline how TfL monitor the usage of buses and justify operating their routes. Some of my constituents have concerns that route 228 is a waste of public money having observed that buses on this route have very little or no passengers on board. Answer from the Mayor: Detailed monitoring of demand for bus services takes place and the journeys of around one million passengers per year are surveyed. Roadside loadings checks are carried out on a regular basis at over 400 locations and Oyster data from bus ticket machines is used to monitor week- by-week trends in ridership.

Route 228 was introduced in mid January 2009 following requests from the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea for improved north – south links in the Boroughs. It links Central Middlesex Hospital and Maida Hill via Willesden Junction, East Acton, White City Estate, Westfield London, Ladbroke Grove and Harrow Road. It was designed to provide new, direct 170 links in inner north-west London; to serve some areas previously remote from the network and to create new links and provide extra capacity to serve the Westfield development.

In the first four weeks of operation usage averaged 2,240 on a weekday. By September average weekday usage was over 4,700 and was still increasing. This is in line with the TfL forecast for usage at this stage. TfL would normally expect usage on a new route like this to stabilise after about one year of operation. It is worth noting that initially the route did not operate as reliably as TfL expected. As a result, a new schedule was introduced at the end of July and performance has improved significantly since then. This has contributed to the increase in passenger demand. A full review will take place in the first part of 2010. TfL will share the results with the Boroughs concerned and other stakeholders.

Out of service Buses on Ladbroke Grove Question No: 3621 / 2009 Kit Malthouse Ladbroke grove is frequently used by ‘Out of Service’ buses despite TfL’s arrangement with Kensington & Chelsea council that it would not be used for these purposes. Can the Mayor assure residents that TfL will enforce better control over its operators in this area, and that residents will not be disturbed by ‘out of service’ buses unnecessarily travelling through this residential area? Answer from the Mayor: TfL has asked operators to avoid use of Ladbroke Grove by out-of-service buses whenever possible and operators have issued details of alternative routes which should be used to their drivers.

However there are occasions when it will be necessary for out-of-service buses to use Ladbroke Grove, for example if there is disruption on the alternative route.

TfL has reminded operators of the arrangements in place.

* Onslow Square Question No: 3622 / 2009 Kit Malthouse Residents have reported that Onslow square is often used as a change over stop for bus drivers, resulting in stationary buses left with their engines on for around 20 minutes at various times of the day and night, causing disturbance to residents as well as unnecessary pollution on the square. Can the Mayor assure residents that TfL will ensure that operators enforce that bus drivers turn off their engines while they wait in the square? Answer from the Mayor: Bus drivers are instructed to switch off their engines when they reach a stand or when it is necessary to change drivers. Notices are displayed in bus garages and at bus stands themselves to reinforce this. TfL has also raised this issue with the operator. *

Car access to residential neighbourhoods Question No: 3623 / 2009 Victoria Borwick Last month the Mayor predicted that motorists would turn on him because of his pro-cycling

171 policies, does he believe this is because his Transport Strategy includes lines like “car access should be restricted in residential neighbourhoods”, which will disadvantage families? Answer from the Mayor: My ambitions are twofold. I would like to see a reduction in the amount of “rat-running” by through traffic along residential roads. Through traffic is better suited to main roads, where it should be. Although the strategy is not aiming to reduce the ability of residents to take their cars to their own streets, the strategy does want to encourage residents to consider making more walking, cycling and public transport trips , as appropriate instead of car trips. Less traffic resulting from less rat running and more local trips being made by walk, cycle and public transport will give families in residential areas a safer and more pleasant environment in which to live.

* Roadworks Permit Scheme (1) Question No: 3624 / 2009 Victoria Borwick The introduction of the Roadworks Permit Scheme will be welcomed by many Londoners who are frustrated by congestion caused by roadworks. Does TfL have an estimate as to how many separate roadworks will be reduced on an annual basis across London? Answer from the Mayor: TfL cannot predict the exact reduction in the number of separate roadworks that could result from the introduction of the London Permit Scheme. However, in the cost benefit analysis submitted to the Department for Transport as part of its application to operate a permit scheme, TfL assumed a 10% reduction in disruption caused by streetworks on the TLRN as a result of the introduction of the permit scheme.

