Appendix 3
Questions to the Mayor
17 September, 2020
ANSWERED QUESTIONS PAPER
Subject: MQT on 17 September, 2020 Report of: Executive Director of Secretariat
Crossrail Question No: 2020/2681 Gareth Bacon MP When will Crossrail open? Answer for Crossrail The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Protections for police officers Question No: 2020/2761 Steve O’Connell What progress has been made on providing greater protections for police officers? Answer for Protections for police officers The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Post-Pandemic London Preparation Question No: 2020/2900 Tony Devenish Have you acted swiftly and sufficiently enough to prepare Londoners and businesses for the lifestyle changes of a post-pandemic London?
Answer for Post-Pandemic London Preparation The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Oakley Square North Question No: 2020/2570 Caroline Pidgeon The leader of Camden Council recently responded to residents of Oakley Square North who had contracted her relating to concerns about the impact of the cycle lane on the A400 stating: “We also note your concerns about the impact of this scheme on Oakley Square North. We wrote to TfL as they were preparing the scheme on the south side of the Square, which is on their network, and asked to ensure Oakley Square North was carefully monitored during the scheme to ensure any impacts on the north side (Camden’s road network) were assessed. We would therefore also be keen to know the outcomes of any information TfL are able to provide with respect to that agreed monitoring.” Please publish all monitoring that TfL has undertaken on all surrounding roads of the newly installed A400 cycle lane. Answer for Oakley Square North The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Stag Brewery development Question No: 2020/2571 Caroline Pidgeon What assurances can you give local residents that in considering the revised planning application for this development that full consideration is being given to the traffic implications of the long-term closure of Hammersmith Bridge? Answer for Stag Brewery development The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Overground services on Boxing Day Question No: 2020/2572 Caroline Pidgeon What level of services will operate on the London Overground on the 26 December 2020?
London Overground services on Boxing Day The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 No decision has yet been made around service levels on London Overground during the Christmas/New Year period.
Covid-19 Risk Reduction Actions for London Transport Workers Question No: 2020/2573 Caroline Pidgeon Point 3.29 of the minutes of the 10 September 2020 Safety, Sustainability and HR Panel Meeting states “We are considering whether we could have anticipated changes to that advice and implemented some of our actions earlier.” Why is this activity (a) being conducted internally and (b) was not included in Phase 1 of UCL IHE’s “Review into coronavirus infections and deaths among bus workers”? Answer for Covid-19 Risk Reduction Actions for London Transport Workers The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Benchmarking London’s Transport Worker Covid-19 Deaths against Peer World Cities Question No: 2020/2574 Caroline Pidgeon Further to my Question 2020/2122 will you consider instructing an independent body to benchmark London against its peer world cities for deaths and hospitalisations of transport workers from Covid-19? Answer for Benchmarking London’s Transport Worker Covid-19 Deaths against Peer World Cities The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Vision Zero Targets Question No: 2020/2575 Caroline Pidgeon Point 3.33 of the minutes of the 10 September Safety Sustainability and Human Resources Panel Meeting states “We will undoubtedly have less capital budget in the future. This means that achieving our ambitious targets for safety improvement, particularly around
Vision Zero, will be inevitably more challenging.” If safety is, as you claim, top priority, are you now preparing the ground to abandon your Vision Zero targets? Answer for Vision Zero Targets The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Step free access at London Underground stations Question No: 2020/2576 Caroline Pidgeon Please provide an update on the specific dates, by month, that London Underground stations will become step free during (1) 2020, and (2) 2021. Answer for Step free access at London Underground stations The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
School bus services (1) Question No: 2020/2577 Caroline Pidgeon Following TfL’s decision to introduce school only buses on specific bus routes please state what external funding TfL has received for these new services. School bus services (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London has not received funding yet. It is able to claim funding of up to a maximum of £5,878,576 from the Department for Education, subject to the relevant criteria for the funding being satisfied.
School bus services (2) Question No: 2020/2578 Caroline Pidgeon Following TfL’s decision to introduce school only buses on specific bus routes what steps is TfL taking to assess this policy and when will any evaluation results be published? School bus services (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
Transport for London (TfL) is monitoring demand and performance on a daily basis. It has mobilised hundreds of volunteers to observe buses in their local areas and is taking account of comments from operators, schools and other stakeholders, as well as surveys and ticketing data, to identify how closely demand matches capacity and to consider whether any changes need to be made, subject to resource constraints. Updates will be reported through the usual channels including the Commissioner’s Report and Quarterly Performance Report.
Police officers who cycle Question No: 2020/2579 Caroline Pidgeon What proportion of MPS officers have access to a Met bicycle? Has any assessment been undertaken as to whether there is an under representation of female police officers that use bicycles as part of their duties? Answer for Police officers who cycle The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Crossrail Question No: 2020/2580 Caroline Pidgeon Please provide an update on the current deployment of train drivers that were trained to operate on the line ahead of its expected opening date of December 2018? Answer for Crossrail The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Impact on the extension of the Congestion Charge operating hours for small businesses Question No: 2020/2581 Caroline Pidgeon What assessment has TfL undertaken of the impact of the extension of the Congestion Charge operating hours on small businesses, especially in the retail sector? Please also provide an update as to the actual date that the temporary changes will continue to. Impact on the extension of the Congestion Charge operating hours for small
businesses The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Congested roads are a major barrier to economic recovery, with the cost of congestion in London amounting to £5.5bn per year. Drivers in the capital loose more than 200 hours per year due to being stuck in traffic. This pushes up the cost for all businesses, creates unpredictable journey times and sees deliveries running late. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, very few shopping trips in central London were made by car. Between 2016/17 and 2018/19, 93 per cent of trips for shopping and personal business were made by walking, cycling or public transport. Only four per cent of trips were made by car. Identifying the economic impact of the charge on weekend and evening activity in isolation is difficult at this early stage as there are so many factors that could affect businesses at this time. Transport for London is undertaking monitoring to develop a better understanding of the impacts as more data becomes available for analysis. However, notwithstanding this, it is important to note that recent figures suggest that traffic is increasing. There also appears to be a faster rate of increase at the weekend than on weekdays. The temporary changes are being kept under review and will take into account important milestones in response to the pandemic or significant changes in circumstances.
Support for Online Harms Bill Question No: 2020/2582 Caroline Pidgeon The increasing and vile attacks on minority communities on social media channels is having a huge effect on communities across London. Can you please confirm what work you are doing to push the Government to move forward as quickly as possible with the Online Harms Bill, and whether you will be supporting a role for OFCOM in regulating social media companies moving forward? Answer for Support for Online Harms Bill The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
The Transcribing of Police Interviews Question No: 2020/2583 Caroline Pidgeon Please provide details of how many hours officers have spent transcribing police interviews over the last 5 years, broken down by year and interview location e.g. interview suite, scene of crime, body worn device etc? The Transcribing of Police Interviews The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Met does not record this data.
Consideration of Automated Transcription Technology within the Met Question No: 2020/2584 Caroline Pidgeon Has the Met considered the potential benefits of automated police transcription technology? Please provide information on any work the Met has done to investigate the benefits of such technology in their work. Consideration of Automated Transcription Technology within the Met The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Met informs me that it continually scans the market for possibilities to improve efficiency. It has identified products that can transcribe, but to date it has not found a product that can transcribe to the quality required for ‘evidential’ purposes.
Police Helicopter Use (1) Question No: 2020/2585 Caroline Pidgeon How many times over the last year have Met police helicopters been deployed and remained in stationary flight over one location for more than an hour? Please break down by month and location. Answer for Police Helicopter Use (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Police Helicopter Use (2) Question No: 2020/2586 Caroline Pidgeon Following your response to MQ 2019/11974, please provide an update on the progress the Met has made in replacing helicopter use with drones, where possible, in its policing operations. Answer for Police Helicopter Use (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Covid-19 Safety Practices at Police Driving Schools Question No: 2020/2587 Caroline Pidgeon Can you confirm details of the Covid-19 safety practices in place at police driving schools, specifically in relation to the number of officers allowed per vehicle and the rules around the wearing of facemasks? Answer for Covid-19 Safety Practices at Police Driving Schools The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Sistah Space Eviction Question No: 2020/2588 Caroline Pidgeon Sistah Space is the only pan-London domestic violence charity offering specialist services for Black & Afro-Caribbean women, a charity which you have recently funded. The charity has been evicted by Hackney Council from the premises it was using and asked to return to a wholly unsuitable premises. As Mayor of London, will you: a) intervene to support this charity and ensure that its essential work can continue; b) immediately ensure it can be supported to find an appropriate location to operate until the threat of Covid-19 has passed; and c) work with Sistah Space and Hackney Council directly to find a long-term solution for the charity, with suitable premises and security for the long-term? Answer for Sistah Space Eviction The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Chiswick Police Station Question No: 2020/2589 Caroline Pidgeon Will you work with the Met to keep Chiswick Police station open permanently, given the legal success in 2018 to keep Wimbledon police station open and a current local petition against the station’s closure, which has gained nearly 1000 signatures? Chiswick Police Station The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Following the announcement of the national uplift of 20,000 police officers, the Metropolitan Police Service is reviewing its estates strategy, including in relation to Chiswick Police Station. After the allocation of an initial tranche of 1,369 officers to London the Government has been far too slow to identify the further allocations of officers and the funding necessary to support this uplift. This is delaying the certainty which can be obtained from the review.
Concerns Around the Emergency Services Network Upgrade Question No: 2020/2590 Caroline Pidgeon The Government’s Huawei ban on 5G infrastructure in the UK potentially has serious implications for the Emergency Services Network (ESN) upgrade. How are you working with the Met and the London Fire Brigade to understand how this could impact their operations, particularly around the lifespan and security of the ESN system? Answer for Concerns Around the Emergency Services Network Upgrade The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Support for Child Wellbeing post-COVID Question No: 2020/2591 Caroline Pidgeon The charity Barnardo’s warned recently that the COVID-19 pandemic has, and continues to have, a significant impact on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. How are you working with boroughs to set out plans to deliver a programme of resilience- building and social activities for all children and young people? Support for Child Wellbeing post-COVID The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
My Healthy Schools London programme continues to work with London Boroughs and schools to support and improve children and young people’s health and well-being. Funded through the Young Londoners Fund, my Youth Mental Health First Aid programme continues to provide training for schools and the voluntary sector ensuring that teachers and youth workers have the knowledge, skills and confidence to talk about and spot the signs of poor mental health. I have granted funds from the Young Londoners Fund (YLF) to more than 300 education, sport and cultural activity projects, which will provide positive opportunities for over 110,000 young Londoners. In July, I announced further investment of £2.1m from the YLF and Violence Reduction Unit to deliver activities over the next six months to improve young Londoners wellbeing, skills and opportunities. This activity aims to provide vital support for 15,000 young Londoners as COVID-19 control measures continue to evolve.
Child Mental Health Support Question No: 2020/2592 Caroline Pidgeon With the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of children and young people, what work is being undertaken to target the most vulnerable to help them recover and give professionals the opportunity to identify safeguarding issues and other concerns? Child Mental Health Support The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am working with local authorities and the NHS to provide London-wide tools that support children and young people. My Youth Mental Health First Aid programme aims to have one trained Mental Health First Aider in every state funded school and college in London. It enables teachers and youth workers to develop knowledge, skills and confidence to talk about and spot the signs of poor mental health. The London Schools Mental Health Toolkit has been updated, to support school-based work on children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health. This, together with Thrive LDN and the Good Thinking digital mental health and wellbeing service, signposts teachers, youth workers, parents and students to a range support and clinical services. My Healthy Schools London programme supports schools to improve mental health and wellbeing and my Young Londoners Fund supports over 300 youth projects which will reach 110,000 vulnerable young Londoners, many which focus on mental health.
Environmental Impact of Working from Home Question No: 2020/2593 Caroline Pidgeon It has been suggested that the savings on emissions from transport when working from home could be outweighed by the increased heating and light that people use at home. What work have you done on the environmental impact of working from home, both for GLA staff and businesses and organisations across London? Environmental Impact of Working from Home The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 We do not have energy data related to changes in working patterns at present, though we are aware of reports of the possible impacts. I look forward to any research that the Committee on Climate Change or others undertake on this topic and will review it to assess the implications for London. However, even before the increase in working from home it was clear that an urgent acceleration of housing retrofits is needed. I am strongly committed to improving the energy efficiency of London’s homes and accelerating the switch to low carbon heating. These are the two most important ways of reducing the emissions associated with our homes and therefore home working. I have identified retrofitting as a priority for London’s recovery. It provides a significant potential for jobs, tackling carbon emissions, lowering bills, so helping tackle fuel poverty and creating healthier homes. In addition to my programmes, I will continue to lobby government for powers and a fair share of funding to deliver at greater pace. The Committee on Climate Change and many others continue to urge the government to produce a strategy, regulations and sustained funds to stimulate the investment needed to decarbonise our buildings.
Diversity in TfL-managed Advertising Space (1) Question No: 2020/2594 Caroline Pidgeon What measures are you taking to ensure London’s diverse and underrepresented communities are prominent on adverts shown in TfL’s advertising spaces? Answer for Diversity in TfL-managed Advertising Space (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Diversity in TfL-managed Advertising Space (2) Question No: 2020/2595 Caroline Pidgeon Can you confirm and provide details of what measures and requirements are in place around diversity in the adverts displayed on TfL advertising space? Answer for Diversity in TfL-managed Advertising Space (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Diversity in TfL-managed Advertising Space (3) Question No: 2020/2596 Caroline Pidgeon What measures are you taking against the advertising of high-carbon products and service in TfL’s advertising spaces? Answer for Diversity in TfL-managed Advertising Space (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Londoners at Risk of Losing their Homes Question No: 2020/2597 Caroline Pidgeon Reports show that 25% of Londoners have either fallen behind with their rent or are about to fall behind. Given that the Government’s eviction ban is due to end on 20 September, with only limited protections for renters thereafter, what are you doing to raise this issue with the Government as a matter of urgency and what work are you doing to support Londoners at risk of losing their homes? Answer for Londoners at Risk of Losing their Homes The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Noise Pollution from Speeding Vehicles Across London (1) Question No: 2020/2598 Caroline Pidgeon I have received complaints from frustrated constituents across the capital over significant noise pollution from speeding vehicles, particularly motorbikes. I am aware of the Sounder City strategy for tackling ambient noise, but how are you working with Boroughs, the Met and others to strengthen action against speeding vehicles and the noise they cause, given the increased levels of disruption being experienced by many across the city? Noise Pollution from Speeding Vehicles Across London (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Tackling speeding offences is a shared priority for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and Transport for London (TfL). TfL works in partnership with the police, providing substantial funding to the MPS Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC), who carry out enforcement and engagement activities, on an intelligence-led basis, across the capital. TfL works with the MPS RTPC to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on London’s roads through targeted enforcement, engagement and education. The MPS also has a dedicated Motorcycle Safety Team (MST), which enforces against any motorists who do not comply with traffic laws during enforcement operations. Officers can also issue Vehicle Prohibition Notices if the motorcycle itself is dangerous. TfL has also worked in partnership with the MPS to create a new process for boroughs to request police support on roads where speeding is believed to be a problem. Where necessary, police will undertake speed validation checks, which can then lead to further intervention. Please also see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/2599.
Noise Pollution from Speeding Vehicles Across London (2) Question No: 2020/2599 Caroline Pidgeon Local authorities and police in Paris have recently introduced sound detectors across many parts of the City which detect unacceptable levels of noise from road traffic and are able to detect their origin, which then leads to fines for those who cause excessive disturbance. Have you given any such consideration to the benefits of similar technology in London? If not is this something you would consider looking into? Answer for Noise Pollution from Speeding Vehicles Across London (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
BAME Representation in the Arts and Creative Industries Question No: 2020/2600 Caroline Pidgeon Supporting our arts and creative sector moving forward will be essential. Covid-19 has had such a huge impact on the sector and those who work in it. As London looks to revive and re-build its arts and cultural sector can you explain how you will be working to improve and enhance BAME representation within the sector in London? BAME Representation in the Arts and Creative Industries The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am funding programmes to help a number of programmes to open up the culture sector to people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Film London’s Equal Access Network is working with employers like Sony and HBO to diversify the film industry; Ensemble, run by Games London shines a spotlight on BAME games talent; and NEWGEN, by British Fashion Council, gives emerging fashion designers, 45 per cent from BAME backgrounds, vital access to buyers. My London Borough of Culture in Brent, has awarded £500,000 in small grants to artists and creatives in the borough, 33 per cent from a BAME background and which is also supporting over 150 young people on a cultural leadership programme, 74 per cent from a BAME background. The first of my Creative Enterprise Zones ESF skills programmes has started in Tottenham, and I am funding a £2m creative sector skills programme with European Social Funds to tackle under-representation. In both, at least 50 per cent of participants will be creative talent from a BAME background. We will continue to support bold interventions that improve representation across the arts and creative sector.
Monitoring of Redundancies across London Question No: 2020/2601 Caroline Pidgeon What work are you doing to look at how redundancies are impacting communities across London, and whether any particular communities, such as women and BAME individuals are being disproportionately impacted by the loss of jobs in the capital due to Covid-19? Monitoring of Redundancies across London The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 GLA Economics produces two key products as part of its ongoing monitoring of the labour market, and the analysis included will inform City Hall’s recovery work to support Londoners into good jobs:
1. Monthly labour market update – covering the latest monthly headline ONS labour market estimates for London. These updates include a breakdown of labour market estimates by gender. 2. Labour market roundup – initiated after COVID-19 to report on its impact using timely evidence, including GLA distributional analysis of ONS data and third party publications. The next roundup is due in September. Research shows that those on low incomes, who are disproportionately from BAME backgrounds and women, are most at risk of jobs losses, or reduced hours and pay.
Electricity Supply to New Developments in the Royal Docks and Housing Developments Across London Question No: 2020/2602 Caroline Pidgeon In Mayoral Decision 2655 you recently approved the use of up to £25.218 million to reinforce the electricity supply to the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone, which will include housing. What work is being done with developers and others to ensure new housing built in the Royal Docks area and across London is fitted with green technology such as solar panels, heat pumps, so that many of these homes can produce their own green energy and often supply electricity back to the National Grid? Electricity Supply to New Developments in the Royal Docks and Housing Developments Across London The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 We have worked with developers to understand their energy requirements as part of the Royal Docks electricity project. All developers of major sites submit energy strategies as part of their planning applications which show how they can meet the London & Local Plan requirements for energy use, reducing carbon impact and adopting a variety of energy technologies.
Increases in Bonfires Across Many Parts of London Question No: 2020/2603 Caroline Pidgeon I have received reports from across London of increases in bonfires in recent weeks and months. This will, in part be due to it being the summer, but also because of lockdown and Covid-19. How are you working with local authorities across London to reduce bonfires, particularly in residential areas and during the day, to reduce disturbance for residents but also to protect our environment and air quality? Increases in Bonfires Across Many Parts of London The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
Unfortunately, we know that during the peak of the lockdown some areas stopped garden waste collections while they focussed on more critical services, giving rise to the temptation to burn gardening waste in a bonfire. I have provided guidance on the GLA website about this and information on composting to help Londoners do the right thing. Waste centres have re-opened and Londoners should be able to do the right thing and dispose of their garden waste responsibly. Local authorities and environmental health departments have been stretched over the summer with many officers re-deployed to help with the Covid-19 emergency response. The Boroughs have limited powers and resources to tackle waste burning. While I always encourage local authorities to respond appropriately to local air quality issues, the UK Government could help by devolving effective powers for London to tackle all sources of air pollution.
Vaccination Rates in London Question No: 2020/2604 Caroline Pidgeon Vaccination rates in London continue to be significantly lower than the UK average. As we face Covid-19 and look to find a vaccination, this is more worrying than ever. How are you working with the Government and Public Health England/The National Institute for Health Protection to ensure vaccination rates in London improve? Vaccination Rates in London The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London’s vaccination rates are lower than other regions due to several London specific factors – highly mobile population, social inequalities, complex data management systems (which undercount vaccinations) and declining vaccination workforce. However, during COVID-19, considerable partnership work has occurred across London to ensure the continuation of childhood immunisations, including the training of practice staff in how to deliver vaccinations safely during COVID-19, and communications to all parents of children attending preschool and school. As of 1st September, London’s rates have returned to preCOVID-19 levels. The London Immunisation Partnership Board has restarted plans to improve London’s rates to 95% levels by embedding evidence-based practices such as call/recall, digital solutions, increasing workforce capacity and considering different and more accessible models of delivery. The GLA and NHS are working together to train up immunisation champions in schools, early year settings and in communities to encourage uptake. We are also working together to reduce vaccine hesitancy in the London population.
South Kensington Tube station Question No: 2020/2605 Caroline Pidgeon In answer to Mayoral Question 2016/1343 you stated: “I want London’s transport system to be accessible to all Londoners and I am working with TfL to develop more innovative ways to fund step-free projects and to use new technology and construction techniques so more can be delivered. The previous TfL spending plans suggested that there is scope to increase the TfL funding that is available to improve step-free station access, and I will examine this possibility as I work with TfL to develop its new Business Plan over the coming months.” Following these specific commitments made four years and four months ago, please state: (1) what is the current situation with relation to step free access being progressed at South Kensington London underground, a station which directly serves three of London’s most important museums, and (2) what interventions has TfL taken in relation to the current planning application around South Kensington London Underground station, and (3) will you be taking steps to object to any planning application to a development around South Kensington London Underground station that fails to provide step free access at this station. Answer for South Kensington Tube station The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Greener City Fund Question No: 2020/2609 Caroline Russell MD2666 outlines changes you have made to the 2020-21 GLA: Mayor’s Budget. Within the recovery budget is £567,000 for the Greener City Fund. What will this money be used for, and what is the delivery timeline? Greener City Fund The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The £567,000 assigned to the Greener City Fund (community greening programme) within the recovery budget has been allocated to my new Grow Back Greener Fund. COVID-19 has demonstrated how important London’s green spaces are to our health and wellbeing, and that not all Londoners are able to access these benefits in the same way. One in five households in London had no access to a private or shared garden during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Grow Back Greener Fund will help tackle this inequality in access to green space. The fund will prioritise projects that benefit those who are less likely to access green space. including BAME, lower income Londoners and over-65, are in areas of the city that have poorer access to open space, especially areas of deprivation, and include opportunities for training or developing skills. Applications opened in August, and projects supported through the fund will run from November 2020 until June 2021. Full details of the Grow Back Greener Fund are on my website at www.london.gov.uk/growbackgreener, and outlined in MD2665 which can be viewed here: https://www.london.gov.uk/decisions/md2665-community-greening-grants- 2020-21.
London Power targets Question No: 2020/2610 Caroline Russell The first quarterly report from London Power was released in August 2020 with 2,920 homes powered so far. What is your target for the next quarter? London Power targets The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 We do not have a target number of customers for each quarter. We will evaluate the performance of London Power once we have a year’s worth of data – we require a year’s worth of data before we can evaluate uptake with any confidence, as rates of switching vary throughout the year. Energy switching in general reduced during the lockdown as energy suppliers including London Power reduced marketing efforts while the public’s focus was elsewhere.