The purpose of the permit scheme is to allow permit authorities to plan better and coordinate the numerous works that need to be undertaken and will enable conditions to be applied to their implementation, thereby helping to reduce the amount of disruption caused to road users. The additional information required from works promoters under the permit scheme will help permit authorities to promote greater collaborative working practices and shared use of road closures by works undertakers to reduce the overall duration and impact of individual works. In addition, works promoters are required to pay for permits and this will help incentivise them to permanently reinstate their excavations on their first visit rather than applying and paying for a further permit to permanently reinstate the excavation at a later date.

Better works coordination, however, is only half of the story. If we are to make a real impact on the disruption caused by road and streetworks disruption and felt by Londoners on a daily basis, I believe we must also look to provide real financial incentives for works promoters to reduce the duration of works on key traffic sensitive parts of the network, especially at peak times. This is why I am working closely with the Secretary of State for Transport to understand how we might jointly do more in this area. *

Roadworks Permit Scheme (2) Question No: 3625 / 2009 Victoria Borwick Following the joint working between Transport for London and 18 London Borough Council on the Roadworks Permit Scheme, will the scheme by rolled out to rest of the local authorities in the capital?

172 Answer from the Mayor: I was particularly pleased that DfT gave TfL and the 18 boroughs involved in the first tranche approval to operate a common permit scheme.

All Boroughs were aware of the proposed London Permit Scheme when it was raised and discussed at the London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee on 12 March 2008. All Boroughs were committed to the Scheme but not all subsequently felt that they were able to proceed in applying to the DfT to operate a scheme in the first tranche. A meeting was held at the end of October, to which all 15 non-participating Boroughs were invited to be briefed on the benefits of permits and the process to make an application. TfL has offered to provide support to any of the remaining Boroughs wishing to apply to operate a permit scheme and I would encourage the Leader of every Borough to consider making an application.

* Countdown system for traffic lights Question No: 3626 / 2009 Victoria Borwick How much would it cost Transport for London to introduce an electronic countdown system to traffic lights at a major junction in central London? Answer from the Mayor: TfL is not yet in a position to provide a firm cost for the introduction of pedestrian countdown technology at an individual junction. This will be subject to the outcome of feasibility studies and trials.

Pedestrian Countdown technology has not been fully developed for use in England. TfL is currently undertaking a feasibility study, including the development of a prototype and technical testing, to allow the Department for Transport (DfT) to consider approving its wider us and with a view to obtaining approval to conduct on-street trials at carefully selected sites in London by Summer 2010.

Financial estimates have been made in regards to the wider implementation of countdown technology, and £13m has been set aside in the business plan from 2009/10 to 2017/18 to potentially deliver pedestrian countdown at around 450 sites. These costs are dependent on the outcomes of trials and the subsequent procurement process associated with wider implementation. Once the feasibility tests and research have been completed, DfT will make a decision about whether this technology can be used in London. At that stage, TfL will be in a better position to comment on the costs of implementing Countdown technology. *

Borough economic leadership Question No: 3627 / 2009 Victoria Borwick Harrow Council recently hosted an economic summit for senior business people and civic leaders to discuss the difficulties of the economic climate and how the local economy can be supported through the recession. Does the Mayor think it is important that boroughs show economic leadership and would you encourage other local authorities to follow Harrow’s lead and host similar summits? Answer from the Mayor: I agree it is important for all public sector organisations to listen to businesses and Londoners so the measures we put in place directly address their needs at this crucial time.

173 You will be aware of the recently published progress update on my Economic Recovery Action Plan which sets out how GLA Group and partners are supporting London to get back on track: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/economy/recovery/.