Infrastructure Resilience Review Question No: 2020/2611 Caroline Russell Network Rail has been asked by the Government to review its infrastructure’s resilience to extreme weather events. What work are you undertaking to ensure there is a similar quality audit of structures in London, including embankments, viaducts, bridges and tunnels, so that Transport for London (TfL) can plan adequately to mitigate any risks? Answer for Infrastructure Resilience Review The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Investment to keep transport infrastructure resilient to the climate emergency Question No: 2020/2612 Caroline Russell Hammersmith and Fulham council has indicated that the mid-August 2020 heatwave was a key factor in sudden expansion of cracks that led to the closure of the Hammersmith Bridge to all traffic, including people walking and cycling. What investment are you currently making to keep transport infrastructure resilient during a climate emergency, and are you considering any options for reducing the demands on structures using speed or weight limits, or by closing traffic lanes? Answer for Investment to keep transport infrastructure resilient to the climate emergency The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Closing City Airport in light of coronavirus impact on aviation Question No: 2020/2613 Caroline Russell According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), London City Airport has seen the greatest reduction in flights of any UK airport, and passenger numbers are down 95 per cent in July 2020 compared with July 2019. The impact of coronavirus on the future of aviation is uncertain, but it is likely we will not see growth in the near future. Do you agree that now is the time to close City Airport and release the land for much-needed homes for Londoners? Closing City Airport in light of coronavirus impact on aviation The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Aviation has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic and no airport has been left unscathed, with London City Airport closing for three months. Though it has now reopened, full recovery is likely to take some time, and it is primarily a decision for the airport as to how it responds. It has already said it will temporarily pause some elements of its ongoing City Airport Development Programme (CADP), notably a new terminal extension. The airport should also take the opportunity to row back from its draft Masterplan proposals for a substantial increase in flights and the environmental impacts that would entail.
Glyphosate use by the GLA Question No: 2020/2614 Caroline Russell Could you update me on work the Mayor has done to implement the recommendations of the London Assembly motion on glyphosate use, which was agreed unanimously in July 2019, calling on the Mayor to cease the use of this herbicide on GLA land and the Transport for London (TfL) estate? Glyphosate use by the GLA The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 TfL is continuing to explore viable alternatives for controlling vegetation in safety critical locations such as cable runs, trackside components and signalling equipment. London Underground is continuing to trial electrocides. This is still relatively new technology and is currently not suitable for use on ballasted track and will require further development to allow for complete replacement of herbicides. On the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) glyphosate use has been reduced from 6 to 2 sprays per year in locations where maintenance of sight-lines is essential; and on the tram network glyphosate is applied through selective hand-spraying only. Acetic acid is now being trialled as an alternative. There is minimal use of glyphosate by other Functional Bodies. The GLA Environment Team are reviewing the process to ensure best practice is shared to minimise and eventually eliminate its use.
Bus driver welfare during heatwaves Question No: 2020/2615 Caroline Russell What steps did Transport for London (TfL) and bus operators take during the recent heatwave to support driver welfare, and what plans do you have to ensure procedures are adapted to take account of the increasing likelihood of very hot summers? Bus driver welfare during heatwaves The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 All the cabs in buses have self-contained air conditioning and windows that open so drivers can work in more comfortable conditions during hot weather. Transport for London (TfL) requires all of its fleet to have these features and for operators to check they are working properly. As London has recently had a few particularly hot summers, bus operators now relax the rules on company uniform so drivers can wear shorts and short-sleeve shirts. If drivers feel unwell, support and advice is also available from TfL’s 24/7 control room. For more general
welfare matters, TfL, its bus operators and Unite the union are providing a Health Bus, which will be visiting garages to offer advice on staying fit and healthy at work. During the coronavirus pandemic, it has also been possible for driver welfare issues to be raised directly through regular conference calls between TfL and Unite the union.
Euro VI buses October target Question No: 2020/2616 Caroline Russell Will you meet your October 2020 target for the London diesel bus fleet to be 100 per cent Euro VI compliant, including any buses used on extra services for school children only? Answer for Euro VI buses October target The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Impact of coronavirus on the taxi industry Question No: 2020/2617 Caroline Russell London is now a much quieter place, with fewer workers in the daytime, fewer revellers in the night-time, and fewer tourists visiting the city. This has reduced the demand for taxi journeys to an unprecedentedly low level. What plans do you have to support the future viability of the taxi trade in London as demand changes? Answer for Impact of coronavirus on the taxi industry The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Secure employment for cycle instructors Question No: 2020/2618 Caroline Russell The economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic have highlighted the dangers of insecure employment. Most Transport for London (TfL) funded cycle instructors are on insecure contracts that left them unable to be supported by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. What measures will you and TfL take to ensure that instructors are offered secure employment? Answer for Secure employment for cycle instructors The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Non-Domestic Rates (Public Lavatories) Bill, Question No: 2020/2619 Caroline Russell Would the Non-Domestic Rates (Public Lavatories) Bill, currently making progress in Parliament provide any added relief to the GLA or constituent bodies, including Transport for London (TfL), for the cost of providing public toilet facilities? Non-Domestic Rates (Public Lavatories) Bill, The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 This Bill provides for mandatory 100 per cent business rates relief for public lavatories which are separately assessed on the local valuation list. This includes public lavatories operated and managed by public sector bodies and local authorities which are termed ‘excepted hereditaments’ and is not normally eligible for business rates reliefs. The relief will not apply to public toilets, however, forming part of a larger unit of rateable property (a “hereditament”), which are not separately rated. London Underground and National rail stations (including London Overground stations) – excluding the retail outlets within them – form part of a single London Underground and Network rail cumulo assessment on the central rating list which includes the wider rail infrastructure network. So, in practice as TfL operated public toilets located in stations form part of the London Underground cumulo they will not generally be able to benefit from this relief scheme. The same issues may also apply to public toilets located in public buildings such as public libraries which are generally not separately assessed. So while the Bill is welcome and will benefit separately rated toilets managed by local authorities it is unlikely to be applicable in respect of TfL operated toilets as these form part of the London Underground cumulo rating assessment on the central rating list.
Bus stop bypasses (2) Question No: 2020/2620 Caroline Russell In your answer to my question 2016/4556 you confirmed there were trials of zebra crossings at bus stop bypasses. In July 2018 Transport for London (TfL) issued a guidance document (titled: Pedestrian crossings at Bus Stop Bypasses) which set an expectation that, by default, bus stop bypasses should have zebra crossings. Could you confirm how many bus stop bypasses there are in London, and how many now have a zebra crossing? Answer for Bus stop bypasses (2) The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Changes to borough cycle funding Question No: 2020/2621 Caroline Russell In May 2020 Healthy Streets funding, including Local Implementation Programme (LIP) funding, for boroughs was paused. Could you, for each borough and programme (Liveable Neighbourhoods, Mini-Hollands, Borough Cycling, junctions etc.), provide details of: a) the investment you have provided to date for 2019-20 and 2020-21, and b) the original announced funding for 2019-20 and 2020-21? Answer for Changes to borough cycle funding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Borough Streetspace schemes funded by Transport for London (2) Question No: 2020/2622 Caroline Russell In answer to my question 2020/1657 you responded with details on funding provided in tranches one to three of the Streetspace programme in summer 2020. Could you also provide the same information for schemes funded in tranches four to six including: a) identification number, b) borough, c) project name, d) number of schemes, e) Transport for London (TfL) funding request, f) intervention type, g) initial funding, and h) a summary of projects by borough and scheme type? Answer for Borough Streetspace schemes funded by Transport for London (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Disabled persons Freedom Pass eligibility Question No: 2020/2623 Caroline Russell Are you working with London Councils to expand the Freedom Pass eligibility criteria to include those with hidden disabilities such as autism? Answer for Disabled persons Freedom Pass eligibility The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Modernisation of pelican crossings (2) Question No: 2020/2624 Caroline Russell Thank you for your response to my question 2020/1012 on the modernisation of pelican crossings. Given that pelican crossings are no longer approved in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD), how are your prioritising their modernisation, and when will they all be replaced? Modernisation of pelican crossings (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As set out in my earlier response, Transport for London (TfL) takes a risk-based approach to modernising its traffic infrastructure, prioritising locations that present the highest risk to the public. TfL’s risk criteria includes, but is not exclusive to, the age of the equipment, the obsolescence of the equipment, the critical failure rate and associated risk of the equipment to the general public. As of April this year, TfL has 847 pelican crossings within London, out of around 5,000 sets of traffic signals. Crossings make up 55 per cent of the total number of sites being modernised, of which half are Pelican crossings. As such, replacing Pelican crossings is a high priority for TfL. Given its current financial position and the ‘safe stop’ period during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, TfL has had to reassess the number of sites it can modernise this year. Initially it planned to upgrade 40 Pelican crossings this year, but has had to revise this to 22 upgrades. Replacing aging and higher risk infrastructure is key to Vision Zero, and TfL expects to replace a further 60 Pelican crossings in the next financial year to ensure the overall programme remains on track.
Fines for unreadable number plates Question No: 2020/2625 Caroline Russell How many fines have the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) issued, by year, for the past five years for cars with illegible number plates? Answer for Fines for unreadable number plates The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Silvertown Road Tunnel changes to contract due to coronavirus Question No: 2020/2626 Caroline Russell The Crossrail project is reporting significant cost implications and schedule delays due to coronavirus and the need for ongoing physical distancing at their worksites. Future investments in London must also be reviewed so that they fit with the green recovery London needs. What discussions have Transport for London (TfL) had with RiverLinx about altering the contract or payments for the Silvertown Road Tunnel in response to these changes in circumstances and priorities? Silvertown Road Tunnel changes to contract due to coronavirus The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 As you would expect, Transport for London (TfL) is in regular discussions with Riverlinx about the impact of coronavirus on the Silvertown Tunnel project. These discussions are ongoing. As this is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract, the costs of construction are met by Riverlinx and TfL will not be making payments to Riverlinx until the Tunnel opens. It is worth noting that the Silvertown Tunnel Project Agreement is not the same as the commercial arrangements with Crossrail, and TfL has transferred a significant proportion of construction risk to Riverlinx. That said, these are unprecedented events, and TfL will continue to work with its suppliers to ensure vital construction work can be progressed safely and efficiently.
Metropolitan Police Service employee travel plan Question No: 2020/2627 Caroline Russell Does the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) have an employee travel plan, and have surveys been conducted into the modes of transport used by officers and staff to commute to work? If so, could details of this plan, including any targets and measures taken to reduce car commuting be provided, alongside any data held on employee commuting mode share collected over the past three years? Answer for Metropolitan Police Service employee travel plan The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Transport for London employee travel plan Question No: 2020/2628 Caroline Russell Does Transport for London (TfL) have an employee travel plan, and have surveys been conducted into the modes of transport used by staff to commute to work? If so, could details of this plan, including any targets and measures taken to reduce car commuting be provided, alongside any data held on employee commuting mode share collected over the past three years? Answer for Transport for London employee travel plan The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Fire Brigade employee travel plan Question No: 2020/2629 Caroline Russell Does the London Fire Brigade (LFB) have an employee travel plan, and have surveys been conducted into the modes of transport used by firefighters and staff to commute to work? If so, could details of this plan, including any targets and measures taken to reduce car commuting be provided, alongside any data held on employee commuting mode share collected over the past three years? Answer for London Fire Brigade employee travel plan The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
GLA employee travel plan Question No: 2020/2630 Caroline Russell Does the GLA have an employee travel plan for workers employed by the Mayor and Assembly, and have surveys been conducted into the modes of transport used by staff to commute to work? If so, could details of this plan, including any targets and measures taken to reduce car commuting be provided, alongside any data held on employee commuting mode share collected over the past three years? Answer for GLA employee travel plan The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Improving public transport CCTV retention times and communication (1) Question No: 2020/2631 Siân Berry Thank you for your answers to my questions 2017/2109 and 2017/2788. I am very concerned to see recent data reported in the Independent (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-underground-sexual- harassment-tube-groping-catcall-a9694736.html) that sexual assault and harassment on public transport remains a significant and harmful problem for Londoners, but that nine in ten people affected do not report it. Could you: a) update me on progress to increase and make more consistent retention times for CCTV data on different modes of public transport, b) increase publicity around the value of reporting these crimes and the very short time limits to obtain this crucial evidence on some modes of transport, and c) put prominent information on public transport and include this information in promotional campaigns, such as Report it to stop it? Answer for Improving public transport CCTV retention times and communication (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Improving public transport CCTV retention times and communication (2) Question No: 2020/2632 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2017/2109. I was very disappointed to find recently that the CCTV retention times on different modes of transport are not given on the web pages that were improved following my question (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/privacy-and-cookies/cctv and https://tfl.gov.uk/travel- information/safety/report-a-crime-or-incident). It is vitally important for people to know that images and evidence may not be retained for long after they experience crimes such as sexual assault and harassment, making prompt reporting essential. Could you look into this issue and restore this information to the pages? Answer for Improving public transport CCTV retention times and communication (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Measuring the impact of the Report it to stop it campaign Question No: 2020/2633 Siân Berry I am very concerned to see recent data reported in the Independent (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-underground-sexual- harassment-tube-groping-catcall-a9694736.html) that sexual assault and harassment on public transport remains a significant and harmful problem for Londoners, but that nine in ten people affected do not report it. Could you provide the latest reports on activity and impact of the Report it to stop it campaign, including levels of publicity year by year, and changes in reporting, arrest and conviction rates since the campaign started in 2015? Answer for Measuring the impact of the Report it to stop it campaign The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Basic Command Unit subsidies from councils Question No: 2020/2634 Siân Berry How many Metropolitan Police Service Basic Command Units (BCUs) have received funds from local councils, and could you provide data on this funding for each BCU since the reorganisation of the borough commands? Answer for Basic Command Unit subsidies from councils The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Police conducting home visits to offenders during coronavirus lockdown (2) Question No: 2020/2635 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1641. In your answer you said: “These individuals were identified by the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) through an analysis of crime intelligence data for the last 3 years and establishing who had been involved in 2 or more incidents of serious violence during that period.” Could you: a) further explain what you mean by ‘involved’ in incidents and, b)
outline the criteria used to identify these 1,000 people and separate them from other people who had been involved in two or more incidents? Answer for Police conducting home visits to offenders during coronavirus lockdown (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (1) Question No: 2020/2636 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1641. Could you tell me: a) what is the name of the database containing details of the 1,000 people, b) which agencies have access to it, and c) is the database accessible to all Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers, and if not how is access controlled? Answer for Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (2) Question No: 2020/2637 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1641. What diversionary steps are taken after Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers have approached these 1,000 people? Could you provide details of any diversionary programmes, including any options that were offered to these people. Answer for Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (3) Question No: 2020/2638 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1641. How many of the 1,000 people have now been contacted, and how many have taken up the offer of diversionary support?
Answer for Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (4) Question No: 2020/2639 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1641. Will any of the 1,000 people identified be contacted by agencies other than the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and, if so, what are these agencies, what will they be offering, and when will this happen? Answer for Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (4) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (5) Question No: 2020/2640 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1641. Could you tell me: a) how are people notified that they are on this list of 1,000 individuals, and b) what is the process for being removed from the list? Answer for Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (5) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (6) Question No: 2020/2641 Siân Berry Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1641. How many people in this list of 1,000 individuals are also on the Metropolitan Police Service Gangs Matrix? Answer for Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (6) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (7) Question No: 2020/2642 Siân Berry Further to my question 2020/2172, there has been a marked increase in stop and search since March this year by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). What number and proportion of all stops and searches were conducted by the new Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) from March 2020 until now? Answer for Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (7) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Recommendations from MOPAC review of the Gangs Matrix Question No: 2020/2643 Siân Berry One recommendation in MOPAC’s December 2018 review of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Gangs Matrix says: “We recommend that the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) improve transparency by producing, by the end of February 2019, publicly available, plain English and accessible information that: • answers frequently asked questions about how the Matrix works and its purpose; • sets out the governance and oversight mechanisms the Matrix is subject to; • explains the training officers receive that helps them implement the Operating Model; • describes the practical effect for an individual of being on the Matrix; • clarifies how information is shared and who with; • explains how an individual is added to and removed from the Matrix; • describes how the multi-agency process works; and • describes the relationship between the Matrix and the response to serious organised crime.” Although some of this information appears on the MPS webpage about the Gangs Matrix, not all of the points in this recommendation have been met. When will all this information be published? Recommendations from MOPAC review of the Gangs Matrix The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Following the recommendations made in MOPAC’s review and the subsequent work by the Met to overhaul the Matrix, there is now information available on the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) Matrix website, including an explanation of the purpose, frequently asked questions, an equalities impact assessment, and quarterly data on the number and demographics of those on the Matrix.
https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/about-us/about-the- met/gangs-violence-matrix/ We know however that there is more to do to inform the public of the wider progress that the Met has made on the recommendations, so MOPAC will be publishing an update shortly which will include further details on governance and processes. The Met has committed to do more to explain the work carried out the Matrix to ensure it is a fair and transparent tool.
People with a zero-harm score on the Gangs Matrix Question No: 2020/2644 Siân Berry On 16 February 2020 you published a press release, titled Mayor’s intervention results in comprehensive overhaul of Met’s Gangs Violence Matrix, saying: “As recommended in the report, nearly 490 individuals with a ‘green harm’ banding, including those deemed as having a zero-harm score – reflecting the lowest risk of an individual committing or being a victim of violence – have been removed from the Matrix because there was no longer evidence that they were affiliated with a criminal gang.” How many ‘green harm’ banded individuals and those with a zero-harm score are still on the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Gangs Matrix? People with a zero-harm score on the Gangs Matrix The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The number of individuals in the green category is available as part of the quarterly information published on the MPS Gangs Violence Matrix site at https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/about-us/about-the- met/gangs-violence-matrix/. This information is published following the recommendations made in MOPAC’s review of the MPS’ Gang Violence Matrix.
Disproportionality in the Gangs Matrix Question No: 2020/2645 Siân Berry Could you explain why there are still extreme ethnic disproportionalities within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Gangs Matrix? Answer for Disproportionality in the Gangs Matrix The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Facilitating socially distanced democratic protests Question No: 2020/2646 Siân Berry I understand that potential organisers of events and protests in Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square are being informed there is no possibility to arrange to use these spaces, even in several months’ time. What plans do you have in place to allow for the restoration of socially distanced, risk-assessed, democratic protests and events in the spaces the GLA controls? Facilitating socially distanced democratic protests The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I fully understand people’s desire to have their voices heard and as part of a democratic society, I support the right for peaceful protest. However, Londoners have made huge sacrifices to help prevent the spread of covid-19. I want to be clear that large gatherings, including protests and parties, are currently illegal, in order to stop the spread of this deadly virus. I have made clear my concerns about the potential transmission of Covid-19 at protests, despite people’s best intentions to socially distance at these events. This virus still presents a grave threat to people taking part in these protests and all our communities, and this is why I am urging people to stay at home and find a safe and legal way to make their voices heard, until a time when the virus is no longer a threat.
Mayor’s Action plan for improving trust and confidence, transparency and accountability in policing Question No: 2020/2647 Siân Berry When will your promised action plan for improving trust and confidence, transparency and accountability in policing be published? Answer for Mayor’s Action plan for improving trust and confidence, transparency and accountability in policing The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Microsoft Spend Question No: 2020/2648 Andrew Boff What is the cost of Microsoft hardware and software for each functional body?
Answer for Microsoft Spend The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Helicopters (1) Question No: 2020/2649 Andrew Boff What has lead to the apparent increase in the use of Police helicopters? Answer for Helicopters (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Helicopters (2) Question No: 2020/2650 Andrew Boff What are the criteria for the use of Police helicopters in the early hours of the morning? Answer for Helicopters (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Gurnell Leisure Centre Site, Ealing (1) Question No: 2020/2651 Andrew Boff Do you approve of the size mix on the proposed development on the Gurnell Leisure Centre site? Answer for Gurnell Leisure Centre Site, Ealing (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Gurnell Leisure Centre Site, Ealing (2) Question No: 2020/2652 Andrew Boff Do you think tower blocks on the Gurnell leisure site is what families in Ealing need? Answer for Gurnell Leisure Centre Site, Ealing (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Station Developments (1) Question No: 2020/2653 Andrew Boff For each of the developments at Arnos Grove, Blackhorse Road, Canons Park, Cockfosters, Colindale, Finchley Central, Harrow-on-the-Hill, High Barnet, Hounslow West, Northwood Town, Rayners Lane, Stanmore, Sudbury Town, Wembley Park and Woodside Park, please give the number of homes by 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroomed homes, broken down by affordable and other. Answer for TfL Station Developments (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Station Developments (2) Question No: 2020/2654 Andrew Boff Will the TfL developments at Arnos Grove, Blackhorse Road, Canons Park, Cockfosters, Colindale, Finchley Central, Harrow-on-the-Hill, High Barnet, Hounslow West, Northwood Town, Rayners Lane, Stanmore, Sudbury Town, Wembley Park and Woodside Park all be tenure blind? Answer for TfL Station Developments (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Housing size mix Question No: 2020/2655 Andrew Boff Will you make it a mandatory requirement for GLA housing funding that all developers report on the size mix for all starts? Housing size mix The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Mayor’s Homes for Londoners team is currently reviewing all monitoring, reporting and data collection requirements in preparing the new Affordable Homes Programme for London, including how the GLA monitors size mix for developments in receipt of GLA affordable housing grant. I provided information about how we currently record the bedroom breakdown of GLA funded affordable housing starts on 20th March 2020 (refer to Mayor’s Question 2020/1375).
Barking Barrier Lifting Bridges Project Question No: 2020/2656 Andrew Boff What is the status of the Barking Barrier Lifting Bridges project which would see greater pedestrian access across the Roding? Answer for Barking Barrier Lifting Bridges Project The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Planning and Regeneration Question No: 2020/2657 Andrew Boff The Government’s ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper sets out proposals for an overhaul of the current planning system in England. What is the Mayor’s assessment of how these proposals will affect the next London Plan cycle? If the proposed reforms are adopted, would the GLA continue to play a role in the planning system and what do you imagine that role would involve? Answer for Planning and Regeneration The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Rough Sleepers (1) Question No: 2020/2658 Andrew Boff How many of London’s rough sleepers who were accommodated in hotels during Covid lockdown have been placed in alternative accommodation? Rough Sleepers (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As of 4 September, London Councils’ data, which includes the GLA’s accommodated cohort, all 32 boroughs, and the City of London, suggests the number of former rough sleepers now in settled move-on accommodation as a result of the Covid-19 response is 2,238. For the GLA hotels specifically there are currently 679 residents still in hotel accommodation, with 572 people moved into settled accommodation and there have been 353 unplanned moves (either evictions or abandonments).
Rough Sleepers (2) Question No: 2020/2659 Andrew Boff How many of London’s rough sleepers who were accommodated in hotels during Covid lockdown have not been placed in alternative accommodation? How many of these remain in hotels, and where are the remainder currently living? Rough Sleepers (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Please see my response to 2020/2658.
TfL Land Question No: 2020/2660 Andrew Boff Given that you no longer intend to meet your target for starting 10,000 homes on TfL land by 2021, when do you now expect to meet this target? TfL Land The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) remains fully committed to delivering its housing programme as soon as possible. This will provide 50 per cent affordable housing across its portfolio since May 2016, infrastructure improvements, and revenue that can be reinvested into the
transport network. Work has already started on almost 1,500 homes. Applications are currently being considered for 4,500 more homes across 13 boroughs, and TfL will be submitting applications for a further 4,500 homes in the coming months. TfL continues to work through the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on its housing programme. However, TfL has been clear that the ability to build these homes quickly is dependent on securing a fair and sustainable funding package from Government. Until TfL has certainty on its funding position, it will not be able to confirm a new target date for starts on its land. In the interim, TfL continues to engage with boroughs and communities to make sure it is ready to build the homes our city needs in a safe, responsible and transparent way.
TfL Junk Food Advertising Ban Review Update Question No: 2020/2662 Andrew Boff Further to my question 2020/0706, what has been the result of your internal policy review of the TfL junk food advertising ban? TfL Junk Food Advertising Ban Review Update The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Given the current focus on London’s response to COVID-19 situation, the timescales for the internal review have been under review. The independent evaluation being conducted by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is due to be published by Spring 2021. Understandably, health policy capacity is significantly stretched as health and other teams continue to support the ongoing pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic and response across the GLA group. We will continue to prioritise resource on the COVID-19 response and recovery, and I will provide an update once we have more information.
Medcity Pandemic Collaboration Question No: 2020/2663 Andrew Boff How have you collaborated with Medcity to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic? Answer for Medcity Pandemic Collaboration The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Night Time Industries During Lockdown Question No: 2020/2664 Andrew Boff What actions have been taken by the Night Czar to represent Night Time Industries during the lockdown? Night Time Industries During Lockdown The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Hospitality and culture, including the night time economy, have been hardest hit by lockdown. To gather intelligence on the impact on night time industries, the Night Czar has held eight virtual Night Surgeries with industry bodies and businesses. After these meetings highlighted issues including difficulty accessing Government funding, she worked with and lobbied Government to raise these and other issues on five occasions, including holding two meetings with the Minister for London. Evidence gathered by the Night Czar helped inform the design of my £2.3m Culture at Risk Business Support Fund. This is funding night time businesses such as music, LGBTQ+ venues and cinemas, supporting 97 organisations and more than 11,500 individuals to date. The Night Czar is also supporting individual cases through my expanded Culture at Risk office, which has received 140 night time cases since 1 April. In addition, the Night Czar is working directly with local authority regulation teams, London Councils, the Met Police, TfL and businesses to lead a safe and co-ordinated approach to re-opening of hospitality.
NHS Covid-19 Tracker App Trial Question No: 2020/2665 Andrew Boff Why do you think Newham was chosen to be a trial borough for the new NHS Covid-19 tracker app? NHS Covid-19 Tracker App Trial The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 I have been clear since the first discussion of an app that it needs to be trialled in the capital. It is vital that the app is robustly tested to ensure it works for London’s population given its density and diversity. I am pleased that the Government is trialling the app in Newham, a borough whose residents have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic due the health inequalities they face. To support and encourage take up of the app, Newham Council has mobilised its innovative community networks, which were set up to deal with the Covid-19 crisis. I understand these pre-existing networks were one of the main reasons Newham was chosen to trial the new
app. I was pleased to be able to visit a walk-in coronavirus test centre in East Ham on the 3 September to join the Mayor of Newham for #DownloadThursday to encourage people to sign up to the phone app.
Cycle Hire Scheme Question No: 2020/2666 Andrew Boff In each year since it was started what were the net costs of the Cycle Hire scheme? Answer for Cycle Hire Scheme The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Bus Stop Closure Signs Question No: 2020/2667 Andrew Boff Why aren’t bus stop closure signs put at eye-level? Answer for Bus Stop Closure Signs The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Face masks on the TfL network (1) Question No: 2020/2668 Gareth Bacon MP What work is TfL undertaking to monitor and track the usage of face masks on the TfL network? Answer for Face masks on the TfL network (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Face masks on the TfL network (2) Question No: 2020/2669 Gareth Bacon MP In relation to non-compliance of face masks on the TfL network, how many fines have been issued since the instruction came into force and how many of these fines have been paid? Answer for Face masks on the TfL network (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Face masks on the TfL network (3) Question No: 2020/2670 Gareth Bacon MP What support are you and TfL providing to TfL workers and bus drivers to help them to enforce the face mask rule? Face masks on the TfL network (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) frontline staff and bus drivers are not expected to enforce face covering regulations or stop customers from travelling who are not complying. They will, however, engage with customers to remind them of the requirement to wear face coverings if they feel it is safe to do so. Enforcement of these regulations is predominantly carried out by the police and TfL Enforcement Officers. There is an extensive communications campaign running across all TfL networks which includes posters, signage and PA announcements making passengers aware of the requirement and the penalties for non-compliance. TfL has also introduced a process where frontline staff can report issues with non- compliance. This intelligence is then used to identify locations where additional interventions may be required such as targeted communications or enforcement activity.
Trial running Question No: 2020/2671 Gareth Bacon MP Is there an accurate date yet for when trial running for Crossrail will conclude? If not, when is this due? Trial running The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
In the latest letter to the Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee dated 1 September, Crossrail Ltd’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Wild, advised that it is planning to start Trial Running at the earliest opportunity in 2021. Following the start of Trial Running, it will then take a period of time to fully test the Elizabeth line before it can open for passenger service. Further details on the progress being made towards achieving significant milestones, including progress towards the commencement of Trial Running, is regularly communicated in the update to the Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, which is issued on a monthly basis and published on the Crossrail website.
TfL advertising revenue Question No: 2020/2672 Gareth Bacon MP Further to question 2020/1715, has TfL calculated an accurate figure yet? If not, when is this due and what plans do TfL have to address this? Answer for TfL advertising revenue The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Streetspace (1) Question No: 2020/2673 Gareth Bacon MP What future plans do you have for the Streetspace programme beyond what has been published already? Answer for Streetspace (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Streetspace (2) Question No: 2020/2674 Gareth Bacon MP What feedback have you received from London boroughs on the Streetspace programme and which boroughs have you sought feedback from since its introduction? Answer for Streetspace (2) The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Streetspace (3) Question No: 2020/2675 Gareth Bacon MP Since the introduction of the Streetspace programme, have you been monitoring congestion levels on the affected roads? If so, can those results be published? Answer for Streetspace (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Streetspace (4) Question No: 2020/2676 Gareth Bacon MP What engagement did you undertake with London boroughs, local businesses and affected stakeholders in advance of publishing your Streetspace programme? Answer for Streetspace (4) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL pay (1) Question No: 2020/2677 Gareth Bacon MP In light of the pandemic and resulting budget pressures, what action has TfL taken to review its executive pay structures and bonus awards? Answer for TfL pay (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL pay (2) Question No: 2020/2678 Gareth Bacon MP What and how many bonuses are due to be made at TfL in 2020/21 and what is the anticipated total amount? Answer for TfL pay (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
ULEZ expansion Question No: 2020/2679 Gareth Bacon MP What is the updated cost for the implementation of the ULEZ expansion? Answer for ULEZ expansion The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
GLA staff bonuses Question No: 2020/2680 Gareth Bacon MP What and how many staff bonuses have already been made and are due to be made across all GLA functional bodies in 2020/21 and what is the anticipated total amount? Answer for GLA staff bonuses The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Appropriate Adult provision Question No: 2020/2682 Keith Prince How do you square off the requirement for Appropriate Adults to be independent of the Police whilst MOPAC now intend to fund their provision? Appropriate Adult provision The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Appropriate Adults (AAs) have an important role to play in the custody environment by ensuring that detained children and adults at risk understand what is happening to them and why. The joint approach has enabled MOPAC, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), NHS England and local authorities to work together to develop the core service specification to ensure a more consistent level of service. Funding has been provided by MOPAC, MPS and NHS England to local authorities who then commission and manage the AA services ensuring independence from the MPS.
Anonymous pay-as-you-go phones Question No: 2020/2683 Keith Prince HMICFRS recently called for a ban on anonymous pay-as-you-go phones. Is this something you support in London? Answer for Anonymous pay-as-you-go phones The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
A205 Pollution Question No: 2020/2685 Keith Prince Please provide me with the pollution figures on every TfL monitoring station along the A205 for every month since January 2020. Answer for A205 Pollution The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
First Free Ride Question No: 2020/2686 Keith Prince Which transport providers, operators or companies has TfL had discussions with over the idea of introducing a ‘First Ride Free’ scheme? First Free Ride The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
This is one of a number of options that are being considered to help encourage people back into central London in the coming months. No decisions have been taken on this and it would have to form part of the discussions with Government about Transport for London (TfL) finances. For that reason, TfL is yet to discuss them in detail with other operators or providers.
Taxi & Private Hire Action Plan Question No: 2020/2687 Keith Prince In your Taxi & Private Hire Action Plan you stated: “I am determined to create a vibrant taxi and private hire market, with space for all providers to flourish.” How does the 21% decrease in taxi vehicles since your election, sit with that statement? Answer for Taxi & Private Hire Action Plan The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Reduction in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles Question No: 2020/2688 Keith Prince During your term, approximately 4600 wheelchair accessible vehicles have disappeared from the overall taxi fleet total. Are you concerned for those Londoners with protected characteristics? Answer for Reduction in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Taxi Delicensing Fund Question No: 2020/2689 Keith Prince How much remains of the taxi delicensing fund? Answer for Taxi Delicensing Fund The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Taxi Fleet (1) Question No: 2020/2690 Keith Prince What is the total number of taxis in the current licensed fleet? Answer for Taxi Fleet (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Taxi Fleet (2) Question No: 2020/2691 Keith Prince With the impending taxi age reduction, how many of the current licensed fleet will be mandated off the road between 1st November 2020 and 31st October 2021? Answer for Taxi Fleet (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Taxi & PH Finances Question No: 2020/2692 Keith Prince What is the TFL Taxi & PH financial position for accounting periods 2018/19 & 2019/20 and why has the Mayor failed to publish the figures for these periods? Answer for TfL Taxi & PH Finances The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Peer Review of Phase 1 of UCL Study into London bus driver mortality from covid-19 Question No: 2020/2693 Keith Prince According to the Minutes of the TfL-UCL “Bus worker and Covid-19 Research Steering Group” Meetings published on TfL’s Website, it appears that Sir Michael Marmot was asked by the Head of TfL’s Safety, Health and Environment team to Peer Review Phase 1 but did not accept. What reasons were given for Sir Michael’s refusal?
Answer for Peer Review of Phase 1 of UCL Study into London bus driver mortality from covid-19 The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Debate over Covid-19 Risk Reduction Interventions Question No: 2020/2694 Keith Prince Section 6.17 of TfL’s 27 July “Response to UCL Initial Assessment of London Bus Driver Mortality from COVID-19 Report” states “There was debate over interventions that were not part of PHE advice. TfL asked the operators to continue to follow the PHE advice.” Please provide me with all documentary evidence related to that ‘debate’, including the instructions from TfL to Bus Operators to follow PHE advice at any date in 2020. Answer for Debate over Covid-19 Risk Reduction Interventions The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Advice about Middle Door Boarding Question No: 2020/2695 Keith Prince In your response to Question 2020/1728 you sent me (but did not publish) a 16 April Memo about the Middle Door Boarding Trial, but failed to send me “any drafts, analyses and correspondence (including emails or handwritten notes) associated with this decision” as I requested. When can I expect to receive this information? Answer for Advice about Middle Door Boarding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Overview and Precise Chronology of Covid-19 Risk Reduction Actions taken by Bus Operators Question No: 2020/2696 Keith Prince According to the Minutes of the TfL-UCL “Bus worker and Covid-19 Research Steering Group” Meetings published on TfL’s Website, TfL provided an overview and a precise chronology of steps taken by the bus operators following start of coronavirus pandemic.
Please provide me a copy of this overview and this precise chronology and any associated email and written communications. Answer for Overview and Precise Chronology of Covid-19 Risk Reduction Actions taken by Bus Operators The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Documentation Associated with Phase 1 of UCL IHE Covid-19 Report Question No: 2020/2697 Keith Prince According to the Minutes of the TfL-UCL “Bus worker and Covid-19 Research Steering Group” Meetings published on TfL’s Website, at several meetings TfL presented a detailed project plan for the remainder of phase 1 and the steps to communicate phase 1 findings. Please provide me with all final copies and drafts of presentations and steps to communicate phase 1 findings plus copies of any communications (emails, handwritten notes) associated with these including early drafts of presentations, press releases and plans to communicate phase 1 findings. Answer for Documentation Associated with Phase 1 of UCL IHE Covid-19 Report The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Protection of Bus Drivers reporting safety concerns on Social Media Question No: 2020/2698 Keith Prince It has come to my attention that Bus Drivers have been disciplined by their TfL Bus Contractor employers for reporting their evidenced safety concerns on social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, etc). Will you issue instructions to TfL’s Bus Contractors that (a) Bus Drivers reporting safety concerns on social media constitutes ‘protected speech’ (b) they are not to discipline any Bus Driver who reports his or her evidenced safety concerns on Social Media? Answer for Protection of Bus Drivers reporting safety concerns on Social Media The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Representation of Bus Drivers at Quarterly Bus Operator Safety Meeting Question No: 2020/2699 Keith Prince Section 2.1 of TfL’s “Response to UCL Initial Assessment of London Bus Driver Mortality from COVID-19 Report” mentions a quarterly safety meeting between TfL Bus Operations Senior Management and Bus Operators. Will you ensure that representatives of London Bus Drivers, TfL’s Safety Sustainability and Human Resources Panel and the London Assembly Transport Committee will be allowed to attend these meetings as observers? Answer for Representation of Bus Drivers at Quarterly Bus Operator Safety Meeting The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Protective Seals and Screens in TfL Bus Cabs Question No: 2020/2700 Keith Prince In your response to Question 2020/2526 you indicate that Drivers do not have to wear masks because of, inter alia, protective seals and screens that were installed in the cab “following work to minimise the risks to staff by Transport for London (TfL), Unite the union, and bus operators”. Did TfL receive any assurance from any independent competent authority that certifies that the protective screens and other measures described by you significantly reduce Covid-19 Risk to Bus Drivers? If so, can you please provide me with this official documentation? Answer for Protective Seals and Screens in TfL Bus Cabs The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
April 2020 Tripartite Agreement between TfL, Bus Operators and Unite the Union Question No: 2020/2701 Keith Prince In Question 2020/1724, I requested “all documentation including the actual agreements, memorandums, emails, drafts, meeting minutes and handwritten notes pertaining to the Tripartite Agreement (“The Bus Industry and its People Working Together to Support London“) signed between TfL, Bus Operators and Unite the Union in April 2020.” You only
sent me a copy of the final agreement. When can I expect to receive the rest of the documentation I requested? Answer for April 2020 Tripartite Agreement between TfL, Bus Operators and Unite the Union The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (1) Question No: 2020/2702 Keith Prince In response to Question 2020/2527, you mentioned the role of “TfL enforcement officers”, who are working together to educate passengers and enforce the requirement if necessary. How many TfL enforcement officers are there? Answer for TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (2) Question No: 2020/2703 Keith Prince What tasks were these TfL enforcement officers performing before they were withdrawn? TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 These officers are leading face covering compliance activity on Transport for London (TfL) networks, while also maintaining their work on other important safety activities. TfL’s Compliance, Policing, Operations and Security Directorate has approximately 400 officers who are involved in a range of enforcement and compliance activity to support staff and customers across all modes of transport. Their responsibilities cover revenue protection and ticket checking, tackling antisocial behaviour, road reliability and road safety, and taxi and private hire compliance activity.
TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (3) Question No: 2020/2704 Keith Prince On what date were these TfL enforcement officers deployed on their current duties? TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Officers from Transport for London’s (TfL’s) Compliance, Policing, Operations and Security (CPOS) Directorate have played an important role in supporting public health measures since the beginning of the pandemic. This has ranged from engaging with passengers when travel was restricted to essential journeys only, maintaining social distancing, supporting NHS staff during the use of the NHS Nightingale Hospital as well as face covering compliance. CPOS officers have been involved in activities to improve compliance with face coverings since the regulations came into effect on 15 June. They have engaged with and educated passengers on the new requirements, assisting in the distribution of over 100,000 complementary facemasks at the busiest train and bus stations. They began enforcing the regulations on 4 July 2020.
TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (4) Question No: 2020/2705 Keith Prince What training have the TfL enforcement officers had? TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (4) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Officers in Transport for London’s (TfL’s) Compliance, Policing Operations and Security Directorate are skilled compliance and enforcement officers. They have experience in dealing with a range of safety and security issues and engaging with members of the public about compliance with various rules and regulations in place across the transport network. Their core training includes customer service, conflict management and de-escalation, and report writing. Officers receive specific training that is relevant to the activity they undertake. They are well placed to use their skills and experience for face covering enforcement activity. TfL Officers received specific briefings for all face covering deployments. This covered public health (face covering) regulations, safe systems of work and the collection and reporting of information needed to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).
TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (5) Question No: 2020/2706 Keith Prince What are their rules of engagement if people refuse to wear a mask? TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (5) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London’s (TfL’s) enforcement of face coverings on public transport is focussed on achieving high levels of compliance, using the 4E approach (engage, explain, encourage, enforce) with the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) remaining a last resort. Officers will engage with customers to explain the requirements and determine if they have a good reason for not wearing a face covering. If the customer does not have an exemption, officers will encourage and educate customers on the need to comply. If these efforts remain unsuccessful, officers can refuse travel/access or direct passengers to leave the service/premises. Where passengers refuse to comply, a Fixed Penalty Notice can be issued but this will be a last resort. The focus is on achieving compliance rather than penalising passengers. This approach is proving very successful with compliance levels observed and reported at over 90 per cent. TfL officers have engaged with thousands of customers who were not wearing a face covering. Most complied by getting their face covering from their bag or pocket, putting it on correctly or purchasing one from a nearby shop.
TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (6) Question No: 2020/2707 Keith Prince How many people have TfL enforcement officers stopped? Answer for TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (6) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (7) Question No: 2020/2708 Keith Prince How many fines have TfL enforcement officers actually imposed? Answer for TfL Enforcement Officers and Masks on Public Transport (7) The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Bus Safety Data Question No: 2020/2709 Keith Prince A review of the recently-published Q1 TfL Bus Safety Data Release doesn’t show any entries for the Bus Drivers who died from Covid-19 in March. Will the Mayor undertake to update the Q1 data and ensure these deaths are included in future Bus Safety Data releases? Answer for Bus Safety Data The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (1) Question No: 2020/2710 Shaun Bailey How are plans for the recruitment of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm progressing? Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Our capital’s diversity is its greatest strength, yet our statues, road names and public spaces reflect a bygone era. We must celebrate the achievements and diversity of all in our city and commemorate those who have made London what it is – as well as discussing the complicated legacies of our public realm. That is why, in June, I announced the new Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. We have made good progress so far. I have formed a Partners Board to support the Commission, including Historic England, Arts Council England, Black Cultural Archives, English Heritage, ActionSpace and Shape Arts. We have consulted with borough leaders and set up a Borough Working Group and my team has responded to over 600 letters from Londoners about this topic. On 11 September, I launched an open call to recruit up to 15 independent members to the Commission. Applications will close on 5 October.
Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (2) Question No: 2020/2711 Shaun Bailey What do you anticipate will be the financial cost for the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm and what budget has so far been set aside? Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but many Londoners do not see themselves or their histories reflected in our public realm. The range of people immortalised in our statues, memorials and buildings do not capture who we are and what we represent. The Commission, working with London boroughs and partners across the city, will take forward a programme of work to address this. It will make recommendations for new commissions, including of statues, memorials, blue plaques, commemorations, murals, street art, street names and more; provide an overview of existing public art and the public realm in London; and create best practice on commissioning works. A budget is in development to support the Commission’s work, which will also be undertaken in partnership with boroughs, funders and other supporters. The GLA’s contribution will come from within the GLA’s existing allocation of the GLA Group budget and will be approved and published via a Mayoral Decision once confirmed.
Assaults on Police Officers Question No: 2020/2712 Shaun Bailey For 2019/20 please provide the number of police officers who have been attacked/assaulted, injured as a result of an attack or seriously injured. Please also provide a breakdown of the three categories listed. Assaults on Police Officers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Please see below the requested data for the period specified.
Injury degree FY2019/20 volume FY2019/20 % No Injury 3,337 51% Minor 2,734 42% Moderate 279 4% Threats Only 129 2% Serious 82 1%
TfL Pensions Question No: 2020/2713 Shaun Bailey What percent is the employer contribution rate Transport for London pays towards employee pensions? Answer for TfL Pensions The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Congestion Charge and Police Officers Question No: 2020/2714 Shaun Bailey Why are police officers not exempt from the congestion charge? Answer for Congestion Charge and Police Officers The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
GLA Campaigns Question No: 2020/2715 Shaun Bailey Since May 2016, please list the major publicity campaigns that have been run by all organisations within the GLA family and the total cost of each one? GLA Campaigns The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information required in order to answer your question fully was not possible to be collated within the statutory deadline.
Congestion Charge Increase Question No: 2020/2716 Shaun Bailey You have said the Congestion Charge increase is temporary – how long will it last? Answer for Congestion Charge Increase
The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Congestion Charge Consultation (1) Question No: 2020/2717 Shaun Bailey For the Congestion Charge increase proposals consultation – please provide a copy of the responses to the consultation? Answer for Congestion Charge Consultation (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Congestion Charge Consultation (2) Question No: 2020/2718 Shaun Bailey What percentage of those who replied to the Congestion Charge consultation were in favour of the proposals and what percentage were against them? Answer for Congestion Charge Consultation (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Congestion Charge Income Question No: 2020/2719 Shaun Bailey How much money has TfL received in income from the congestion charge each year? Congestion Charge Income The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) publishes details of income from all road user charging schemes in its Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, which is available on the TfL website at: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/annual-report. For ease of reference, the table below shows net income from the Congestion Charge for all years since the scheme was introduced in February 2003.
Net income from road user charging schemes is spent on improving transport in London in line with my Transport Strategy.
Congestion Charge net income from 17 Feb 2003 to 31 Mar 2020 Year ending 31-Mar-03 31-Mar-04 31-Mar-05 31-Mar-06 31-Mar-07 31-Mar-08 31-Mar-09 31-Mar-10 31-Mar-11
ULEZ Income Question No: 2020/2720 Shaun Bailey How much money has TfL received in income from the ULEZ scheme each year? Answer for ULEZ Income The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Westferry Development Question No: 2020/2721 Shaun Bailey What involvement did the GLA have in the planning process of the proposed Westferry Development? Answer for Westferry Development The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Cost of the Congestion Charge changes Question No: 2020/2722 Shaun Bailey What is the estimated cost to TfL of implementing the temporary changes to the Congestion Charge? Answer for Cost of the Congestion Charge changes The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Congestion Charge Revenue Question No: 2020/2723 Shaun Bailey What is the total additional revenue you expect to receive as a result of implementing the temporary changes to the Congestion Charge? Answer for Congestion Charge Revenue The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Power Question No: 2020/2724 Shaun Bailey How many households have now signed up to London Power? London Power The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 We publish customer numbers quarterly, to balance protecting the commercial position of London Power against our desire to be as transparent as possible. At the end of June 2020, London Power had 2,920 customers on supply. We will publish our next quarterly update, covering July 2020 – September 2020, in October 2020.
Culture at Risk Fund Question No: 2020/2725 Shaun Bailey Please provide a full list of all organisations and programmes that have received funding from the Culture at Risk Emergency Fund.
Culture at Risk Fund The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My £2.3 million Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is providing emergency assistance to sustain cultural and creative venues most at risk of falling into administration, and many of whom are unable to benefit from Government schemes or funding from Arts Council England. To date, £1.6 million has been distributed in grants to 97 independent cinemas and artist workspaces across London, supporting over 11,500 individuals. Recipients are listed on the London.gov website. An application process to award grants to grassroots music and LGBTQ+ venues is underway and I will announce recipients of these funds later in September. Additional specialist business support continues to be provided to creative businesses in all London boroughs through my Culture at Risk Office and the London Growth Hub. Further information about the fund can be found here.
GLA Loans Question No: 2020/2726 Shaun Bailey Please provide a list of all the developers who have received a loan from City Hall, the amount of each loan and for which purpose it was received? GLA Loans The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Details of loans provided to developers can be found in the following approval papers: DD1402, DD2147, DD2175/DD2346, MD1565, MD1664, MD2036, MD2190, MD2267, DD2160, MD2060, DD1483, MD2266, DD2305, DD2328, DD1271, DD2228, DD2066.