I meet the London Business Advisory Council on a quarterly basis and a key theme has been about helping businesses, both large and small, through this current economic climate.

Both GLA Group and the London boroughs have a crucial role in supporting residents and businesses through the recession and helping to ensure the conditions for London’s economic recovery. Our efforts are co-ordinated through the London Congress, and I welcome the complementary measures put in place by boroughs such as Harrow. I also call on boroughs to make more use of CompeteFor in order to open public procurement up to SMEs in London. *

Backgarden developments Question No: 3628 / 2009 Victoria Borwick There is concern in Harrow that developers building on backgardens will damage the character and biodiversity of the area, does the Mayor consider that the wording in the latest draft of the London Plan around the presumption against development on backgardens is sufficient to allow local authority planning committees to turn down application without fear of them being overturned on appeal? Answer from the Mayor: The draft replacement London Plan is currently out for public consultation, and I will consider carefully the point you make. The wording used in the draft Plan is intended to support local presumptions against back-garden development where local circumstances mean this can be shown to be appropriate. It will provide greater weight for local planning committees should they wish to refuse such proposals.

As an interim measure until my replacement Plan is formally published, I have also issued draft revised Supplementary Planning Guidance on implementation of the current London Plan (consolidated with Alterations since 2004 and published in 2008) so that it can be used more effectively to address concerns over loss of back-gardens.

It should be borne in mind that all planning decisions must be considered on their merits so that neither the proposed wording of the replacement Plan nor the draft interim SPG can be considered justification “to turn down application(s) without fear of them being overturned on appeal”.

* London Overground Question No: 3629 / 2009 Victoria Borwick When does London Overground expect to have all their new trains in place? Answer from the Mayor: The introduction of the new trains on the London Overground network largely depends on Bombardier’s delivery programme, which is currently running late and for which they will pay liquidated damages.

174 However, we expect all trains to be delivered in 2010. This includes the electric trains for the existing operational London Overground lines and for the extended East London line, and the 8 diesel trains for the Gospel Oak - Barking line. *

Tube Drivers Question No: 3630 / 2009 Victoria Borwick Can the Mayor provide a line by line breakdown of how many tube drivers are employed on every line on the London Underground? Answer from the Mayor:

Line Train operators Bakerloo 217 Central and Waterloo & City 491 District 501 Jubilee 356 Metropolitan 307 Hammersmith & City and Circle 268 Northern 566 Piccadilly 534 Victoria 285

* London Safety Camera Partnership (1) Question No: 3631 / 2009 Victoria Borwick Why does the London Safety Camera Partnership’s website not provide the calibration certificates of traffic-enforcement cameras as other Safety Camera Partnerships do? Answer from the Mayor: The purpose of providing calibration certificates is to enable drivers to check whether the camera unit they were detected with was in calibration or not. The software that the Metropolitan Police Service currently operates does not make it possible to identify which offence was caught with which camera, so the publication of the calibration certificate is of very limited value and would only serve to generate further confusion for drivers. The London Safety Camera Partnership has looked at upgrading the software but the cost could not be justified for the limited return value.

* London Safety Camera Partnership (2) Question No: 3632 / 2009 Victoria Borwick Why are London Safety Camera Partnership meetings not open to the public? Has consideration been given as to whether the London Safety Camera Partnership should have a formal constitution?

175 Answer from the Mayor: The manner in which the Partnership operates was amended following changes to its funding in 2007. TfL is moving towards managing the operation in accordance with procedures that are in place with other projects for which it is responsible for, although it is not common practice for members of the public to be present at the equivalent project or programme board meetings.

However, minutes of London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) meetings are published once they have been agreed by Board members. As a further measure to demonstrate the transparency of the LSCP operation, TfL will investigate reporting LSCP activity through the Pan London Road Safety Forum, which is a public forum.