GLA Grants Question No: 2020/2727 Shaun Bailey Please provide a list of all developers who have received a grant from City Hall, the amount of the grant and for which purpose it was received? GLA Grants The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Details of grant allocations are set out below:
• AH 16-23 Programme : click HERE and MD2052 and MQ 2020/0069 sets out a summary of remaining allocations as at February 2020. Further details of the AH programmes are available on the GLA website. • Building Council Homes for Londoners Programme: click HERE • Additional allocations are approved as set out in the GLA scheme of delegations and are published each quarter at the following link: click HERE • Housing Zones programme approvals are available within the following approval papers: Designation of HZ (MD1457), Designation of HZ phase 2 (MD1597 and MD1632), Decisions approving individual HZ interventions with non-recoverable and recoverable grant: DD2171, DD1397, DD1484, DD1627, DD2004, DD2088, DD2060, DD2065, DD2070, DD2101, DD2182, DD2196, DD2199, DD2207, DD2208, DD2209, DD2212, DD2214, DD2215, DD2220, DD2221, DD2226, DD2231, DD2247, DD2186, DD2153, DD2161, DD2210, DD2171, DD2140, DD2079 • Innovation Fund: MD2122, DD2175, DD2269, DD2326, DD2280, MD2284
Developments Question No: 2020/2728 Shaun Bailey Please provide a list of all developments you have called in as well as which developer was behind each development? Answer for Developments The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Directing Refusal Question No: 2020/2729 Shaun Bailey How many schemes have you directed refusal since 2016 and please provide list of them? Answer for Directing Refusal The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Bonuses Question No: 2020/2730 Shaun Bailey How much money has TfL paid out in bonus payments in 2018/19 and 2019/20?
Answer for TfL Bonuses The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL’s Operating Account Question No: 2020/2731 Shaun Bailey Please provide details about TfL’s operating account for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 financial years? TfL’s Operating Account The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London publishes its quarterly performance reports on its website. The reports for 2018/19 and 2019/20 can be accessed via the link below: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/quarterly-progress-reports
City Hall Electricity Question No: 2020/2732 Shaun Bailey Which company currently supplies electricity to City Hall? City Hall Electricity The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Greater London Authority currently has one contract with Ecotricity in place for the supply of electricity to City Hall and Trafalgar Square.
Mayor’s Press Office Question No: 2020/2733 Shaun Bailey How much was spent on the Mayor’s press office in 2019/20 financial year? Answer for Mayor’s Press Office The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Taxi Spending Question No: 2020/2734 Shaun Bailey How much money did TfL spend on Taxis in the 2018-19 and 2019/20 financial years? Answer for TfL Taxi Spending The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Fire Brigade Communications Question No: 2020/2735 Shaun Bailey How much has London Fire Brigade spent on communications each year since 2015/16 to date? Answer for London Fire Brigade Communications The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
GLA Press Officers Question No: 2020/2736 Shaun Bailey How many press officers did the GLA employ in the 2019/20 year and what was the total cost of this? Answer for GLA Press Officers The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Press Officers Question No: 2020/2737 Shaun Bailey How many press officers did TfL employ in the 2019/20 year and what was the total cost of this? Answer for TfL Press Officers The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
LFB Press Officers Question No: 2020/2738 Shaun Bailey How many press officers did LFB employ in the 2019/20 year and what was the total cost of this? Answer for LFB Press Officers The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
MOPAC Press Officers Question No: 2020/2739 Shaun Bailey How many press officers did MOPAC employ in the 2019/20 year and what was the total cost of this? MOPAC Press Officers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 MOPAC does not employ any press officers. Through a shared services agreement, press office services have been provided to MOPAC by the central GLA press office since 2013, for which MOPAC pays an annual contribution of £87,000.
OPDC Press Officers Question No: 2020/2740 Shaun Bailey How many press officers did OPDC employ in the 2019/20 year and what was the total cost of this? OPDC Press Officers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 OPDC does not employ a press officer and did not during the year 2019/20. Press office duties are handled within OPDC’s communications and engagement function and supported by the Mayor of London’s press team.
LLDC Press Officers Question No: 2020/2741 Shaun Bailey How many press officers did the LLDC employ in the 2019/20 year and what was the total cost of this? Answer for LLDC Press Officers The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Waste and Recycling Board Press Officers Question No: 2020/2742 Shaun Bailey How many press officers did the London Waste and Recycling Board employ in the 2019/20 year and what was the total cost of this? London Waste and Recycling Board Press Officers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) is a statutory Board established by the GLA Act 2007. LWARB is a partnership of the Mayor of London and the London boroughs to improve waste and resource management and provides operational and behaviour change support to London’s waste authorities. It also delivers borough-level and London-wide communications support through campaigns such as London Recycles, Small Change Big Difference, and #LoveNotLandfill. LWARB does not employ any designated Press Officers. Two members of the Communications and Behaviour Change Team carry out press related duties, which account for around 15% of one FTE. The total cost of this was £10,800.
Breakdown of GLA Press Officers Question No: 2020/2743 Shaun Bailey Please can you provide a breakdown of how many press and media officers are employed by the GLA and in each of the functional bodies. Please can you also provide details of the associated costs? Answer for Breakdown of GLA Press Officers The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
TfL Bailout Meetings Question No: 2020/2744 Shaun Bailey During the TfL bailout discussions between the GLA/TfL and DFT, how many meetings (virtual or otherwise) took place, on what date did they take place and which GLA/TfL representatives attended which meeting? Answer for TfL Bailout Meetings The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Diversity in leadership Question No: 2020/2745 Shaun Bailey Trevor Phillips reports , in ‘The Colour of Power’, that diversity progress at leadership levels has stalled. But he says, “The fact that one person – the Prime Minister – is responsible for a third of the increase in ethnic minority individuals on the Colour of Power list, reveals that if there is a will to make a difference, then change is achievable.” Where specifically have you shown such a “will to change” in improving diversity at leadership levels and addressing the BAME pay gap within the GLA since May 2016? Answer for Diversity in leadership The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Living Wage Employers Question No: 2020/2747 Shaun Bailey What have you done to increase the number of living wage employers in London since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic? Answer for Living Wage Employers The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Infrastructure Plan Review Question No: 2020/2748 Shaun Bailey In light of the significant economic challenges London is facing as a result of covid-19, what have you done to review the London infrastructure plan 2050? London Infrastructure Plan Review The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 In the context of an economic recovery from Covid-19, investment in infrastructure has an important role as a stimulus for short-term economic activity and long-term economic gains. This is why one of the first announcements out of the London Recovery Board was on working with utilities to accelerate planned investment in London’s infrastructure. On the back of this, my team is considering more widely London’s infrastructure needs in the context of the pandemic. Our aim is to understand how infrastructure can help ignite London’s economic recovery and make London a fairer, greener and more resilient city.
Good Work Standard Review Question No: 2020/2749 Shaun Bailey How and when will you be reviewing your Good Work Standard in response to changes to the workplace due to the Covid-19 pandemic? Answer for Good Work Standard Review The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Vision for Tourism Review Question No: 2020/2750 Shaun Bailey How and when will you be reviewing your Vision for Tourism in response to the challenges to the tourism sector caused by Covid-19 pandemic? Answer for Vision for Tourism Review The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Food Board Pandemic Response Question No: 2020/2751 Shaun Bailey How has the London Food board been responding to the Covid-19 pandemic? London Food Board Pandemic Response The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The London Food Board has played an integral part in supporting and informing the response to the pandemic’s impact on the food system. In response to the increased demand for food aid and shortages of food supplies at community organisations and food banks in the early stages of the pandemic, GLA officers secured contributions from Board members such as FareShare as part of multi-partner efforts to establish Community Food Hubs in every borough, which helped ensure food supplies reached vulnerable groups. The Board subsequently established a dedicated sub-group to monitor demand for food aid across London and make recommendations for action. As a direct result of the sub-group’s work, every borough has now developed Food Transition Plans covering ongoing arrangements for providing food support during the transition from lockdown to recovery. A further sub-group of the board, consisting of public health officers from every borough and frontline community organisations, has also continued to meet to disseminate intelligence, best practice and updates on COVID-19’s ongoing impact on food insecurity, food supplies and health inequalities.
Young Professional Panel Pandemic Response Question No: 2020/2752 Shaun Bailey How is the Young Professional Panel responding to the Covid-19 pandemic? Young Professional Panel Pandemic Response The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I established the Young Professional Panel (YPP) to provide an independent and critical eye on my work programme in the infrastructure space and to ensure that it incorporates fresh ideas from tomorrow’s more diverse senior leadership, today. The YPP has been providing valuable insight on how they see the infrastructure sector being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and developing thinking to help my team as it considers London’s future infrastructure needs as the capital moves towards recovery. Please see a recent YPP blog post on the impact of Covid-19 for London’s infrastructure sector here. The YPP has also been providing feedback through the GLA’s Infrastructure team on the social and economic recovery missions the GLA is developing with partners at they evolve.
Infrastructure Advisory Panel Pandemic Response Question No: 2020/2753 Shaun Bailey How is the Infrastructure Advisory Panel responding to the Covid-19 pandemic? Infrastructure Advisory Panel Pandemic Response The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I established the Infrastructure Advisory Panel to bring together a range of experts in the sector to feed new ideas into the infrastructure agenda and support the delivery of my priorities. In response to the pandemic, my officers have been using the Infrastructure Advisory Panel’s experience and expertise to identify ways we can overcome London’s key infrastructure challenges and accelerate the delivery of infrastructure projects across the capital to boost London’s economy. Since work began on London’s economic recovery, the Advisory Panel has contributed in workshops on key infrastructure related topics including a session on London’s resilience post-Covid. Members have also helped in the development of thinking around London’s future infrastructure needs, considering how infrastructure can help ignite London’s economic recovery and make London a fairer, greener and more resilient city. As a diverse group of industry leaders, the panel are also advising us on how we can ensure a diverse and inclusive workforce in the infrastructure sector is at the heart of the recovery.
London Infrastructure Group Pandemic Response Question No: 2020/2754 Shaun Bailey How is the Mayor’s London Infrastructure Group responding to the Covid-19 pandemic? London Infrastructure Group Pandemic Response The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The London Infrastructure Group (LIG) brings together CEO-level representatives from the infrastructure sector, including organisations responsible for providing energy, water, telecoms and flood protection. My team has maintained regular communication with LIG members throughout the lockdown period to ensure that London’s infrastructure systems remain operational and that Londoners receive the services that they depend upon. In general, these organisations have done a fantastic job in keeping the city running despite the disruption that we have all faced. The infrastructure sector now has an important role to play in supporting London’s economic and social recovery. Through the London Recovery Board, I and my team have been working with LIG members to explore how they can bring forward planned and new investments to provide an additional boost to the economy and create jobs. In July we
announced a package of infrastructure works worth up to £1.5 billion in support of this objective.
Business Advisory Board Pandemic Response Question No: 2020/2755 Shaun Bailey How is the Mayor’s Business Advisory Board responding to London’s economic challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic? Answer for Business Advisory Board Pandemic Response The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
A City For All Londoners Review Question No: 2020/2756 Shaun Bailey How and when will you be reviewing your A City for all Londoners Strategy in light of changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic? Answer for A City For All Londoners Review The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Creating Employment Opportunities Question No: 2020/2757 Shaun Bailey How many employment opportunities have you created as a direct result of your employment schemes? Please give a breakdown by scheme, year and the amount of funding committed to each scheme. Answer for Creating Employment Opportunities The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Finance Commission Question No: 2020/2758 Shaun Bailey How has the London Finance Commission helped you to improve the tax and public spending arrangements for the city? London Finance Commission The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Both the initial London Finance Commission which reported under the last Mayor in 2013 and the second report in 2016 made a convincing case for fiscal devolution to London and the regions of England particularly in relation to property taxes such as council tax, business rates and stamp duty. The recommendations were endorsed by London Government collectively but have not yet been taken forward by the Government beyond some welcome but temporary devolution of funding delivered through the business rates retention system. All three property taxes are now fully devolved in Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland also has its own separate business rates and non domestic rating system. This has allowed the Governments of all three nations to respond more swiftly and creatively to provide support to businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic in a targeted way through rates relief and grant schemes which reflect their local economies. This is much more difficult in England where a one size fits all centrally directed approach with nationally set thresholds and rules can never truly reflect the complex and diverse local economies which exist across the country. This has meant many small and medium sized firms particularly in London have missed out on the help they need from the Government’s grant support schemes for businesses with fixed property costs due to the fact the qualifying rateable thresholds are simply too low. The Government is undertaking a fundamental review of business rates which I hope will lead to more radical reforms and further devolution of this tax which was run locally for nearly 390 years up to 1989. As we respond to the huge challenges, we now face arising from the COVID pandemic we need a new approach to managing taxes and public spending which reflects the diversity and complexity of England’s economy. That I think is the key message that I have learned around the delivery of public spending and developing tax measures – these decisions, in the majority of cases, are better designed and delivered locally. If Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can do this effectively there is no reason why London and the cities, counties and regions of England cannot do the same.
Met Trace Scheme Question No: 2020/2759 Shaun Bailey Please can you provide an update on the Met Trace Scheme? Answer for Met Trace Scheme
The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Inner and Outer London High Streets and Covid-19 Question No: 2020/2760 Shaun Bailey How are you supporting inner and outer London high streets when it comes to the different challenges they face as a result of Covid-19? Answer for Inner and Outer London High Streets and Covid-19 The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Bookable ‘space to work’ Question No: 2020/2762 Susan Hall At MQT in July, you mentioned you were working with councils to deliver bookable space to work for Londoners. Can you provide more information on this work, what is being delivered, where - and any associated costs? Answer for Bookable ‘space to work’ The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
FGM (1) Question No: 2020/2763 Susan Hall Please provide details of the number of FGM prosecutions versus convictions versus police recorded crime in London. Answer for FGM (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
FGM (2) Question No: 2020/2764 Susan Hall Please advise as to how much training to combat FGM is currently taking place in London within the police force. Answer for FGM (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
FGM (3) Question No: 2020/2765 Susan Hall What is the Mayor doing to incorporate action taken against FGM in his mayoral strategy? FGM (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 FGM is an abhorrent and illegal practice that violates the rights and bodies of women and girls, and there is zero tolerance for it. As stated in my Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, I support enforcement action and those who commit FGM should be punished, but a range of interventions is needed to tackle this practice. My grassroots community- based FGM campaign, ‘FGM Stops Here’, was launched in March 2020, and aims to change attitudes and behaviours on FGM. The campaign highlights the voices of four women with different experiences of FGM, calling for the end of FGM and encouraging others to turn away from it. The digital element has been very successful and well received, and MOPAC is working to adapt the outreach element due to Covid 19. MOPAC also funds a pan London Harmful Practices service as part of the Mayor’s VAWG Fund which includes supporting victims of FGM.
FGM (4) Question No: 2020/2766 Susan Hall What action is the Deputy Mayor taking against FGM? FGM (4) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The ‘FGM Stops Here’ campaign, launched in March 2020, highlights the voices of four women with different experiences of FGM, calling for the end of FGM and encouraging
others to reject the practice. The targeted digital element of the campaign has been well received, and MOPAC is working to adapt the outreach element in response to the pandemic. My VAWG Fund highlighted Harmful Practices as a priority area and awarded £1.5m to a specialist Pan London Harmful Practices support, engagement and training project. MOPAC comprehensively monitors the project to understand gaps in reporting, to better inform the MPS. Between January 2020 and June 2020 more than 330 women and girls have been able to access support through the project. MOPAC continues to work with a wide range of partners as part of the London Harmful Practices Working Group to tackle all forms of Harmful Practice, including FGM. I have invested over £7.5m into the London Community Response Fund and, out of £500k ring-fenced for MOPAC providers, over 20 VAWG specialist services received emergency funds to adapt during lockdown. This included those supporting women and girls affected by FGM.
FGM (5) Question No: 2020/2767 Susan Hall Is the Mayor aware that Nimco Ali OBE, founder of The Five Foundation has predicted a sharp rise in FGM during lockdown? Have you put any measures in place to mitigate this please? FGM (5) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am aware that services supporting victims of Harmful Practices have highlighted concerns around an increase in FGM. MOPAC participates in calls with the sector and partners through the London Harmful Practices Working Group, where issues and concerns have been raised and work with the group to share key resources as appropriate, including the Guidance for Schools and Colleges. City Hall and MOPAC are working closely with the Met, local authorities and the VAWG sector to ensure support for survivors is included in any planning decisions around recovery. My FGM campaign, ‘FGM Stops Here’, has continued through COVID-19, with a targeted digital campaign on social media. MOPAC is working with survivors, frontline professionals and activists to redevelop the outreach plan in the current environment. In addition, several organisations have been awarded emergency funding through the London Community Response Fund and Ministry of Justice to increase directly and adapt services for women and girls affected by FGM.
Forced Marriage (1) Question No: 2020/2768 Susan Hall Please provide details of the number of forced marriage prosecutions versus convictions versus police recorded crime in London over the last four years. Answer for Forced Marriage (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Forced Marriage (2) Question No: 2020/2769 Susan Hall Please advise as to how much training to combat forced marriage is currently taking place within the police force in London. Answer for Forced Marriage (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Forced Marriage (3) Question No: 2020/2770 Susan Hall Is the Mayor aware of the recent comment by Natasha Rattu, Chief Executive of Karma Nirvana, the charity campaigning against forced marriage, reporting a 150% increase in calls from teenagers during lockdown, relating to forced marriages in London? This has led to the Charity predicting a sharp rise in forced marriages taking place once lockdown eases. What is the Mayor able to do to disrupt this practice? Forced Marriage (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am aware of the increase in calls to services. MOPAC participates in regular calls with the sector and key partners, including Karma Nirvana, through the London Harmful Practices Working Group, where issues and concerns have been raised. MOPAC is linked into the communications from the group, sharing key resources including the Guidance for Schools and Colleges and the linked Schools Charter. They are supporting joint work around Harmful Practices and concerns regarding these hidden harms as children return to school.
My VAWG Fund highlighted Harmful Practices as a priority area for support and has funded 3 projects that provide specialist advocacy for women and girls who are at risk of Forced Marriage and wrap around support to victims. They work with multiple agencies, including the Forced Marriage Unit, MPS and Social Services to disrupt the practice and bring offenders in contact with the Criminal Justice System.
Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (1) Question No: 2020/2771 Susan Hall When does the Mayor expect the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm to report? Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 On 11 September I launched recruitment for members for the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. Commissioners will be appointed for an initial period of two years. The Commission will be co-chaired by my Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE and my Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard. I expect the Commission to hold its first meeting before the end of the year, where it will begin to agree its work plan and meeting schedule. I expect the Commission to report regularly throughout its meeting cycle. Meeting notes will be published regularly, and updates on the Commission’s work will be reported monthly in my Mayor’s Report and through press releases and events.
Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (2) Question No: 2020/2772 Susan Hall How and when will the Mayor report the work of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm? Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 On 11 September I launched recruitment for members for the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. Commissioners will be appointed for an initial period of two years. The Commission will be co-chaired by my Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE and my Deputy Mayor for my Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard. I expect the Commission to hold its first meeting before the end of the year, where it will begin to agree its work plan and meeting schedule.
Meeting notes will be published regularly, and updates on the Commission’s work will be reported monthly in my Mayor’s Report and through press releases and events.
Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (3) Question No: 2020/2773 Susan Hall How will the Mayor engage with local authorities and Londoners regarding the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm? Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Addressing this important issue is up to everyone - partnership is essential. As well as City Hall, boroughs across London, such as Hackney, Waltham Forest and Lambeth, are also addressing diversity in the public realm. City of London Corporation also launched their own extensive consultation earlier this month. The Commission has been welcomed by the boroughs, many of which have already nominated a lead Councillor or officer. My teams have consulted with Councils on the terms of reference for the Commission and on recruitment. My Deputy Mayors, Justine Simons and Debbie Weekes- Bernard met with 11 Council Leaders on 3 September at which it was agreed to create a Borough Working Group. My community engagement team will ensure that a wide range of community groups are represented in stakeholder engagement, including for the diverse recruitment to the Commission itself. We have already received 600 letters from Londoners, showing the strength of direct engagement from the public.
TfL Bonuses Question No: 2020/2774 Susan Hall It was reported in June that TfL bonuses from last year would be delayed until next year, and that no bonuses would be awarded at all for this year. Can you confirm whether this is correct, whether it related to all staff, and/or whether some staff have indeed received either bonuses or performance-related pay (with details if so)? Answer for TfL Bonuses The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Pay Increases Question No: 2020/2775 Susan Hall Can you confirm any confirmed or anticipated TfL pay award/increases for 2019/20 and 2020/21 and the staffing grades these have or will apply to? Answer for TfL Pay Increases The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
384 bus service Question No: 2020/2776 Susan Hall Do you plan to restore the 384 bus service to the route in operation up to 28 August 2020? Answer for 384 bus service The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Car park developments Question No: 2020/2777 Susan Hall Will you consider abandoning the plans to build over station car parks at High Barnet, Cockfosters, Stanmore, Canons Park, Rayners Lane and Arnos Grove? Car park developments The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 No. I have always been clear that my top housing priority as Mayor is to build more genuinely affordable homes, and the record shows my approach is working. Developing Transport for London’s (TfL) underutilised land offers a great opportunity to provide the genuinely affordable homes that Londoners desperately need, while also generating vital revenue to reinvest in the transport network. TfL continues to work with local communities and boroughs to build new homes on its land.
Victoria Quarter site Question No: 2020/2778 Susan Hall Will you uphold the decision of Barnet Council to reject the planning application submitted this year by One Housing and Fairview Homes for the Victoria Quarter site in New Barnet? Answer for Victoria Quarter site The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Commissioning Fund Question No: 2020/2779 Susan Hall How much of the £400k revenue funding has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Commissioning Fund The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Commissioning Fund is an historic fund from 2015-2017. All of the £400k revenue funding has been spent supporting projects in Bexley, Bromley, Hounslow, Kingston, Lambeth, Ealing, Hackney and Sutton. None of this funding was reallocated to other projects.
London Co-Investment Fund (LCIF) Question No: 2020/2780 Susan Hall How much of this £85m fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Answer for London Co-Investment Fund (LCIF) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Development Support Funding Question No: 2020/2781 Susan Hall How much of this £1.5m fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Development Support Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Of the £1.5m that was ring fenced for this fund, £1,424,450 was allocated by decision DD 2195 and £1,295,255 has been spent to date. As all projects have claimed their final amounts the Fund is now closed. There is £204,745 remaining from the original £1.5m. I have reallocated this funding to the COVID-19 Emergency Recovery Support Fund (ERSF), which accepted bids from colleges over the summer for costs associated with them making physical adjustments to the way they deliver learning.
Crowdfund London 2019 Question No: 2020/2782 Susan Hall How much of this £1m fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Crowdfund London 2019 The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Of the total £1m allocated, £323,500 has been contractually committed to 13 projects across London, £57,500 of which has been spent. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the remaining £676,500 allocation has been offered as savings to help meet the budget pressures being faced across the GLA group.
Crowdfund London 2020 Question No: 2020/2783 Susan Hall What is the total funding pot for this year’s Crowdfund London? How much of this fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Crowdfund London 2020 The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
Of the total £1 million allocated, £323,500 has been contractually committed to 13 projects across London, £57,500 of which has been spent. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the remaining £676,500 allocation has been offered as savings to help meet the budget pressures being faced across the GLA group.
Small Projects and Equipment Fund Question No: 2020/2784 Susan Hall What is the total funding pot for this scheme? How much of this fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Small Projects and Equipment Fund The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The total funding pot is £8m across two funding rounds. The spend to date is just over £3m and there are still 45 projects in delivery. The programme is due to close in 2024. There is currently £175k of underspend from completed and withdrawn projects, which is being reallocated to projects from the approved reserve list of Small Projects and Equipment Fund projects
Good Growth Fund Question No: 2020/2785 Susan Hall What is the total funding pot for the Good Growth Fund? How much of this fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Good Growth Fund The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Good Growth Fund has allocated £75 million across 3 rounds to 138 projects across London. 80 of these will receive a share of £72 million to deliver capital projects that help empower people, make better places and grow prosperity across London. 56 of these are development projects, which will each receive a share of £3 million. Development projects enable us to work with a broader range of partners to generate a pipeline of robust and varied projects across London. The fund is fully committed, meaning there is no budget to be reallocated, without either withdrawing from signed contracts or withdrawing money from organisations that have a reasonable expectation of receiving it based on round 3 award decisions.
To date £22.2m of committed funding has been spent - broadly in line with forecasts.