London Safety Camera Partnership (3) Question No: 3633 / 2009 Victoria Borwick What is the London Safety Camera Partnership’s budget for next financial year? Answer from the Mayor: TfL is still waiting for the Department for Transport to announce whether there will be any funding available to the London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) for the next financial year. However, TfL is investigating other methods of funding the LSCP in case the DfT funding does not materialise.

* Cost of Waste Management Strategy Question No: 3635 / 2009 Murad Qureshi You have approved £100,000 for three consultancy services to do research for your waste Management Strategy. What are the names of these consultants? How much has been allocated to which one and what are they to do for those sums? Answer from the Mayor: The £100,000 I approved for consultancy services to inform my Municipal Waste Management Strategy can be broken down as follows.

1. £40,000 has been allocated to undertake extensive modelling to evidence the economic costs and benefits of achieving my proposed municipal waste landfill diversion, waste reduction and recycling targets for London. The modelling will include estimated costs for the amount of additional waste infrastructure London needs to manage the bulk of its municipal waste within London. Eunomia Research has been commissioned to undertake this work.

2. £50,000 has been allocated to undertake research into opportunities and barriers to increase London’s municipal recycling or composting performance. The research will look in particular at opportunities for boosting recycling from flats and estates, making up half of London’s housing stock, where recycling performance is typically low. Officers are working closely with London boroughs to ensure the output of this study not only informs policy but aids London boroughs to deliver efficient and effective recycling collection systems. Hyder Consulting has been commissioned to undertake this work.

3. Some money has been earmarked for consultancy services to help develop a common approach for modelling the lifecycle greenhouse gas performance of London’s waste. It is not appropriate to release this figure at this time as the work is yet to be tendered.

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TfL Fares 2010 – ticket switching Question No: 3636 / 2009 Mike Tuffrey What has TfL’s fares modelling shown to be the estimated ticket switching which will result from the fare increases announced for January 2010? Answer from the Mayor: Based on its experience with previous revisions, TfL does not anticipate extensive ticket switching as a result of the fare changes being introduced from January 2010.

While some ticket transfers will undoubtedly occur, it is not expected that these will be on a scale sufficient to have a significant effect on the projected revenue yield. *

Ben Gardner Question No: 3637 / 2009 Steve O’Connell The tragic and senseless murder of Mr Ben Gardner in Sutton on Halloween occurred when people were looking for taxis at 3am. The Police have been unable to secure the provision of a marshalled taxi rank outside Sutton Police Station which may help reduce antisocial behaviour. Will the Mayor of London use his offices to break the bureaucratic deadlock in Transport for London to enable this to be implemented? Answer from the Mayor: There is no “bureaucratic deadlock” caused by, or within, Transport for London (TfL) and neither has such a situation caused this murder, which was, as you say, tragic and senseless.

TfL has worked with a number of local authorities to establish and maintain late night marshalled taxi ranks and facilities for private hire pick-up. TfL recognise that these can significantly improve the safe travel options available and contribute to reducing crime and disorder late at night.

TfL and the local Police in Sutton have discussed the possibility of a scheme to support pick-ups by local minicab firms or to provide a marshalled taxi rank and a suitable location for a rank has been found. TfL estimates the cost would be approximately £24,000 per annum to operate and will be contacting LB Sutton to investigate how funding could be obtained in partnership with local entertainment venues. *

LABGI Question No: 3638 / 2009 Steve O’Connell Sutton Council has recently decided to spend 70% (£181,000) of its Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (LABGI) fund on the start-up costs for a controversial £8m project called the Sutton Life Centre, instead of investing in local businesses which may be struggling during these harsh economic times in accordance with the spirit of this scheme. Does the Mayor of London agree that LABGI money could be better spent on supporting local businesses during the ongoing recession?