Homelessness Change Question No: 2020/2786 Susan Hall How much of this £40m fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Homelessness Change The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As at 31 August 2020, c£32m of funding has been allocated through my Homelessness Change and Platform for Life programme to support delivery of c660 homes for people who become or are at risk of homelessness, including young people and victims of domestic abuse. Of the funding allocated, c£21m has been spent and c£8m remains to be allocated. None of the funding has been reallocated to other projects.
Scheme to help rough sleepers with mental health needs Question No: 2020/2787 Susan Hall How much of this £2.35m fund, announced in October 2019, has been spent to date, and how many people have been helped by this scheme? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Scheme to help rough sleepers with mental health needs The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The full £2.35m fund is committed (see MD2481). The bulk of this funding is grant- funding four Mental Health Trust areas, covering 16 London boroughs, to assist people with mental health support needs who are sleeping rough. These are East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), North East London NHS Foundation trust (NELFT), Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), and West London NHS Trust (WLFT). Each trust has developed their own specialist area team within their existing structures whose aims and objectives fit with those of the Mayor’s rough sleeping and mental health programme. These new teams, which are funded for two years, were mobilised by these trusts during the first three months of 2020. As of 30June, 192 people had been helped by the programme.
Community-led housing Question No: 2020/2788 Susan Hall How much of this £38m fund, announced in January 2019, has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? How many homes have been provided and on which schemes? Community-led housing The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As at 31 August 2020, c£12.5m of funding has been committed through my Community Housing Fund to support delivery of new community-led homes across London. Of this, c£1.6m has been spent. This funding is supporting delivery of 129 homes across five schemes and the Community Led Housing Hub which supports community groups to develop community-led housing schemes. Since its launch the Hub has assisted over 90 community-led housing groups and 10 London boroughs. £25.5 remains to be allocated. None of the funding has been reallocated to other projects.
Homebuilding Capacity Fund Question No: 2020/2789 Susan Hall How much of this £10m fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Homebuilding Capacity Fund The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As of 9 September 2020, £3,602,512.26 of the £10m fund has been spent. The balance is contractually committed leaving no funding unallocated and there has been no funding reallocated to other projects.
Real Lettings Property Fund 2 Question No: 2020/2790 Susan Hall What is the total funding pot for this scheme, following the original £60m announced in February 2018? How much of this fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? How many homes have been provided by this scheme, how many people have been helped? Real Lettings Property Fund 2
The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The total funding pot for the Real Lettings Property Fund 2 (RLPF2) is at £98.51m (as of 10/09/20). Current spend of the RLPF2 is at £97,837,278 (as of 10/09/20), with final committed funds to reach the total funding pot of £98.51m. The committed total is not yet finalised due to the last few properties undergoing refurbishment works. Resonance have drawn down £19.6m from the Innovation Fund and the Move-On Fund. The funding has not be reallocated to other projects. Resonance and St Mungo’s have confirmed that 327 properties have handed over, with 362 tenancies on the scheme, housing a total of 805 adults and children. There is one 2-bed property completed and ready for inspection, and a further four properties in refurbishment (one 2-bed and one 3-bed). The intention is that these will be completed within 8 weeks and achieve a total of 332 properties in total.
Welfare to Wellbeing Question No: 2020/2791 Susan Hall How much of this £180k fund for homeless veterans has been spent to date, and how many people have been helped by this scheme? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? Welfare to Wellbeing The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 All of the £180k funding for homeless veterans has been committed (see MD2214). This money has funded Veteran Aid’s Welfare to Wellbeing project since October 2017. In that time, the project has supported over 400 homeless veterans into accommodation and provided a range of other assistance depending on people’s individual needs and circumstances.
Land Fund Question No: 2020/2792 Susan Hall What is the total funding pot for this scheme, following the original £250m announced in September 2017? How much of this fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? How many homes have been provided and on which schemes? Answer for Land Fund The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Move-on accommodation Question No: 2020/2793 Susan Hall How much of this £50m fund has been spent to date? How much money remains in the fund? Has any of this funding been reallocated to other projects, and if so how much? How many homes have been provided by this scheme, how many people have been helped? Move-on accommodation The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As at 31 August 2020, c£40m of funding has been allocated through my Move on programme to support delivery of c600 homes for people moving on from hostels and refuges. Of the funding allocated, c£8.5m has been spent and c£10m remains to be allocated. 97 homes have completed with at least 67 people moving into those properties already and nominations underway for the remainder.
TfL and Dettol partnership Question No: 2020/2794 Susan Hall How much revenue was generated for TfL as a result of the recent partnership campaign with Dettol? TfL and Dettol partnership The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 The Dettol partnership will see 874 hand sanitiser units branded and filled with the Dettol product. The partnership runs between 14 September to 14December. Dettol will be providing 30,000 litres of its product. Transport for London has generated £350,000 in revenue through this partnership.
Workforce Integration Network Funding Question No: 2020/2795 Susan Hall How much funding has the Workforce Integration Network received from you for each year since May 2016? Workforce Integration Network Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Workforce Integration Network (WIN) programme was launched in May 2018. Across 2018/19 - 2019/20 WIN has been allocated a total budget of £330,000.
The WIN programme has recently been given approval for a total budget of £380,000 for 2020/21.
Workforce Integration Network Employment Opportunities Question No: 2020/2796 Susan Hall How many young black men aged between 16 and 24 have found employment through the workforce integration network? Please give a breakdown by year and sector? Workforce Integration Network Employment Opportunities The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Workforce Integration Network (WIN) was designed to address workplace inequalities and the impact this has on specific groups. The programme focuses on supporting systemic change within the tech and construction sectors - working with businesses to improve their policies and practices to be more inclusive and improving young Black men’s to access work by connecting them with employers, training and other opportunities. Over the last year the programme has engaged over 100 businesses on the specific issue of underrepresentation of young Black men in the workplace. We delivered employability pilots earlier in the year and the next phase of WIN will include direct employability support for young Black men in our target sectors. We will monitor the number of young black men entering employment as a result of this intervention. Over 1000 under-represented young people have engaged with the programme to date.
Workforce Integration Programme and Covid-19 Question No: 2020/2797 Susan Hall How is the workforce integration network responding to the jobs crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic? Workforce Integration Programme and Covid-19 The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The job crisis caused by COVID-19 calls for a doubling of our efforts to prevent Londoners from BAME communities suffering deep economic hardship over the next few months. Across City Hall the pandemic has required us to quickly adapt programmes to deliver in this new context. For WIN this has meant moving parts of the engagement online, particularly our engagement with young people. Our new employability programmes will be delivered virtually in parts, and we will continue to build relationships with growth sectors
where there are likely to be new opportunities as a result of the pandemic and lockdown, such as the green infrastructure sector. We will work with businesses across London, to look at their policies and practices to ‘build back better’, ensuring that the recovery is fairer as we move towards a city where all Londoners can thrive.
Mayor’s Construction Academy Funding Question No: 2020/2798 Susan Hall How much funding has the Mayor’s Construction Academy received each year since May 2016? Mayor’s Construction Academy Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The total lifetime budget for the Mayors Construction Academy (MCA) programme was £12.2m (£5m revenue and £7.2m capital). This has now been reduced to c£11.7m as unallocated funds relating to marketing and funding not allocated in the round two hub procurement, were returned to support London’s recovery in June 2020. Since the MCA went live in 2018/19 it has defrayed £321k in 2018/19 and £2.254m in 2019/20. In 2020/21 spend of £2.764m is forecast, £5.740m in 2021/22 and £591k in 2022/23.
Mayor’s Construction Academy Training Question No: 2020/2799 Susan Hall Since the scheme’s launch, how many Londoners have received access to training through the Mayor’s Construction Academy and how many of those have gone on to get a job in this field as a direct result? Mayor’s Construction Academy Training The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) is designed to help more Londoners train in the skills they need to access construction industry vacancies across London. The MCA hub programme funds local coordination activity within partnerships of training providers, employers, local authorities and other organisations delivering in the sector to support Londoners to access learning and secure employment. In the thirteen months of delivery reported to the end of Q4 2019/20, 6,830 Londoners completed construction training through hub partners and 1,329 started employment or an
apprenticeship in the construction sector. The MCA team are currently undertaking a data reconciliation exercise with all hubs to capture any performance data that was not reported as a result of interruptions to delivery arising from COVID-19. This will be finalised this month and published as part of Q2 reporting process in October 2020.
Mayor’s Construction Academy Covid-19 Response Question No: 2020/2800 Susan Hall How is the Mayor’s Construction Academy responding to the jobs crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic? Mayor’s Construction Academy Covid-19 Response The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) aims to improve the supply of skills construction workers required by the sector to ensure all Londoners can access the training and employment opportunities they need. During the COVID-19 crisis, MCA hub coordinators provided support to construction SMEs through the London Growth Hub as well as supporting furloughed apprentices, maintaining engagement with learners and responding to hub needs. As the capital emerges from lockdown, hub coordinators are responding to the jobs crisis by reverting to their original core activity, focussing on maximising local partnerships and coordination activity between employers and construction skills training providers. This will help to ensure that forthcoming opportunities will be filled by suitably trained Londoners, including those from under-represented groups.
Skills for Londoners Capital Fund (1) Question No: 2020/2801 Susan Hall How much of the £82m Skills for Londoners Capital Fund has been spent to date and has already been committed to future projects? Please give a breakdown of the projects the fund has been spent on. Skills for Londoners Capital Fund (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 £82m was allocated for the second round of my Skills for Londoners Capital Fund, Mayor’s Construction Academy and Small Project and Equipment Fund with projects entering into grant from April 2019 onwards. £6.4m has been spent to date and a further £55.4m is committed to future projects, the majority of which are in delivery. The remaining £20.2m is funding the COVID-19 Emergency Recovery Support Fund (ERSF) and the COVID Contingency Fund.
Breakdown of the projects the fund has been spent on so far: Amount spent to Provider Project Name date £m HCUC (Harrow College and Digital and Skills for Work 3.8 Uxbridge College) Academy Barking and Dagenham College Resourcing – IOT Industrial 0.8 Digitalisation HCUC (Harrow College and Construction Skills Centre 1.3 Uxbridge College) Simian Risk Management Waltham Forest BECI Centre 0.2 Mary Ward Settlement The Mary Ward Adult 0.3 Education Centre East Total 6.4
Skills for Londoners Capital Fund (2) Question No: 2020/2802 Susan Hall How many Londoners have been supported into apprenticeships or into to the highest levels of vocational and technical study as a direct result of has the Skills for Londoners Capital Fund since its creation? Please give a breakdown by year and sector. Skills for Londoners Capital Fund (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My Skills for Londoners Capital Fund was created in 2017, since then 29 projects, 2 large projects and 27 smaller projects have completed. Projects report on their outputs in October, in line with the academic year. The programme only collects data on apprenticeship starts and not by sector. There have been 289 apprenticeship starts reported but this will increase as projects report on their figures after October.
2018/19 2019/20 Total Apprenticeship starts 83 206 289
Digital Talent Programme Funding Question No: 2020/2803 Susan Hall How much of the £7m Digital Talent Programme Budget has been spent to date, committed to future projects and left unallocated? Please give a breakdown of the projects the fund has been spent on.
Digital Talent Programme Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The sum of £3,342,006 has been spent to date on the Digital Talent Programme, whilst a total of £2,413,656 is committed till the end of the programme. £101,717 is currently uncommitted. The Digital Talent Programme’s initial budget allocation of £7m funding (£5m from LEAP, match-funded with £2m from European Social Fund (ESF)), is now £5.8m, primarily due to reduced expenditure on ESF match-funding projects. Breakdown of projects funded by the Digital Talent Programme
Project Description Provider(s) Funding Strand 1: Digital LabsOne provider delivered a series of Tech £105,115 curriculum review sessions with industry stakeholder to Partnership ensure that the delivery of the Digital Skills Training projects meet industry needs and requirements.
Strand 2.1: Digital Skills Training Six providers are Livity £100,000 training young Londoners, across a range of digital specialisms from front‑end web development, digital marketing and gaming to visual effects. WKCIC £98,700 A New Direction £99,500 Freeformers [ESF co-funded] £9,794 Newham [ESF co-funded] £99,588 New City [ESF co-funded] £71,143
Strand 2.2: Young EntrepreneursTwo providers are Capital £400,000 preparing, coaching and supporting young people who Enterprise have good business ideas, in the planning and development of a start-up, through different levels of support including an intense internship or accelerator programme. A New Direction £330,000
Strand 2.3: Digital Work PlacementsTwo providers will WKCIC £50,000 support young Londoners into digital work placements in the creative media sectors. A New Direction £167,969
Strand 3: Higher Level Digital SkillsOne provider is Newham [ESF £1,000,000 leading a consortium to improve the relevance of higher co-funded] digital skills training (Level 4+) through university-SME partnerships and industry placements.
Strand 4: Capital FundingCapital funding is made Livity £15,600 available for all existing Digital Talent delivery partners to support their project delivery. WKCIC (Digital Bootcamp) £110,000 A New Direction (Digital Bootcamp) £50,342 Newham College (Digital Skills) £250,000 New City College £250,000 Capital Enterprise £110,270 A New Direction (Young Entrepreneurs) £221,660 London CLC £328,385 Newham College (Digital Grid) £275,000 WKCIC (Digital Work Placement) £100,000 A New Direction (Digital Work Placement) £200,000
Strand 5: CPD for Digital Educators One provider is London CLC £588,856 training and supporting educators from secondary schools, sixth form colleges, private skills providers, FE colleges and youth organisations to improve their digital skills and confidence, share best practice and improve their career guidance offer.
Digital Talent Programme Opportunities Question No: 2020/2804 Susan Hall How many opportunities for 16-24 year olds to “gain digital skills, careers advice, and support to set up their own business in the technology sector” have been created each year as a direct result of the Digital Talent Programme? Digital Talent Programme Opportunities The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 On the Young Entrepreneurs strand of the Digital Talent Programme, delivered by two providers, 394 young Londoners (244 in 2019/20 and 150 in 2020/21) have received training and support in business development, entrepreneurial and employability skills, industry mentoring, mental health and wellbeing support, access to placements and wider opportunities in the tech sector. So far, 38 start-ups have been supported as a result of the programme.
Connected London Team Funding Question No: 2020/2805 Susan Hall How much has been spent on the Connected London Team since its creation in Autumn 2017 and how many more Londoners and businesses are connected as a direct result of their work? Connected London Team Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Connected London team has employed three full time staff members since September 2017, this has cost a total of approximately £500,000 over a three-year period. Since creation the team has worked closely with TfL and London’s boroughs in securing over £41m to improve full fibre connectivity across London. Procurement for a supplier who will deliver the connections is due to complete this year. Once the funding is delivered it is estimated that over 500 public sector premises will be connected and over 500,000 residential premises will be able to order a full fibre connection as a result of the grant funding projects, so I think the Connected London team represents excellent value for money.
Smart London Funding Question No: 2020/2806 Susan Hall How much has been spent on Smart London programmes to date and how much has been committed to future programmes? Please give a breakdown of programme and year.
Smart London Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The programmes initiated or overseen by the Chief Digital Officer for London as part of the Smarter London Together roadmap are funded within existing budgets; by specific GLA policy areas, notably Connected London and the Digital Talent Programme; support from the European Commission ending 2021; or by one-off collaborations with external partners. The Smart London team directly supports the London Office of Technology & Innovation at London Councils £100k/annum from 2018-21. The Chief Digital Officer also commissioned a discovery for the new Datastore with the Open Data Institute (£50k) and support for work on cyber security (£50k) from CIU budgets in 2019. The Smart London team also manages the Sharing Cities Programme which draws on €24 million in EU funding to trial smart cities technology across six European cities.
Smarter London Together Question No: 2020/2807 Susan Hall How many user-designed services have been created as part of your Smarter London Together Scheme and how much funding has been given to these services? Smarter London Together The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am committed to creating user-designed services that meet the needs of Londoners. We use the Government Service Standard approach of identifying user need as a basis for developing services, and have undertaken service standard assessments of a number of GLA services. The results and recommendations of the assessments of GLA-OPS, Talk London, Accessible Housing, European Londoners advice and guidance, the Good Work Standard and Team London all can be found on LocalGov Digital. As of March 2020, all digital, data and technology services developed by the GLA will follow user-centred design principles as set out in the forthcoming Digital, Data and Technology Strategy and overseen by the GLA’s internal Digital Board. Following a service assessment of the London Datastore in summer 2019, my Chief Digital Officer requested a discovery, undertaken by the Open Data Institute at a cost of £50k, to recommend improvements to the Datastore in a future rebuild of the platform. This work was supplemented by in-kind support from Bloomberg Associates, delivered by Public Digital, in 2020. The Civic Innovation Challenge programme has also produced user-designed services as part of its core design and within existing budgets.
The Mayor’s Civic Innovation Challenge Spending Question No: 2020/2808 Susan Hall How much has been spent on the Mayor’s Civic Innovation Challenge to date and how much funding remains? Please give a breakdown of projects which have been awarded funds. Answer for The Mayor’s Civic Innovation Challenge Spending The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Techinvest Funding Question No: 2020/2809 Susan Hall How much funding has been awarded through the Techinvest programme since its launch and how much funding still remains? Answer for Techinvest Funding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Brexit-Related Projects Spending Question No: 2020/2810 Susan Hall How much have you spent on Brexit-related projects and how much funding is ring-fenced for future projects? Please give a breakdown of funding per project. Answer for Brexit-Related Projects Spending The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Brexit-related projects advertising spending Question No: 2020/2811 Susan Hall How much has been spent to date on advertising for Brexit-related projects? Please give a breakdown by project or campaign.
Answer for Brexit-related projects advertising spending The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Better Futures Programme Funding Question No: 2020/2812 Susan Hall How much funding have you put into the Better Futures Programme and of that funding, how much has been allocated and unallocated? Better Futures Programme Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Better Futures is a £4.26m programme, led by the GLA in partnership with leading cleantech organisations from the public and private sectors in London. The project is part- funded (50%) by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with the GLA and the programme delivery partners providing match funding. The GLA has committed a total of £415,596 match funding to this programme from February 2017 to December 2022 all of which has been allocated for forecasted expenditure and £228,039 of which has been spent to 30th June 2020.
Better Futures Businesses Question No: 2020/2813 Susan Hall How many businesses have benefitted from the Better Futures Programme? Better Futures Businesses The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Launched in 2017, Better Futures is a six-year programme that aims to give over 150 SMEs access to the technical and business expertise that will help them optimise prototypes and services for the market and develop their business for growth investment. To date, a total of 298 businesses have expressed interest in joining the Better Futures programme. 165 of these were found to be ineligible. 121 London-based cleantech businesses have registered on the programme and have accessed one or more elements of support including innovation support or advice, support to develop a product or service, or collaboration with an academic institution.
Medtech London Funding Question No: 2020/2814 Susan Hall How much funding have you given to Medtech London? Please give a breakdown by year. Answer for Medtech London Funding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Medcity Funding Question No: 2020/2815 Susan Hall How much funding have you given to MedCity since the start of your Mayoralty? Please give a breakdown by year. Answer for Medcity Funding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Good Food Retail Projects Funding Question No: 2020/2816 Susan Hall How much funding have you made available to Good Food Retail projects and of this, how much has been allocated and unallocated? Good Food Retail Projects Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 In my London Food Strategy I committed to help improve access to healthy, affordable and sustainable food. I have made £60,000 available over the last two years to ten boroughs, providing them with funding of up to £5,000 each to develop a Good Food Retail Plan or Project, as well as providing £10,000 funding to Sustain (the alliance of better food and farming) towards their work on good food retail. All £60,000 has been allocated.
Good Food Retail Projects Applications Question No: 2020/2817 Susan Hall How many applications have you received for Good Food Retail projects?
Good Food Retail Projects Applications The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 For the first round of funding, my Food Team received 14 applications, of which 5 were successful (Bexley, Camden, Croydon, Newham and Kensington & Chelsea). In the second round of funding, they received 8 applications, of which 5 were successful. (Enfield, Greenwich, Haringey, Kingston and Redbridge).
London Growth Hub Funding Question No: 2020/2818 Susan Hall How much funding have you invested into the London growth hub and measurable objectives has it achieved? Answer for London Growth Hub Funding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Simulator Funding Question No: 2020/2819 Susan Hall How much funding have you invested into the London Simulator and what measurable objectives has it achieved? Answer for London Simulator Funding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London & Partners GLA Funding Question No: 2020/2820 Susan Hall How does the £13.6m of GLA funding for London & Partners represent value for money for London at a time where Londoners are facing economic hardship as a result of the covid-19 pandemic? Answer for London & Partners GLA Funding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
London Is Open Campaign Funding Question No: 2020/2821 Susan Hall How much funding have you given to the #LondonIsOpen Campaign each year since its creation in 2016? Answer for London Is Open Campaign Funding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Prince Harry Question No: 2020/2822 Susan Hall Does Prince Harry still receive police protection by the MPS? If so, how much has this cost in total since he and his family moved abroad? Note 1: Please include costs for both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Note 2: By costs, this means wages, overtime, expenses, travel, accommodation etc Prince Harry The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The MPS will not give out protection details for security reasons, so can neither confirm nor deny the above.
Police Federation Feedback Question No: 2020/2823 Susan Hall Will the MPS allow the Police Federation a comment section, similar to the Diversity Implications Section, on all new policy documents? Police Federation Feedback The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) already has a process in place through which it consults and engages via a partnership framework agreement with trade unions, the Met Police Federation and police staff associations on policy changes. Aspects of this consultation are required by law (with specific stakeholders and not others) whilst other aspects are undertaken as best practice to ensure that a range of views are considered.
Single Crewing Question No: 2020/2824 Susan Hall What is the current MPS policy on single crewing and is there any plan to change this? Single Crewing The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The composition of vehicle crews is an operational decision for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The MPS has advised that there is no universal policy and that the decision is dynamically assessed by supervisors on a daily basis. The decision will be influenced by factors such as time of day and week; type of operational duty being performed; information and intelligence; and the type of vehicle being used. Some units will always deploy with two or more officers due to the operational requirements of their role, for example Armed Response Vehicles. There are currently no plans to make any changes to this approach.
Tasers Question No: 2020/2825 Susan Hall What is the current number of Tasers in the MPS and are there any plans to increase this number? Tasers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 There are currently 5,020 Taser devices held by the MPS. This comprises 4,119 Taser X2s (current device) and 901 Taser X26’s (old device). This number is set to rise temporarily by the end of 2020, when the MPS expects to purchase 723 Taser T7s (new, recently approved device) as a replacement for those units
using the old X26 only. Following conversion to the T7, the Taser X26s will be disposed of, meaning that the overall number of Tasers held by the MPS will decrease slightly.
IPCC/IOPC investigations Question No: 2020/2826 Susan Hall For each of the past five years, what is the average time of IPCC/IOPC investigations (From start to conclusion)? IPCC/IOPC investigations The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Information on IOPC, previously IPCC, investigation timeliness is not held by MOPAC. Information is available on the IOPC website: https://policeconduct.gov.uk/who-we- are/accountability-and-performance
Police mental health Question No: 2020/2827 Susan Hall Has the MPC considered the use of a counsellor messaging service as an option to complement existing mental health services for police officers? Police mental health The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has introduced an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) through its Occupation Health provider Optima Health. The EAP gives access to 24/7 counselling and emotional support. Services available include: Counselling, Legal Advice, Debt Advice, and a wellbeing online platform for all employees including a Health Risk Assessment. Rather than using a counsellor text messaging service; the EAP includes direct telephone assessment by a counsellor followed by routing into an agreed counselling support pathway.