177 Answer from the Mayor: It is a matter for each borough to determine how to spend its LABGI award - the grant is paid over to each authority on an un-ringfenced basis by the Dept for Communities and Local Government. LABGI is an incentive scheme, however, designed to encourage the promotion of local economic growth and economic development. As a principle LABGI monies are best re- invested in economic development measures that will benefit the businesses whose taxes give rise to LABGI. If Sutton Council is - as they have stated - going to use its LABGI funding to support investment in skills and training for young people at the centre this would not be inconsistent with the overall intentions of the LABGI scheme.

London has only been awarded £10.7m in LABGI funding in 2009-10 - despite London's businesses having generated an additional £515m extra for the Treasury in business rates over the reward period for this year's scheme. It is disappointing that the Government has allocated such a small reward back to London compared to the extra contributions local businesses have made towards the national economy through their business rates. I would therefore support radical overhaul of the scheme which would ensure that London keeps a much greater share of this extra revenue in future.

* Decent homes Question No: 3639 / 2009 Steve O’Connell Following the London Borough of Sutton’s decision to join several other local authorities in taking legal action – via judicial review - against the Government’s U-turn on ‘decent homes’ funding for ALMOs able to achieve the Audit Commission’s Two Star rating, what communications were made by Sutton to the Mayor of London’s Office regarding the legal action and when? And where does this leave the Mayor’s pledge to make funds available to plug the gap left by the Housing Minister’s decision to remove funding? Answer from the Mayor: I firmly believe that funding for Decent Homes improvements should be made available to ALMOs that receive two stars in this investment round. Following my intervention, the HCA began discussions on funding with the qualifying ALMOs to enable them to begin work on Decent Homes. Initial discussions had taken place between the HCA and Sutton amongst others. Those discussions have now been suspended in light of the judicial review; but once the legal challenge has been resolved I expect the negotiations to continue for those ALMOs that receive two stars. For those ALMOs not part of the judicial review, discussions are continuing. Sutton has yet to receive a two star assessment.

* Central Road traffic lights Question No: 3640 / 2009 Steve O’Connell News that traffic light phasing in the notoriously congested Central Road, Worcester Park, is scheduled to take place in February 2010 is welcome - will the Mayor of London use his influence to speed up this much-needed work? Answer from the Mayor: As you know, TfL had been delayed in starting the work to install SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) detectors in the road surface, which will enable four junctions on Central Road to be linked. This is because further civil engineering works by the London Borough of Sutton were necessary before the detectors could be installed and these were

178 unable to commence until Southern Gas Networks had completed their substantial road works in the area. The Southern Gas works are now complete and the London Borough of Sutton has also completed their own civil works.

BT are expected to provide a new line by the end of December and TfL will link the junctions by early January 2010. It will then take a further six weeks to assess the traffic signal data from the sites and fine tune the timings to achieve maximum efficiency. This ‘validation’ of the SCOOT system should be completed by mid to late February. These are important and necessary steps which cannot be hastened if TfL is to maximise the benefit to all road users from the introduction of SCOOT at this location. *

Violent crime in Sutton Question No: 3641 / 2009 Steve O’Connell In the light of the recent spate of violent crime in Sutton will the Mayor of London, in his capacity as Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, commission a review of the policing strength in the Borough in order to restore public confidence? Answer from the Mayor: Reducing violent crime is a policing priority for all boroughs across London.

In spite of recent tragic events, Sutton is one of the safest boroughs in London and the crime rate remains low. Sutton has recorded 12 ‘most serious’ violence offences during September 2009, which is statistically lower than the previous year. Work is underway to reduce this further by continually reviewing the best deployment of staff, as well as smarter working with partners in using technical and financial resources. In spite of recent tragic events, Sutton is one of the safest boroughs in London and the crime rate remains low. Sutton has recorded 12 ‘most serious’ violence offences during September 2009, which is statistically lower than the previous year. Work is underway to reduce this further by continually reviewing the best deployment of staff, as well as smarter working with partners in using technical and financial resources.

Sutton Police are actively working with partners and the public to show how they are responding to recent events, and to ensure results are widely and effectively communicated to help the public feel reassured, safe and engaged.

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