Young Londoners Fund Question No: 2020/2828 Susan Hall Please can you provide an update on the future of the Young Londoners Fund? Young Londoners Fund
The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I have granted funds from the Young Londoners Fund to more than 300 education, sport and cultural activity projects which are providing positive opportunities for over 110,000 young Londoners during the four years to December 2022. In July, I announced further investment of £2.1m, made up of £1.6m from the Young Londoners Fund and £500k from my Violence Reduction Unit, to deliver activities over the next six months to improve young Londoners wellbeing, skills and opportunities. This activity is set to provide vital support for 15,000 more young Londoners as COVID-19 lockdown measures ease. In my 2020/21 budget I allocated £25m to build on the Young Londoners Fund in future years providing new funding for projects and programmes that provide positive opportunities for disadvantaged young people and help steer them away from crime.
MOPAC Public Engagement Funding Question No: 2020/2829 Susan Hall Please can you provide an update on the future of MOPAC Public Engagement Funding? MOPAC Public Engagement Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Public engagement is, and will continue to be, an important aspect of the work of both MOPAC and the Met Police. As a result of the unprecedented effects of Covid19, like many other organisations, MOPAC is prioritising funding to respond to the crisis and support our most vulnerable citizens. As a matter of urgency, officers are working to establish the new demands on City Hall, the police and victims’ services and as part of that are reviewing all discretionary funding streams. Officers are of course, working to resolve these matters as quickly as possible and continue to update Safer Neighbourhood Boards on developments.
MOPAC Victims Fund Question No: 2020/2830 Susan Hall Please can you provide an update on the future of the MOPAC Victims Fund? MOPAC Victims Fund The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 MOPAC is currently reviewing the Victims Small Grant Fund in light of the range of small grants funding streams that have been deployed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,
including the London Community Response Fund which I have supported. MOPAC remains committed to supporting VCSE providers of local victim support services and expect to provide partners with an update on the future of the Victims Small Grants Fund in October 2020.
VRU Community Seed Funding Question No: 2020/2831 Susan Hall Please can you provide an update on the future of VRU Community Seed Funding? VRU Community Seed Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London’s community-led groups are showing the very best of our city by helping to support our most vulnerable communities during difficult times. The VRU’s investment programme supports a range of community-led organisations, including a parents and carers network and a leadership programme for 100 community youth workers across the capital. Building on the success of the Community Seed Fund, the contract of which is ending in September, the VRU has announced funding of £2.38 million to provide extra support for young Londoners returning to school who have been most disadvantaged by missing out on valuable education during the covid-19 pandemic. Included in the package of investment is £1.38 million for community-led groups to support those young Londoners most in-need, providing them with skills, opportunities and support in the hours after school, which evidence shows is when they are most at risk of becoming involved or being a victim of violence.
London Crime Prevention Fund Question No: 2020/2832 Susan Hall Please can you provide an update on the future of the London Crime Prevention Fund? London Crime Prevention Fund The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Due to the postponement of the Mayoral election, the 4-year funding decision which was due to be made on the London Crime Prevention Fund this year will be delayed until 2021. This decision will then only be for 3 years, to realign with the Mayoral administration cycle. Full consultation will be undertaken as part of this process, as has been done before.
A formal decision regarding funding in the interim year 2021/22 will be made at the end of September, to allow commissioners to make timely decisions about services and staffing.
Translation services Question No: 2020/2833 Susan Hall For each of the following financial years, Apr 2015 to Mar 2016, Apr 2016 to Mar 2017, Apr 2017 to Mar 2018, Apr 2018 to Mar 2019, and Apr 2019 to Mar 2020, how much has been spent on translation services across the GLA? Answer for Translation services The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Pepper Spray/CS Gas Question No: 2020/2834 Susan Hall For each of the following years, Sep 2015 to Aug 2016, Sep 2016 to Aug 2017, Sep 2017 to Aug 2018, Sep 2018 to Aug 2019, and Sep 2019 to Aug 2020, how many times has Pepper Spray/CS Gas been used by the MPS? Pepper Spray/CS Gas The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 The data requested is published on the London data store and can be found via the link below: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/use-of-force It should be noted that recording of Use of Force was introduced in April 2017. As such data prior to April 2017 is not available. Figures are updated and reconciled each month from the start of each financial year to the latest completed month.
Extinction Rebellion Question No: 2020/2835 Susan Hall Why has a £10,000 fine been issued to the organiser of an anti-lockdown protest and not Extinction Rebellion? Answer for Extinction Rebellion The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Body Worn Video footage Question No: 2020/2836 Susan Hall What conversations and actions have you undertaken to help gain permission for the MPS to make some Body Worn Video footage public? Is this something you support? Answer for Body Worn Video footage The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Mental health beds Question No: 2020/2837 Susan Hall Has Covid-19 had any impact on the number of mental health beds available to the MPS, if so, please can you outline the impact, including any figures/stats? Answer for Mental health beds The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Streetspace (1) Question No: 2020/2838 Susan Hall How much money has been spent in each London borough under the Streetspace Programme? Answer for Streetspace (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Streetspace (2) Question No: 2020/2839 Susan Hall How much money has been spent in total under the Streetspace Programme?
Answer for Streetspace (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Streetspace (3) Question No: 2020/2840 Susan Hall How much money is currently planned but yet to be spent in each London borough under the Streetspace Programme? Answer for Streetspace (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Streetspace (4) Question No: 2020/2841 Susan Hall How much money is set aside but currently unallocated under the Streetspace Programme? Answer for Streetspace (4) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Streetspace (5) Question No: 2020/2842 Susan Hall Please provide a list of all changes under the Streetspace Programme, including details of cost, precise location and when the work was completed. Answer for Streetspace (5) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
LIP Funding Question No: 2020/2843 Susan Hall How much LIP funding was given to each London Borough over the last year? Answer for LIP Funding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Furlough (1) Question No: 2020/2844 Susan Hall How many TfL staff were furloughed? Answer for TfL Furlough (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL Furlough (2) Question No: 2020/2845 Susan Hall What was the total amount that furloughing saved TfL? TfL Furlough (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As at the time of Transport for London’s (TfL’s) latest financial report, covering the period 1 April to 22 August 2020, its operating account position shows furloughing has saved TfL £52m.
TfL Furlough (3) Question No: 2020/2846 Susan Hall Why did furloughed TfL staff have their pay topped up to 100%? Answer for TfL Furlough (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
TfL Furlough (4) Question No: 2020/2847 Susan Hall What was the total cost to TfL of topping up furlough payments? TfL Furlough (4) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) used the Government’s Job Retention Scheme at the request of Government in order to access funding for 80 per cent of the salary of furloughed staff. TfL initiated use of the scheme at the end of April in order to reduce the immediate and urgent pressure on TfL’s cash reserve and prior to reaching the funding agreement with Government. Topping up furlough payments was not only the right thing to do, but also the only thing it could do, since under the arrangements it has in place with its workforce, TfL would have had to enter a minimum 90-day consultation if it were to reduce pay. Had TfL not topped up and delayed accessing funds, TfL’s cash balance would have been at further risk of breaching its minimum cash position. Through using the scheme, TfL has saved £52 million (as at the time its latest financial report covering the period 1 April to 22 August 2020). Had it not used the furlough scheme, TfL would have spent around £81 million.
TfL Furlough (5) Question No: 2020/2848 Susan Hall Please list all the TfL departments from which staff were furloughed and the number of staff per department. Answer for TfL Furlough (5) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
LTN Planters (1) Question No: 2020/2849 Susan Hall What is the cost of a single planter that is used to block off cars in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods?
LTN Planters (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 All the temporary Low Traffic Neighbourhoods being delivered under the London Streetspace Plan are designed and delivered by boroughs, and include a variety of means to reduce traffic, including various designs of planters. Cost will therefore vary by design and the boroughs own procurement arrangements. In general, such measures are low cost, but also need to be accompanied by design and implementation costs, and legal traffic order making.
LTN Planters (2) Question No: 2020/2850 Susan Hall How many planters has TfL paid for under the Streetspace Programme? LTN Planters (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My Streetspace for London Programme has funded over 150 Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) projects across London’s Boroughs. LTNs are proposed and designed by the boroughs, and are usually introduced in the form of modal filters, which in many cases includes the use of planters as a physical barrier. To date, there are 178 locations where modal filters have been or will be implemented. Boroughs have provided details in respect of the LTN area and number of modal filters used, but not the specific type of infrastructure. Therefore, the exact number of planters used is not available.
Culture at Risk Emergency Fund Update Question No: 2020/2851 Susan Hall Further to my question 2020/1525, how much of the Culture at Risk Emergency Fund have you awarded so far? Please list the recipients of the funding. Culture at Risk Emergency Fund Update The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My £2.3 million Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is providing emergency assistance to sustain cultural and creative venues most at risk of falling into administration, and who are often unable to benefit from Government schemes or funding from Arts Council England.
To date, £1.6 million has been distributed in grants to 97 independent cinemas and artist workspaces across London, supporting over 11,500 individuals. Recipients are listed on the London.gov website. An application process to award grants to grassroots music and LGBTQ+ venues is underway and I will announce recipients of these funds later in September. Additional specialist business support continues to be provided to creative businesses in all London boroughs through my Culture at Risk Office and the London Growth Hub.
Pay It Forward Match Funding Question No: 2020/2852 Susan Hall How much of the £1million of match funding you announced on 31st July as part of your pay it forward scheme has been spent or allocated so far? Answer for Pay It Forward Match Funding The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Power (1) Question No: 2020/2854 Tony Arbour Is the Mayor satisfied that London Power has only gained 15 customers a day on average since it was launched in January? London Power (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The last six months have been challenging for businesses across the country, particularly those that are just starting out. I am pleased that by the end of June we were already delivering fair, affordable, green energy to nearly 3,000 London households and have maintained excellent levels of customer service. I plan to continue to grow London Power in order that more Londoners will benefit from affordable, green energy.
London Power (2) Question No: 2020/2855 Tony Arbour Are you satisfied that London Power has only gained fewer than 3000 customers in the first six months of the scheme?
London Power (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Please see my response to question 2020/2854.
London Power (3) Question No: 2020/2856 Tony Arbour Please could the Mayor provide the target number of customers London Power had for the first six months? London Power (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Please see response to question 2020/2610.
The Green New Deal Question No: 2020/2858 Tony Arbour Could the Mayor confirm how much of the £50 million announced in February 2020 to support the Green New Deal has been spent and what on? The Green New Deal The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I announced £50million over the next three years for a Green New Deal in February. The Green New Deal remains a priority of my administration. As you are aware, we have undergone budget reviews across all programme budgets in light of the pandemic crisis, which has delayed the deployment of the Green New Deal Fund. Plans are in development as part of my Green New Deal mission for committing the first £10 million allocation of funding in 2020/21. When my Green New Deal Fund was announced I was clear it would be used to support action to tackle the climate emergency, create jobs and support a just transition. This is even more relevant today as we plan London’s post-coronavirus economic recovery. While we have to take into account the financial challenges presented by Covid-19, a cleaner, greener recovery for London needs to support the transition of the economy to one that is inclusive, resilient, low carbon and circular, and my Green New Deal Fund is an important way to drive this.
Green New Deal Question No: 2020/2859 Tony Arbour Can the Mayor confirm whether the £50 million announced to support a Green New Deal in February will be used as part of London’s COVID-19 green recovery? Green New Deal The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am committed to the Green New Deal Fund as a way of kickstarting our green, fair and prosperous recovery from the pandemic. I have always been clear that I want the fund to support action tackling the climate emergency, creating jobs and supporting a just transition. This is even more relevant today as we plan London’s post-coronavirus economic recovery. While we have to take into account the financial challenges presented by Covid-19, a cleaner, greener recovery for London needs to support the transition of the economy to one that is inclusive, resilient, low carbon and circular, and my Green New Deal Fund is an important way to drive this.
Kew Garden Coach Drop-Offs Question No: 2020/2860 Tony Arbour Are you comfortable with the impact on cyclists of Richmond Council’s current plan to use Kew Green for Kew Royal Botanic Gardens’ coach drop offs? Answer for Kew Garden Coach Drop-Offs The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Kew Road Cyclists Question No: 2020/2861 Tony Arbour Cyclists on Kew Road are already vulnerable on what is a dangerous stretch of road. Do you agree that a plan that would mean more coaches using the road and further increasing the risks faced by cyclists would be unacceptable? Kew Road Cyclists The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As part of my London Streetspace Programme, Transport for London (TfL) has worked closely with Richmond Council to deliver new pop-up cycle lanes along the A307 Kew Road
to make it safer for people cycling. Richmond Council’s proposal to move the coach drop- off from the A307 Kew Road, which is a busy cycle corridor, to the quieter backstreet location on Kew Green is a positive step in supporting the wider aims for safer active travel in the area. TfL will continue to work closely with London’s boroughs to review and evaluate the impacts of TfL funded schemes on communities and road users, and this includes any potential impacts of the new coach drop-off location.
Postal Voting Question No: 2020/2862 Tony Devenish Over the summer you encouraged people to consider registering for postal votes for the Mayoral, GLA and other elections next year – regardless of any pre-existing conditions which might pose issues for some when voting in person. Are you aware of the work done by Democracy Volunteers, which suggests that encouraging a greater take-up of postal voting can actually lead to a higher proportion of ballots being rejected, and therefore a less accurate and reliable election result? Postal Voting The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As I said in July, postal voting can be used to enable vulnerable Londoners to vote. South Korea’s success story shows how extending this in a pandemic can be effective and democratic. The Democracy Volunteers report states that all electors whose postal votes are rejected when opened should be contacted by returning officers before polling day and reissued with a fresh postal vote. This is in line with research from the Electoral Commission which found that the overwhelming majority of electors find postal voting a convenient and secure method of voting. The Association of Electoral Administrators, Electoral Commission and Cabinet Office see postal voting as a key mechanism to deliver a successful election in the current public health context. Instead of creating barriers to democratic participation, we should find mechanisms to safeguard our democracy in a pandemic and ensure all eligible Londoners have a say in their future and our great city.
Planning technology Question No: 2020/2863 Tony Devenish Do you think you have done enough to make housing and planning in London “Prop-Tech interactive web based friendly” since 2016? How will you lead on this in view of the ambitions of the Planning for the Future White Paper, published in August 2020?
Answer for Planning technology The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
EWS1 Question No: 2020/2864 Tony Devenish In view of your strategic housing role, do you share concerns about the current External Wall Fire Review (EWS1) process and its impact on the ability to buy, sell or raise a mortgage on such properties? Have you had any discussions or made any representations about this issue? EWS1 The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The complexity and scale of the building safety crisis and the resulting problems that leaseholders are facing in selling and re-mortgaging homes are of grave concern. The Homes for Londoners Board wrote to the Government about building safety in December 2019 about this issue amongst others. This was followed up by another letter in February 2020. Unfortunately, the Secretary of State for Housing has yet to reply to either letter. It is clear that the current EWS1 process is not working, not least because of a chronic shortage of competent professionals to check the safety of external wall systems. This national crisis must be addressed urgently by the Government.
Green energy Question No: 2020/2865 Tony Devenish Does the Mayor worry that the perceptive FT journalist Jonathan Ford " Green power needs to be dense, an awkward truth for renewables" (17 August) may have a point? Has the GLA identified sites suitable for sizeable wind farms? Green energy The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London’s zero carbon ambitions are heavily dependent on the decarbonisation of energy grids at the national level. The decisions made around the scalability of renewables to achieve this are determined by Government policy decisions and schemes such as Contracts for Difference. However, I recently outlined how I am driving the additional development of large-scale renewables, including offshore and onshore wind, through my ambition for TfL and the wider GLA group and public sectorto procure renewable energy through power purchase agreements. We are also supporting the deployment of decentralised generation
in London through several programmes, including Solar Together London and our London Plan policies where in 2019 solar PV capacity increased to 6.7MWp from 5.5 MWP in 2018. The application of onshore wind within London is however more limited, as the space needed and the density of development in many areas does not allow for the available airflow to make such schemes successful. However, as and when suitable applications come forward, they will be assessed in line with the London Plan, including the appropriateness of proposals and impacts they may have on the built and natural environment, including in relation to the Green Belt. Last week we also published our Solar Opportunity Map (link) which will help households, businesses and local authorities to identify the most optimal sites for solar projects to support the recovery and job creation as part of our Green New Deal recovery programme and my ambitions for 2GW of solar.
District Heating Systems Question No: 2020/2866 Tony Devenish Does the Mayor agree or disagree that the recent successes of the Bunhill project in powering 13,500 homes through a District Heating System is evidence for the much needed growth in this technology? District Heating Systems The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Yes, I agree and that is why I am continuing to actively support the development and build out of district energy networks across London. They have an integral part to play in decarbonising energy supply and enabling London to become zero carbon by 2030. In London I am strengthening policy around district energy in the draft London Plan and I am delighted to say that we are also extending the Decentralised Energy Enabling Project (to be renamed Local Energy Accelerator) with additional funding to continue supporting the development of district energy projects through to July 2023. I am also engaging with government to help develop the policy, funding and market framework that is needed by these networks; from regulation to protect consumers, to ‘zoning’ and new funding programmes that will enable the expansion, growth and decarbonisation of these networks. Islington Council’s Bunhill Heat and Power Network, developed with support from Transport for London and my officers, is a great example of my vision for future district energy networks, those that exploit available waste heat sources, in this case from the tube network, and use them to provide low carbon and affordable heat to local homes and businesses.
Retrofitting Question No: 2020/2867 Tony Devenish Can the Mayor confirm whether or not there are further plans to expand London’s ‘retrofit programme’ to further decarbonise the UK’s housing stock? Retrofitting The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My London Environment Strategy and 1.5C Compatible Climate Action Plan identify retrofitting as one of the main levers to decarbonising London. One of the key themes of my Green New Deal, announced in the budget earlier this year is decarbonising London’s built environment, including retrofitting homes. This is being taken forward with London Councils as part of London’s recovery efforts. My Retrofit Accelerator – Homes provides technical assistance to social landlords to scale up whole-house retrofits, with a large and growing pipeline. My Warmer Homes programme retrofits fuel-poor homes, options to expand it are being developed. London needs £10bn for home retrofitting, and I continue to lobby for funding. I am working to draw in finance, including co-ordinating funding bids with boroughs. In addition to the Mayor’s Energy Efficiency Fund, the Green Finance Institute has been appointed to work with the public and private sectors to explore how we unlock investment.
London Fire Brigade Question No: 2020/2868 Tony Devenish Does the Mayor support calls by the National Fire Chiefs Council and Lord Greenhalgh for body-worn cameras to be made available to every fire fighter? Answer for London Fire Brigade The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Post Office Temporary Closure Question No: 2020/2869 Tony Devenish Can the GLA liaise with the Post Office, WH Smith and the Council to find a solution to the temporary closure of the Post Office, caused by the development of Kings Mall, Hammersmith? This appears to be an example of a lack of “joined up” thinking between three major organisations to the detriment of Hammersmith residents (especially the elderly
and disabled) and business at a time when we all need to keep our distance whilst getting the economy back to normal. Answer for Post Office Temporary Closure The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London NHS Volunteers (1) Question No: 2020/2870 Tony Devenish How many NHS volunteers have been given assignments in London since the start of the pandemic, what have you as Mayor done to engage with these volunteers and what plans do you have to do so in the future? London NHS Volunteers (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 During the pandemic London has seen a groundswell of volunteers keen to support vulnerable Londoners. According to the data provided by GoodSam and The Royal Voluntary Service, who ran the NHS Volunteer Responders government led-scheme, volunteers in London carried out 145,436 tasks to support 17,561 vulnerable people. Approximately 8000 volunteer hours were completed by Team London volunteers in response to the pandemic. In addition to this I deployed 216 Team London volunteers to support the set-up of NHS Nightingale in April. A further 178 Team London volunteers have supported with London’s recovery through the distribution of face coverings at major transport hubs in the City and across local Boroughs.. I will continue to engage these volunteers for Team London’s ongoing major event volunteering as any events restart or for further Covid-19 recovery volunteering. I will also continue work with GoodSam and voluntary sector organisations in London’s boroughs to ensure we can support organisations to engage volunteers and to build a culture of volunteering.
Over 75s TV License Question No: 2020/2871 Tony Devenish Do you condemn the scrapping of the free TV license for over 75s by the BBC and how many Londoners are expected to suffer from this decision? Answer for Over 75s TV License The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
UNESCO Geopark Question No: 2020/2872 Tony Devenish Will you join with me in congratulating Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority Andy Street, for the Black Country being chosen by Unesco as a geopark. This will aid their tourism, why didn’t you champion London as an alternative? Can you still do so? Answer for UNESCO Geopark The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
GLA Auditors Question No: 2020/2873 Tony Devenish How much does the GLA family spend on auditors? Will you look closely at the Financial Reporting Council report at “unacceptable work by the Big 4” and potentially change firms in light of their concerns to penalise poor performance? Answer for GLA Auditors The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Flu Jab Awareness Question No: 2020/2874 Tony Devenish Further to your reply to MQT 2020/2399 will you consider launching a public information campaign as soon as possible on the tube and bus network to increase the NHS early flu jab uptake to fight the potential of a second wave of Covid-19? Answer for Flu Jab Awareness The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Debt Risk Awareness Question No: 2020/2875 Tony Devenish Do you agree with what Stella Creasy MP said in the Times last month, that retailers such as Klarna, Clearpay and Laybuy “shouldn’t trivialise debt or encourage people to borrow without thinking if they can afford it”? Will you use the TfL network to run a public information campaign to communicate to Londoners the risks of such debt? Answer for Debt Risk Awareness The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Supporting the West End Question No: 2020/2876 Tony Devenish Will you commit to supporting the initiatives to boost confidence and increase footfall in the West End which were outlined in Leader of Westminster Council, Cllr Rachael Robathan’s recent letter to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick? Answer for Supporting the West End The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Covid-19 Volunteering Commission Question No: 2020/2877 Tony Devenish How will you be assisting the Commission set up by Pro Bono Economics and led by Lord O’Donnell and Andy Haldane to look at the role of volunteering during the Covid-19 pandemic? Covid-19 Volunteering Commission The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Team London, the Mayors’ Volunteering programme, has a strong relationship with Pro Bono Economics, having collaborated with the organisation over the last two years to share tools with charities for impact measurement. The Pro Bono Economics Commission will be a 2 year deep dive to inform policy makers on strengthening and supporting civil society effectively. It will begin in November 2020 and
will explore topics including volunteering and philanthropy. The study programmes, essays and research that emerge over this period will help to inform new advice and recommendations. We have contacted Pro-Bono Economics to express our interest in the Commission and will be meeting with the team once the commission has launched to explore how we may be able to further work together. We are keen to ensure that Civil Society policy is informed by data, insights and Londoners’ voices. To enable this we are committed to collaborating with researchers and experts and civil society groups to share insights and knowledge to deepen our understanding of challenges and opportunities for civil society.
Post-Pandemic Recovery Plan for Older Londoners Question No: 2020/2878 Tony Devenish What are you doing to develop a post-pandemic recovery plan for older Londoners and will you commit to working with Positive Ageing for London? Post-Pandemic Recovery Plan for Older Londoners The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I established the London Community Response Survey to engage with London’s civil society and gauge their experiences, including older Londoners’ organisations such as Positive Ageing. The survey helped inform the London Community Response Fund’s priorities; I have contributed £5m to the fund which has made grants to older peoples’ organisations and supported local initiatives for vulnerable older people. The GLA has committed to implementing the World Health Organisation’s Age-Friendly Communities Framework to make London more age-friendly. We are producing an action plan. Work on Age-Friendly London, and intelligence gathered through the London Community Response Survey, have informed our immediate response to the Covid pandemic, and the Transition and Recovery Programmes. I have written to Positive Ageing in London to thank them for their input, and will continue to work with them, and all key older Londoners stakeholders, as we reshape London as a cleaner, greener and more equal city.
Number 10 Bus Route Question No: 2020/2879 Tony Devenish Will you reintroduce the number 10 bus route to make it easier to travel by bus from Knightsbridge to the West End?
Answer for Number 10 Bus Route The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Cycleway 9 (1) Question No: 2020/2880 Tony Devenish The leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council promised that an independent resident-led Commission would “lead the design team” redesigning CW9. Given that the residents commission will only “inform detailed designs, where possible”. Do you accept that he has misled the public? Answer for Cycleway 9 (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Cycleway 9 (2) Question No: 2020/2881 Tony Devenish Given that a petition against the current CW9 scheme gathered more responses than the original TfL consultation, and that the petition was more recent; and that the original consultation showed that residents with postcodes along the route were 60:40 opposed, why are you continuing with Cycleway 9? Answer for Cycleway 9 (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Cycleway 9 (3) Question No: 2020/2882 Tony Devenish Please explain why responses to FOI requests have shown there has been no evaluation of demand for cycling and no feasibility study for CW9? Answer for Cycleway 9 (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Hammersmith to Barnes Ferry Service Question No: 2020/2883 Tony Devenish Will the Mayor support a new temporary ferry service between Hammersmith and Barnes in advance of the bridge either being reopened or replaced? Answer for Hammersmith to Barnes Ferry Service The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Mask Wearing on Public Transport Question No: 2020/2884 Tony Devenish What level of compliance is there for mask-wearing on the Tube and bus network? What is TfL doing to ensure that compliance on mask-wearing on public transport is as high as possible? Mask Wearing on Public Transport The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/3233.
Vauxhall Bridge Road (1) Question No: 2020/2885 Tony Devenish How long before the closure of Vauxhall Bridge Road did TfL decide the closure was necessary? Answer for Vauxhall Bridge Road (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Vauxhall Bridge Road (2) Question No: 2020/2886 Tony Devenish How and when were residents notified of the closure of Vauxhall Bridge Road? Answer for Vauxhall Bridge Road (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Vauxhall Bridge Road (3) Question No: 2020/2887 Tony Devenish Do you think that residents received sufficient notice of the closure of Vauxhall Bridge Road? Answer for Vauxhall Bridge Road (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Vulnerable Children Question No: 2020/2888 Tony Devenish What are you doing to support London’s most vulnerable children, following on from the Evening Standard’s excellent front-page report (7th August) “Vulnerable Children Deserted in London Lockdown”? Vulnerable Children The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Executive of the London Safeguarding Children’s Partnership has been coordinating resilience and multi-agency work throughout the pandemic. This body brings together representatives from the Association of London Directors of Children’s Services, London Councils, the MPS, MOPAC and NHS England. As children return to school it is helping local authorities with data, guidance and principles to support local responses to the expected increase in identification of abuse and neglect. The Director of my Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) attends the National Safeguarding and Young People’s Board and the VRU has been working with partners to ensure young people and families get the support they need. It is targeting investment at activities and
engagements to help prevent youth violence as lockdown eases, as part of a longer-term strategy to reduce violence across the capital. My £1.5m emergency fund is responding to the emerging needs of victims of domestic abuse and their children through securing emergency safe accommodation and wrap around support. In July, I announced further investment of £2.1m for activities to improve young Londoners wellbeing, skills and opportunities. This is set to provide vital support for 15,000 young Londoners, especially those that are most vulnerable, as COVID-19 lockdown measures ease.
TfL Cash Payment Facilities Question No: 2020/2889 Tony Devenish How are those whose debit or credit card are not working expected to purchase an Oyster Card or top up when TfL has withdrawn all or most cash payment facilities? Do you think it reasonable for TfL to blame Covid-19 for the lack of cash payment facilities, despite this issue pre-dating March 2020? TfL Cash Payment Facilities The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Customers have a range of ways to get and top up an Oyster card. In the unlikely event of a bankcard not working, customers can use one of nearly 4,000 Oyster Ticket Stops across London. Also, the Transport for London (TfL) app and website supports topping up on the go, delivering orders within 30 minutes. In not accepting cash during the pandemic, TfL is adopting the same approach as many other retailers to help keep staff and customers safe.
StopUlez Campaign Question No: 2020/2890 Tony Devenish As the StopUlez campaign and increasing numbers of Londoners are recognising, expanding the Ultra-Low Emission Zone “will hit older people, hard-pressed families and low-paid workers who cannot afford to change their vehicles”. Given the need to keep London moving and the clear unfairness of pressing ahead with your planned ULEZ expansion, what would it take to make you think again and spend the money saved on more electric buses? Answer for StopUlez Campaign The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Freight Transport Consolidation Question No: 2020/2891 Tony Devenish Freight transport consolidation appears to have slowed down in London since the GLA led the world on this green ‘no brainer’ at the time of the 2012 Olympics. How will you actively support the DfT’s Gear Change proposals? Answer for Freight Transport Consolidation The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Ban on Under 18s Residential Overnight Stays Question No: 2020/2892 Tony Devenish Will you voice your support for the comments of Jake Curtis, the Chief Executive of Jamie’s Farm, that Public Health England should “think again” regarding their ban on under 18s residential overnight stays, which Mr Curtis says will increase inequalities? Ban on Under 18s Residential Overnight Stays The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Overnight stays like those provided at Jamie’s Farm provide great opportunities for young Londoners who may not otherwise have the opportunity to get away from their everyday environment and experience something new. This is particularly true for some of our more vulnerable young people who experience the greatest health inequalities. Any government guidance is developed with the intention of minimising the risk of transmission between individuals and groups. This may however inadvertently affect some groups disproportionately, including children and young people who may rely on these services for these opportunities. I meet regularly with the Regional Director of Public Health England (London) and will raise this issue with him. Reducing health inequalities remains a top priority for me.
TfL Pay Question No: 2020/2893 Tony Devenish What was the average pay and conditions (full recovery cost) for a TfL staff member in May 2016, May 2017, May 2018, May 2019 and May 2020? Answer for TfL Pay The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Furlough Payments (1) Question No: 2020/2894 Tony Devenish What was your rationale for ‘topping up’ the 80% furlough payment when few other employers – public or private – did so? Answer for Furlough Payments (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Furlough Payments (2) Question No: 2020/2895 Tony Devenish How much did topping up the 80% furlough payments to 100% cost TfL? Furlough Payments (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/2847.
Thermal Imaging Camera Trial Question No: 2020/2896 Tony Devenish Will you update the Assembly on any results for the thermal imaging camera trials aimed at detecting fevers in commuters? Answer for Thermal Imaging Camera Trial The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
K&C Free Disabled Parking Question No: 2020/2897 Tony Devenish Do you support the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in expanding free disabled parking in the borough’s hospital wards from approximately 1 to 4 hours? Will you encourage other boroughs to expand free disabled parking? K&C Free Disabled Parking The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea’s proposal is to simplify parking arrangements for Blue Badge holders in specified hospital zones. The previous system actually allowed a Blue Badge holder to repeatedly qualify for an hour’s free parking in pay and display bays by paying the minimum parking charge of 20p, requiring them to ‘top-up’ for longer hospital visits. The new system makes this more straightforward, with four hours free parking in the designated hospital zones, removing the need to top up. I welcome measures that improve access to hospitals for disabled Londoners. In some cases, restrictions may be necessary to prioritise spaces for disabled people to attend hospital appointments, or access their home, workplace or place of study, rather than for visitors making journeys that may be more discretionary or could be re-timed. As such, a targeted approach that safeguards space specifically for those attending hospital appointments could be important in some locations.
Road Space Changes Question No: 2020/2898 Tony Devenish I was recently contacted by a constituent who was stuck for 40 minutes on the Euston Road eastbound due to the normal three-lane carriage way being restricted to a single lane for private motor vehicles. He added that there was a queue from the underpass by Tottenham Court Road all the way to King’s Cross station. What will it take for you to recognise that far too many of your changes to road space are having a negative impact on London? Answer for Road Space Changes The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Gloucester Road Tour Buses Question No: 2020/2899 Tony Devenish In order to improve the village atmosphere of Gloucester Road, will you please request that TfL ensure that instead of tour buses stopping and idling at the strip between Cromwell and Harrington Roads, they all stop on the other side of Cromwell Road? Gloucester Road Tour Buses The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Tour bus services are licensed by Transport for London (TfL) under the London Service Permit arrangement, whereby operators submit a timetable and have stops and stands allocated for their use. While there are no stands in the area mentioned, tour buses are permitted to wait for a brief period at stops (in this case either side of Gloucester Road outside the station) to maintain their timetable in the same way a TfL bus can.
Met Police buildings Question No: 2020/2901 Tony Devenish In your answer to me in question 2020/1199, you said that works are taking place to Met Police buildings to make them open plan, has this policy been reviewed in light of Covid19? Met Police buildings The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The MPS has made sure that all buildings open to officers and staff are Covid-19 secure. Future works on MPS buildings will take account of Covid-19 and new ways of working.
NPCC Aviation Review Question No: 2020/2902 Tony Devenish In relation to your answer to 2020/1206, the NPCC Aviation Review is available online, what is your assessment of it and its implications for London? NPCC Aviation Review The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The NPCC Aviation Review is a thorough and sound review of the operational requirement in policing for air support and how it can best be delivered. The Met has been an active participant in this Review. I am confident that the Review articulates the needs of London well. The Review is now going through governance both amongst Chief Constables and
NPAS itself. MOPAC is represented on the Board of NPAS, who will be the final arbiters in many of matters highlighted in this Review.
Met Police officer exit numbers Question No: 2020/2903 Tony Devenish Please provide the Met Police officer exit numbers - retirement and resignation for May 2016 - May 2017 - May 2018 - May 2019 - May 2020. Met Police officer exit numbers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Data for police officer attrition is shown in the table below. The table provides a monthly snapshot of ‘full-time equivalent’ (FTE) officer numbers. Ordinary retirement and voluntary resignation are highlighted in bold. Police Officer Attrition May-16 May-17 May-18 May-19 May-20 Ordinary Retirement 85.6 106.7 89.7 68.3 49.8 Medical Retirement 5.0 3.0 5.0 4.4 1.0 Voluntary Resignation 39.5 57.3 44.9 64.9 31.5 Joined other Police Force 32.8 29.9 14.0 23.3 27.8 Dismissed 3.0 1.4 5.0 1.0 4.0 Death 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 Services Dispensed With 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 Transferred to another Public Body 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total 166.9 200.3 160.6 163.9 116.1
Drug dealing Question No: 2020/2904 Tony Devenish Will you join me in congratulating the Evening Standard on their exclusive ‘drug dealers use Instagram to target teens in the park’. What will you do in terms of a public information campaign to help London parents and employers stamp out this appalling use of social media? Drug dealing The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am absolutely committed to supporting communities in driving down online behaviour that fuels violence. This is why my Violence Reduction Unit is piloting a support programme
for parents and carers that includes a strand focusing on raising their awareness of the dangers of social media and how it can lead to violence. Participants will learn to keep safe online and understand how social media can amplify tensions that can lead to violence, with the aim of becoming trained ‘internet citizens’. In addition, in 2019 I launched the Social Switch Project together with Google to switch the narrative on how social media’s relationship to youth violence is understood, tackled and solved. The project contributes to the online safety of young people by: • Equipping practitioners with the skills and confidence to support young people who may be at risk of harmful behaviour online; • Supporting young people to project their creative and technical skills towards life- changing digital careers; • Offering small, immediate grants to organisations which support young people This year alone, the programme has trained 40 young people as social media managers and 500 professionals, as well as funding 30 grassroots projects.
Bike crime Question No: 2020/2905 Tony Devenish Please read FT House and Home (1/2 August) “You’ve bought a bike- here’s how to keep it”. With 21,000 bikes reported stolen in the year up to the June 2020 do you agree that bike theft or vandalism can be a disincentive to increased cycling? Will you consider using the TFL, and Met Police bricks and mortar and social media assets to communicate the seven bike security tips in this article? Can we expect to see a pilot on our tubes or buses online in the next few months? Answer for Bike crime The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
County lines Question No: 2020/2906 Tony Devenish It has been reported that that criminals are increasingly targeting girls for county lines exploitation because they are less likely to be intercepted by the police. In those cases, criminals often form romantic relationships with the girls they are targeting for exploitation with the purpose of exerting control over them in the future. What specifically are you and the MPS doing about this? Answer for County lines The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Criminal exploitation Question No: 2020/2907 Tony Devenish Does the MPS provide training to all police officers on criminal exploitation? Answer for Criminal exploitation The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Legacy: Gangsters, Corruption and the Olympics Question No: 2020/2908 Tony Devenish Journalist Michael Gillard, formerly of the Sunday Times published a book “Legacy: Gangsters, Corruption and the Olympics (2019). It makes disturbing reading, naming an”untouchable" criminal too dangerous for the Met to take on. Will you make representations to the Commissioner on these allegations? Legacy: Gangsters, Corruption and the Olympics The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Met has operational independence around who it investigates, but no person or organisation is above the law and I expect the Met to investigate serious and organised crime without fear or favour.
Energy providers Question No: 2020/2909 Tony Devenish Do you as Mayor think it is morally right for a national energy provider operating in London to send the following letter to a long term homeowner- not a new home (I quote red title) “ We have a legal requirement to change your meter. Please contact us”. The letter says in a bold black box (which this homeowner finds sinister) “What happens if I don’t do anything about this letter? By law we have to come and change your meter. This work is very important to us and to you, helping to keep you safe.If we don’t hear from you, we’ll keep trying to contact you until your meter is changed”. Eon have contacted this person twice more and he was quite worried until he spoke to me. This appears to be as morally questionable as the BBC Licence team scaring senior citizens. Please raise with Eon and
Ofwat and confirm it is the energy provider who is attempting to meet their legal obligations nationwide and make money, and that no domestic consumer is legally required to comply? Energy providers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 There are several reasons why an energy supplier might need to change a household meter – we would require more information about this case to understand the nature of the letter and request by E.ON before raising with E,ON and the regulator Ofgem. If it is regarding the national smart meter roll-out programme, then the householder does not need to have their meter changed for a smart meter if they do not wish to. However, if the meter requires replacement for safety reasons, then the householder should allow this as soon as possible. We all know energy can be confusing, so it is important that energy providers give their customers the right support and information about why a meter may need to be replaced.
Renewable Energy Question No: 2020/2910 Tony Devenish Please provide a comparison table with quantifiable numbers between the New York state USA programme of renewable energy measures versus the GLA’s? Renewable Energy The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 It is not possible to draw direct comparison between New York State’s programme of renewable energy measures versus that of the GLA. New York State as a federal devolved state with a population of over 19 million people and several cities including New York and Buffalo, has a very different and more extensive suite of powers (including making and enforcing laws) and resources than London, and a different level of jurisdiction. For example, it is one of 30 states that has a Renewable Portfolio Standard which provides a mandate to require utility companies to derive a certain percentage of electricity from renewable energy production, and under the recent State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, 70% of the state wide electricity demand must be met by renewable sources by 2030. In London, over 94% of energy demand is sourced from outside the city via the energy grid, and the Mayor has little control outside of procurement on the deployment of renewable energy outside of the city’s limits.
Free Speech - Extinction Rebellion Question No: 2020/2911 Tony Devenish Will you publicly support the Home Secretary’s call to defend press free speech and support calls to toughen the law with Extinction Rebellion criminals potentially facing a 5 year prison sentence? Answer for Free Speech - Extinction Rebellion The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Shoplifting (1) Question No: 2020/2914 Peter Whittle I note the report in the Daily Telegraph of 7 July 2020, which stated: ‘Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, is writing to chief constables saying the theft of goods valued up to £200 from a shop should be prosecuted as a criminal offence.’1 Has the Metropolitan Police decided that the shoplifting of goods of the value of less than £200 would not be prosecuted, if so who, when and why? 1 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/07/victims-burglaries-assaults-thefts- getting-limited-service- police/#:~:text=Kit%20Malthouse%2C%20the%20policing%20minister,prosecuted%20as %20a%20criminal%20offence.%E2%80%9D&text=At%20its%20core%2C%20the%20prob lem,for%20policing%20considerably%20outstrips%20supply.%E2%80%9D Shoplifting (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The actions of the Metropolitan Police are in this case, as in all cases, dictated by the relevant legislation. The Crime and Disorder Act classifies circumstances where the value of stolen goods does not exceed £200 as “low-value shoplifting”, which is a summary offence. A person guilty of low-value shoplifting can be imprisoned for up to 51 weeks, fined, or both. Where a suspect is apprehended, the premises where the offence occurred make the choice of whether to prosecute or not.
Extinction Rebellion Protests Question No: 2020/2915 Peter Whittle On 1 September 2020, Extinction Rebellion commenced ten days of action across the UK, to protest against climate change. In London, this has led to severe traffic delays, as the
capital attempts to return to normality after Lockdown. Various stunts are taking place, including a ‘theatrical’ display on ‘how the climate crisis is causing death’, and a silent protest outside Buckingham Palace. Last year, more than 1,700 arrests were made during Extinction Rebellion’s ten-day ‘Autumn Uprising’, which saw major disruption across the UK and large parts of central London blocked off. How much longer will Londoners have to put up with this serious disruption? Extinction Rebellion Protests The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 People have the right to peacefully protest. This is an important right enshrined in law and one that we should preserve. Numerous protests happen each year in London and the vast majority pass off peacefully and without causing disruption to the community The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has a long and positive history in facilitating protests. There is a clear need in democratic society to protect the right to protest and also the right of others to go about their lawful business. This is never an easy balance to strike but I have the confidence in the officers charged with doing it. I have strongly condemned the actions of those who break the law – for instance targeting London Underground is dangerous, counter-productive and an unfair burden on our already overstretched police officers and travellers.
Rhodes Avenue Primary School Question No: 2020/2916 Peter Whittle I note Haringey Borough Council are setting in hand the removal of the name of Rhodes from Rhodes Avenue Primary School - even though it was named after the philanthropist Thomas Rhodes, the great-uncle of Cecil Rhodes, the person who donated the land for the school, which today would cost tens of millions, who had no historical links to colonialism. Is this development a harbinger of the kind of decision-making we can expect from your Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm? Rhodes Avenue Primary School The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As Mayor of London, it’s not for me to decide which statues should or should not be removed or which names should be changed. It must be part of a wider conversation about the contested legacies and complicated histories of our public figures. My teams have already been approached by partners and institutions who are clear they would welcome best practice guidance on how to take such discussions forward.
This is precisely why I have established the new Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. It has been welcomed by boroughs, many of whom have already nominated a lead Councillor or staff member to progress this issue. It’s important to be clear that the Commission will take a leadership role and a collegiate approach. We can achieve this by working with our partners to help establish best practice and to progress an open debate about which legacies should be celebrated in our great city.
Shoplifting (2) Question No: 2020/2917 Peter Whittle To ask the Mayor how many people have been arrested and charged for shoplifting in the Metropolitan Police District over the last five calendar years. Answer for Shoplifting (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
My Local Bobby Question No: 2020/2918 Peter Whittle My Local Bobby (MLB) is a private company that puts former police officers on uniformed patrol in London. It charges as little at £50 a month per resident to dedicate an officer to local ‘microbeats’ (about three square miles) in London and stations officers from central London shopping locations to Woodford Green (where 139 residents pay to have their ‘bobby’, keep an eye out for crime). Employees are equipped with handcuffs, a body cam, a first aid kit and are trained to make citizens’ arrests. MLB is now pursuing private prosecutions of shoplifters, which the Metropolitan Police has apparently abandoned. Given that the Metropolitan Police has decided in my view to function as a ‘response only’ police force, it looks like My Local Bobby is going to be the future of policing in London. Does this Met welcome this development? Answer for My Local Bobby The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Bianca Williams Question No: 2020/2919 Peter Whittle I note press reports that Metropolitan Police officers executed a vehicle stop on Saturday 4 July in Lanhill Road, London W9. Team GB athlete Bianca Williams and her partner, the Portuguese sprinter Ricardo dos Santos were driving a Mercedes which was being driven on the wrong side of the road, at speed. Former Olympic athlete Linford Christie would subsequently accuse the Metropolitan Police of ‘institutionalised racism.’ Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick would tell the Home Affairs Select Committee that a senior officer representing the police had apologised to Williams for the distress the incident had caused her and said the force was reviewing its handcuffing practices1. However, Bianca Williams was in a vehicle which failed to stop when ordered to do so by the police, yet received an apology and no caution. You cannot have a rule of law that doesn’t apply to all who live under it. Could you please explain why the Metropolitan Police handled that incident in this manner? 1 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/08/met-police-apologise-for- handcuffing-athlete-bianca-williams Answer for Bianca Williams The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
‘Producers’ Question No: 2020/2920 David Kurten It is an offence not to produce your driving licence, certificate of insurance and MOT certificate when requested to do so by a police officer. However the usual procedure is that the police officer will issue a HO/RT1/ (called a ‘producer’), requiring the driver of a vehicle to produce the documents at a police station of their choice within seven days. How many ‘producers’ have been handed out to drivers by the Metropolitan Police’s Traffic Command over the last five calendar years? Answer for ‘Producers’ The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL High Earners Question No: 2020/2921 David Kurten On 22 July 2020, you appeared before Parliament’s Transport Select Committee and told them: ‘Unlike du ring the previous administration where the number of people earning over £100,000 was going up and bonuses were going up, in the last four years they have been going down.’ However, for the end of the financial year 2015/16, when you took over as London’s Mayor, the total number of TfL employees earning more than £100,000 was 458 - including Crossrail staff. That went up for the next two years - to a high of 617. It then dropped to 515, before rising again last year to 557. That information is freely available in the public domain. I am sure that you did not intend to mislead Parliament, but I would like to know why you provided information which was demonstrably untrue. Answer for TfL High Earners The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
The Public Order Act 1936 Question No: 2020/2922 Peter Whittle On 1 August 2020, the ‘Afrikan Emancipation Day Reparations March’ took place in Brixton, with individuals parading in the streets in black uniforms and stab vests. As you will be aware, the Public Order Act 1936 prohibits the wearing of paramilitary and political uniforms in this country. I am assuming that the senior Metropolitan Police officer in charge that day was also aware of this law. However, I feel that once again the police are sending out the signal that laws will be enforced differently for individual communities in London. This policy has profound implications for the future of policing in this city and indicates to me that the police have forgotten or abandoned the basic principles of policing. What has gone wrong with the leadership of the Metropolitan Police? Answer for The Public Order Act 1936 The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Policing Priorities Question No: 2020/2923 Peter Whittle The British police have serious institutional problems. Thanks to financial pressure and legal changes, they over-police low-level offending and under-police serious crime. The regular stream of videos showing police officers being abused by bystanders, while trying to arrest
a suspect is a depressing sign of the times. I can’t help but feel the police themselves are partly responsible. In going woke, they have forfeited authority and respect. What changes are the Metropolitan Police going to institute to correct this error? Policing Priorities The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 I do agree that it is unacceptable to see instances of officers suffering abuse whilst in the execution of their duties. However, I do not agree with the premise of the rest of your question. Policing by consent is crucial to gaining the trust and confidence of Londoners and in keeping them safe. Crime demand continues to rise in volume and complexity, and officers must often make difficult decisions about where their resources are deployed.
Poems on the Underground Question No: 2020/2924 David Kurten Given the paucity of commercial advertising currently available to TfL to entertain London’s commuters on the tube, I welcome the return of ‘Poems on the Underground’. However, the current offerings available read like the maunderings of the disturbed. Whilst I am well aware that there are some in our city who are not keen on British culture, the English language has always offered a rich poetic tradition. Is it possible that those involved in this initiative could be persuaded to provide Londoners with something slightly more uplifting in these difficult times? Answer for Poems on the Underground The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Street Teams Question No: 2020/2925 Peter Whittle I note the growing proliferation of so-called ‘Street Teams’ which now patrol swathes of London’s West End, clad in combat boots and stab vests. These individuals talk to shop owners and members of the public and are clearly carrying out the local intelligence- gathering role that used to be part of policing in London. I take it that their presence on our streets is yet another indicator of the decision by the Metropolitan Police to abandon Sir Robert Peel’s Principles of Law Enforcement. Is this the future of policing in London? Street Teams The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020
The Street Security Teams in the West End are employed by the New West End Company, not the Metropolitan Police Service. This is a private partnership of businesses delivering a range of services to members, which includes added security to help keep the West End a safe and secure place for visitors and businesses. This service does not diminish or distract in any way from the core business of policing in that area.
The Right to Protest Question No: 2020/2926 Peter Whittle On 29 August 2020, Piers Corbyn was slapped with a £10,000 fine for his part in the ‘Unite for Freedom’ rally on Saturday which saw thousands descend on Trafalgar Square in a protest against extending the Covid emergency measures. The 73-year-old stated on Twitter that he had been handed the fixed penalty fine as ‘organiser’1. If Piers Corbyn was fined £10,000 for ‘breaking COVID laws’ surely the organisers of the Day of Ashura march and the #MillionPeopleMarch should face the same. If not, why not? 1 https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/trafalgar-square-antilockdown-man-73- handed-10000-fine- a4536441.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1598885041 Answer for The Right to Protest The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Accusation of Police Racism Question No: 2020/2927 Peter Whittle On 9 August 2020, police stopped a vehicle being driven through Hackney, to speak to the driver of the vehicle. The Metropolitan Police subsequently stated that the stop was a mistake, caused by an officer incorrectly entering the car’s registration number. From the footage available, Dawn Butler MP immediately announced to the officers that she was a Member of Parliament and subsequently accused the officers of racism.1 Scotland Yard’s Deputy Commissioner Sir Steve House said officers could not have known Butler and the driver of the BMW car were black before they stopped it, because the windows were tinted. I understand that the MP was subsequently granted an audience by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, to discuss the action of her officers. Would an ordinary member of the public have secured this kind of treatment from the Metropolitan Police and why have the Met not released their own footage of the stop? 1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-53713312 Answer for Accusation of Police Racism
The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Seized Vehicles Question No: 2020/2928 Peter Whittle To ask the Mayor how many road vehicles have been seized by the Metropolitan Police over the last five calendar years. Please categorise the reason for seizure, i.e. no insurance, failure to stop for officers, being involved in a road traffic collision, or believed to have been used in a criminal offence. Answer for Seized Vehicles The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Tasers Question No: 2020/2929 Peter Whittle To ask the Mayor how many times the Metropolitan Police have used Tasers over the last five calendar years and please categorise the reason for their use. Tasers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The data requested is published by the London data store and can be found through the link below: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/use-of-force It should be noted that recording of Use of Force was introduced in April 2017. As such data prior to April 2017 is not available. Figures are updated and reconciled each month from the start of each FY to the latest completed month.
Metropolitan Police Morale Question No: 2020/2930 Peter Whittle What has been the effect on the morale of the rank and file of the Metropolitan Police in consequence of the introduction of direct-entry at inspector level, which overturns
centuries of tradition that all police officers commence their careers at the rank of constable? Answer for Metropolitan Police Morale The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
The Queen Victoria Memorial Question No: 2020/2931 Peter Whittle At the top of Pall Mall stands Sir Thomas Brock’s Victoria Memorial which features a resplendent seated figure of the Queen Empress. Given that memorial’s overt celebration of the mother figure of the British Empire and imperial might, do you think it should be removed? The Queen Victoria Memorial The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but many Londoners do not see themselves or their histories reflected in our public realm. This includes the fact that while our nation’s Victorian heritage is well represented in our public spaces, much of our contemporary life and culture is not. However, as Mayor of London, it’s not for me to decide which statues should or should not be removed. There must be a wider conversation about the contested legacies and complicated histories of our public figures. That is why I have set up the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. It’s important that we bring people together and take the right steps to ensure that we celebrate the achievements and diversity of everyone in our city.
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (1) Question No: 2020/2932 Peter Whittle Can the Mayor tell us what the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will cost the public purse? The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but many Londoners do not see themselves or their histories reflected in our public realm. The range of people immortalised in our statues, memorials and buildings do not capture who we are and what we represent. The Commission, working with London boroughs and partners across the city, will take forward a programme of work to address this. It will make recommendations for new commissions, including of statues, memorials, blue plaques, commemorations, murals, street art, street names and more; provide an overview of existing public art and the public realm in London; and create best practice on commissioning works. A budget is in development to support the Commission’s work. This will come from within the GLA’s existing allocation of the GLA Group budget and will be approved and published via a Mayoral Decision once confirmed.
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (2) Question No: 2020/2933 Peter Whittle Will the members of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm be paid and if so, how much? The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 On 11 September, I launched an open recruitment process for members of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. Members will be appointed under the Mayoral Appointment Protocol which governs the appointment of advisory boards and commissions to promote economic and social development, and also sets out the principles of recruitment. Appointments will be for an initial two year term. Commission Members will not be salaried. However, I am committed to creating an inclusive and representative board. Support will be considered to ensure that individuals working as independent practitioners or in small civil society organisations or charities whose capacity may be limited are able to participate. Further detail can be found in the application pack on the GLA recruitment site: https://glarecruitment.engageats.co.uk/Vacancies/W/1561/0/276321/14989/commissio n-for-diversity-in-the-public-realm-15-members
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (3) Question No: 2020/2934 Peter Whittle Will the members of the Commission have the status of public appointees? ie on what terms?
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 On 11 September I launched an open recruitment process for members of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. Members will be appointed in line with the Protocol on Mayoral Appointments 2018, which sets out how my appointments comply with the Principles of Public Life and associated best practice. The Protocol also sets out the principles of recruitment. Appointments will be for an initial two year term. Further detail can be found in the application pack on GLA recruitment site: https://glarecruitment.engageats.co.uk/Vacancies/W/1561/0/276321/14989/commissio n-for-diversity-in-the-public-realm-15-members
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (4) Question No: 2020/2935 Peter Whittle How are the individuals who will comprise the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm be selected? The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (4) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 On 11 September I launched an open recruitment process for members of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. The Commission is a partnership with London boroughs and partners across London. My community engagement team and the Partners Board, which includes Arts Council England, Black Cultural Archives, Shape Arts and English Heritage, will also play a key role in making sure that a wide range of people are encouraged to apply. Members will be appointed under the Mayoral Appointment Protocol which governs the appointment of advisory boards and commissions to promote economic and social development, and also sets out the principles of recruitment. The application pack can be found on the GLA recruitment site: https://glarecruitment.engageats.co.uk/Vacancies/W/1561/0/276321/14989/commissio n-for-diversity-in-the-public-realm-15-members
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (5) Question No: 2020/2936 Peter Whittle How do you intend to ensure a balanced body of opinion on the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm?
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (5) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As Mayor of London it’s right that I convene the Commission, Councils and other stakeholders to work together to improve how Londoners feel they are represented in the public realm. The Commission has been welcomed by the Boroughs, many of which have already nominated a lead councillor or officer to progress this issue. My Deputy Mayors, Justine Simons and Debbie Weekes-Bernard met with 11 Council Leaders on 3 September at which it was agreed to create a Borough Working Group. I have set up a Partners Board to support the Commission’s work, including Arts Council England, Black Cultural Archives, English Heritage, ActionSpace and Shape Arts. My community engagement team will play a key role ensuring that a wide range of community groups are represented in the Commission’s stakeholder engagement, including for the diverse recruitment of Commission members. We have already received 600 letters from Londoners, showing the strength of engagement from the public.
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (6) Question No: 2020/2937 Peter Whittle Does the Mayor believe that Londoners should be proud of the city’s great history? The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (6) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I’m proud to be Mayor of the greatest city in the world, and one of the most diverse cities there is. But it is an uncomfortable truth that the wealth of our nation and city are built in large part on the slave trade, and this is reflected in the figures we see in our public realm. At the same time, the contribution of many of our communities to life in our capital has been ignored. This issue has captured the imagination of Londoners, and many of our Boroughs and institutions are leading their own discussions and debate about how to approach it. Our capital’s diversity is our greatest strength, yet our statues, road names and public spaces reflect a bygone era. We need to celebrate the achievements and diversity of all in our city and commemorate those who have made London what it is – that includes discussing the complicated legacies of our public realm.
Racist Pollution Question No: 2020/2938 David Kurten Given your closeness to Extinction Rebellion and your support for ‘Black Lives Matter’, do you agree with Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Gail Bradbrook, who in the London Evening Standard on Friday 4 September 2020, questioned the ‘racist pollution impact of the Silvertown Tunnel.’ What is your understanding of the term ‘racist pollution’ and will it impact your support for the Silvertown Tunnel? Racist Pollution The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Building the Silvertown tunnel is vital to address the current situation at the Blackwall tunnel. The Blackwall tunnel was first opened 120 years ago and is simply not designed to cope with today’s traffic. It was closed over 700 times in 2017/18 alone. Tackling congestion and improving access to sustainable public transport are crucial parts of cleaning up our air. The new Silvertown tunnel will radically improve traffic conditions, effectively eliminating the current congestion at the Blackwall tunnel that causes some of the worst air pollution in London and deliver an overall improvement in air quality. These conclusions are supported by extensive air quality modelling undertaken by TfL during the formal planning process. The approach roads to the Silvertown, and particularly the Blackwall tunnels run through some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in London. Many of these areas also have very large BAME populations. When the Silvertown Tunnel is built it is these same neighbourhoods that will see direct benefits to air pollution from improved public transport links and reduced congestion. The impact of the ULEZ and LEZ on vehicle emissions were not included in the modelling for Silvertown Tunnel as the schemes were not finalised when the planning permission was being decided. This means that the improvements in Air Quality are likely to be even greater than predicted. The planning permission for the Silvertown Tunnel includes strict requirements that mean that the impact on local air quality and noise must not be worse than predicted. TfL will be putting in place monitoring to make sure that the impacts are measured and any problems, should they arise, are swiftly dealt with.
Walking and Cycling Commissioner Tweet Question No: 2020/2939 David Kurten The Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman tweeted on 14th July: ‘For journeys under 30 minutes, the walking journey is just a few minutes longer, or about the same time, as a journey on a train or taxi. It takes just 20 minutes to walk from Euston to the British
Museum, compared to 17 minutes via the tube and 18 minutes in a cab.’1 The journey time between these two points using a taxi is just 6 minutes however. Why did one of your staff encourage people to walk rather than to take a taxi using incorrect data? 1 https://twitter.com/willnorman/status/1282956346288201729 Answer for Walking and Cycling Commissioner Tweet The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Heathrow Airport Question No: 2020/2940 David Kurten What measures are the Metropolitan Police taking to stop minicab touts from operating at Heathrow Airport Terminals? Heathrow Airport The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The MPS tackles taxi touting at Heathrow Airport using overt and covert approaches. Working in partnership with the airport and local taxi marshals, Aviation Policing officers respond to information when a tout is reported to be operating within the airport footprint. Known offenders are circulated to officers via a daily briefing. Offenders identified as committing offences are arrested or summonsed and prohibited from entering the airport footprint. CID officers will conduct further investigations to identify previous offences committed by known repeat offenders.
Taxi Trade Question No: 2020/2941 David Kurten Your Streetspace programme has blocked access to the kerbside for taxis in many streets in many areas. What are you going to do to reverse this problem? Answer for Taxi Trade The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Bishopsgate Road Closure Question No: 2020/2942 David Kurten The closure of Bishopsgate and other TfL roads in the City of London to taxis means that journey times for taxis which are no longer able to use those roads are much longer and more expensive for passengers. What are you going to do to reverse this situation? Answer for Bishopsgate Road Closure The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Euston Road Question No: 2020/2943 David Kurten Your road narrowing measures on Euston Road are causing congestion and increasing journey times for taxis, buses, delivery vehicles and emergency vehicles. What are you going to do to reverse this situation? Answer for Euston Road The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Disabled access to roads (1) Question No: 2020/2944 David Kurten Do you agree that disabled people and wheelchair users should have kerbside access on all roads? Answer for Disabled access to roads (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Disabled access to roads (2) Question No: 2020/2945 David Kurten Did you do an equality impact assessment for wheelchair users, before implementing your Streetspace programme on Park Lane, Euston Road and other places where they no longer have access to taxis at all points? Answer for Disabled access to roads (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Dangerous cyclists Question No: 2020/2946 David Kurten What will you do to halt the increasing number of road rule breaches by cyclists, such as jumping red lights? Answer for Dangerous cyclists The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
School transition Question No: 2020/2948 Jennette Arnold OBE How is your Stepping Stones programme going to adapt this year to support school transition, in the context of some children having been out of full time education for six months? School transition The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 A successful transition to secondary school is essential to a child’s educational success. Given the time out of school for so many children since March it was important to encourage flexibility in how schools run Stepping Stones and support their vulnerable pupils. In May, we held a webinar for those schools coming to their end of their two-year funding, encouraging them to share ideas about how the programme could be adapted for this COVID-19 period. There were some great examples shared across the school sector, and we published their guidance on running summer schools: www.london.gov.uk/what- we-do/education-and-youth/school-schemes/stepping…
The new cohort of 14 Stepping Stones schools, funded by the Violence Reduction Unit, launched their programmes in April. Over the challenging summer months they have worked with primary schools to identify the incoming vulnerable year seven pupils and engaged with their parents to ensure support for the programme. Those schools that could, ran socially distanced summer schools during the holidays and several have made their counselling services and psychologists available to Stepping Stones children to support their mental health and wellbeing as they make this important transition.
Under 18s travel (1) Question No: 2020/2949 Jennette Arnold OBE Now that the Government has confirmed they want to scrap the under 18s travel concession at the Autumn half term, what are you doing to help mitigate against the impacts of this harmful decision? Under 18s travel (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Please see my answer to Mayor’s Question 2020/3145.
Under 18s travel (2) Question No: 2020/2950 Jennette Arnold OBE Has there been an Equality Impact Assessment of this decision conducted by City Hall? Under 18s travel (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Please see my answer to Mayor’s Question 2020/3145.
Under 18s travel (3) Question No: 2020/2951 Jennette Arnold OBE Do you agree with me that the Government’s insistence on removing this concession is yet another example of their punitive attitude towards young people, who were recently hit by the awarded grades scandal and have suffered enough during lockdown? Under 18s travel (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
Please see my answer to Mayor’s Question 2020/3145.
Teacher travel (1) Question No: 2020/2952 Jennette Arnold OBE How will you ensure that all teachers can travel to school safely without having to resort to taking the car, which would harm your aims on air pollution and active travel? Answer for Teacher travel (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Teacher travel (2) Question No: 2020/2953 Jennette Arnold OBE Will you consider working with Boroughs, London Councils and academy chains to offer discounted bikes to teachers and other school staff, to maintain social distancing on public transport for those who cannot walk or cycle? Answer for Teacher travel (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Young people not in employment, education of training (NEET) Question No: 2020/2954 Jennette Arnold OBE In response to question 2020/1878, you told me you were investing £30 million of European Social Funding on youth employability support, which includes improving the careers education offer in schools and colleges. This will be particularly crucial now, as the risk of young Londoners becoming NEET is higher. Can you provide an update on this programme and how many young Londoners have benefited? Young people not in employment, education of training (NEET) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I have invested European Social Funding (ESF) in 20 projects which have already supported more than 580 young Londoners to access training and employability support. This includes targeted support to care leavers, young people not in education, employment or training
(NEET) and those who have dropped out of education. It also includes support to develop skills for jobs in the digital, construction and health and social care sectors. Providers are working extremely hard to adapt delivery to the challenge of Covid-19. The £30 million ESF includes further projects, commencing by January 2021, which will support young Londoners aged 16 to 24 who are NEET, including those who are disabled or have special educational needs, care leavers, carers and those at risk of homelessness. Fifty secondary schools and colleges will also receive help to improve their careers offer. These projects run until 2023 and aim to engage over 11,000 young Londoners.
London Learning At Home Question No: 2020/2955 Jennette Arnold OBE How will you build on the success of London Learning At Home to ensure all young Londoners can access great opportunities across the city? London Learning At Home The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My London Curriculum team are undertaking work to map the online offers listed on London Learning at Home with our Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 teacher resources. This will provide virtual alternatives to suggested school trips, recognising current constraints on teachers and the potential for lockdowns in future. In doing so, this ensures that my London Curriculum resources stay fit for purpose and continue to help connect young Londoners with the incredible opportunities for learning across their city. I am also committed to retaining and adding to the London Learning at Home platform for as long as it is useful for teachers and families. www.london.gov.uk/learning-at-home
StreetSpace and mobility Question No: 2020/2956 Jennette Arnold OBE Constituents with limited mobility have raised concerns about the impact of StreetSpace schemes on their daily lives. How does StreetSpace help those who cannot walk, cycle or use public transport to stay mobile? Answer for StreetSpace and mobility The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Mitigations for StreetSpace Question No: 2020/2957 Jennette Arnold OBE How were mitigations put in place for those unable to walk, cycle or use public transport to ensure that StreetSpace did not leave them disconnected from their local communities? Answer for Mitigations for StreetSpace The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Adaptations to StreetSpace Question No: 2020/2958 Jennette Arnold OBE What changes are likely to be made to the StreetSpace scheme in order to make it more accessible for all Londoners? Answer for Adaptations to StreetSpace The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Congestion Charge and StreetSpace Question No: 2020/2959 Jennette Arnold OBE Constituents in Islington are raising concerns that the change in congestion charge cost and times alongside the StreetSpace scheme are negatively impacting upon their lives. They report struggling to access local services or visit family as a result. How will you be addressing this to ensure that StreetSpace allows all Londoners to access local services and support? Answer for Congestion Charge and StreetSpace The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Supporting Arts and Culture venues Question No: 2020/2960 Jennette Arnold OBE How are you supporting arts and culture venues that are not specifically recognised as leisure and hospitality venues? For example Storm Rehearsal Studios in my constituency face an uncertain future as they are not considered part of the leisure and hospitality sector. However the rules which their business is governed by are those relating to live performances. As such they are being charged business rates for periods they have been unable to open, making their financial position much more challenging. Supporting Arts and Culture venues The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Government’s relief packages have left out critical parts of London’s creative ecosystem. I wrote to the Chancellor on 7 May requesting that relief is extended to businesses affected by higher rates payments. On 8 July, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport requesting relief include creative supply chain businesses like Storm Rehearsal Studios. We have launched a £2.3m Culture at Risk Business Support Fund; expanded our Culture at Risk Office and London Growth Hub; established the Pay It Forward crowd-funding platform; and launched a £1m Back to Business Fund. Since 1 April, the Culture at Risk Office has responded to over 630 cases, including Storm Rehearsal Studios who were recently awarded £10,000 of Discretionary Grant funding. Our team continues to work with Islington Council and the studios to secure their future.
Taser Gun 7 use by the MPS (1) Question No: 2020/2961 Jennette Arnold OBE Home Secretary Priti Patel has approved the Taser 7 gun for use by police forces in England and Wales. What evidence is there that the taser weapons currently in use by the MPS are not up to the job they do? Taser Gun 7 use by the MPS (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Police services are legally bound to explore alternatives to lethal force and continuously review new technology to see whether there are any developments that could be applied in UK policing. I am informed by the Home Office that Taser 7 is more accurate, faster and compact than previous models – therefore better in its purpose of protecting the public and police. It will also reduce costs for forces by replacing disposable batteries with rechargeable ones. The
National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has said the new model passed rigorous independent scientific and technical assessments before being authorised by the Home Secretary and is much more reliable than older models.
Taser Gun Use by the MPS (2) Question No: 2020/2962 Jennette Arnold OBE Government scientists have warned that the Taser 7 Gun could lead to more suspects suffering internal injuries and broken bones. In addition they have also warned that passers-by now risk being hit by probes which inflict the electric shock as the Taser 7 allows them to detach from the gun after being fired[1]. Is this a suitable weapon for use by police in London? [1] Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons (SACMILL) “Statement on the Medical Implications of the TASER 7™ Conducted Energy Device System” [Date accessed 25.08.20] Taser Gun Use by the MPS (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 It is a decision for the Commissioner as to the suitability of this device for Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) operations. However, as with all use of force, it must be carefully monitored, with officers appropriately trained and only used where necessary. I am informed by the Home Office that the Taser 7 is regarded as more accurate, faster and compact than existing models. The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has said the new model passed rigorous independent scientific and technical assessments before being authorised by the Home Secretary and is much more reliable than older models. Officers have to demonstrate 100 per cent accuracy when handling the device in training before they can be authorised to carry the device.
Maternity pay for furloughed workers Question No: 2020/2963 Jennette Arnold OBE Are you concerned by reports that people who have been pregnant during the pandemic may have been wrongly sent home on sick pay, taking them below the threshold for Statutory Maternity Pay? Answer for Maternity pay for furloughed workers The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Low income family finances Question No: 2020/2964 Jennette Arnold OBE Child Poverty Action Group and the C of E have found that eight in ten low-income families feel worse off since the lockdown began. What are you doing to assess this problem in London and help families avoid a fall in their incomes? Low income family finances The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I’m both very aware and deeply concerned about the effect lockdown is having on low- income families. My officers are continually gathering data and intelligence to understand the problem and I’m determined to do all I can to help. Throughout the pandemic the Employment Rights Hub on London.gov.uk has been regularly updated with accessible advice relevant to low-income working families. Content signposting Londoners to financial support like benefits, crisis loans or debt advice has also been added. And my officers are currently working with the Child Poverty Action Group to produce a resource pack for schools to help them support low-income families. As I always have done, I’ll continue call on the Government to do more to boost the incomes of families through the benefit system, for example, by increasing child benefit payments and scrapping the two-child limit, the benefit cap, the Universal Credit five-week wait, and No Recourse to Public Funds conditions.
Impact of furlough scheme ending Question No: 2020/2965 Jennette Arnold OBE What assessment have you made of the impact of the end of the furlough scheme on gender and ethnic inequality in London? Impact of furlough scheme ending The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 GLA Economics produces a briefing analysing each official release of furlough statistics and a labour market roundup analysing available evidence on the impacts of COVID-19 on London’s labour market. Past roundups include GLA Economics analysis of jobs at greatest risk, supported by research of those on low incomes, showing BAME workers and women are most at risk of jobs losses or reduced pay. Smaller pay increases for women would slow progress to close the gender pay gap.
There are 1.39 million Londoners on furlough, exposing them to greater risk of job loss once the scheme ends, particularly in a job market with 24% fewer job postings relative to last year. Furlough take-up rates are higher for men than women across most age groups and higher for younger and older workers. BAME workers are overrepresented among workers in the accommodation and food sector, which has the highest take-up rate.
Supporting London’s Schools Question No: 2020/2966 Jennette Arnold OBE How are you engaging with the Department for Education to ensure that London’s schools have the resources they need to address the impact of the school closures on young Londoners’ education? Supporting London’s Schools The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 The London Transition Board, co-chaired by myself and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government co-ordinates London’s response as it emerges from the COVID-19. It’s Education sub-group is chaired by Councillor Peter John OBE and includes representatives from City Hall and from the Department for Education (DfE). The 12 August London Transition Board focused on education and was attended by Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families at the DfE. We discussed how the Board could support on a number of concerns raised; these included transport, how to manage the skills gap, what needs to be taught in the curriculum, pupil and parent confidence regarding return to school, mental health and safeguarding of pupils, concerns about digital poverty and guidance on wrap-around care. I have written to the Secretary of State for Education to highlight concerns, including the need to further address the digital divide by expanding their IT device and data scheme to more pupils. I will continue to raise concerns with DfE to ensure that London’s schools have the resources they need.
Met Police Professional Standards Unit Question No: 2020/2967 Jennette Arnold OBE Please could you provide a full demographic breakdown of the Met’s Professional Standards Unit by ethnicity. Please also advise of the pay grade or rank of members of staff or officers within the unit, broken down by ethnicity. Please also advise how many staff within the unit have a disability. This information is not available via the Met’s latest workforce data report.
Answer for Met Police Professional Standards Unit The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
MPS Directorate of Professional Standards (1) Question No: 2020/2968 Jennette Arnold OBE How many people, both full time and part-time are employed by the Metropolitan Police Service’s Directorate of Professional Standards (including both officers and police staff)? MPS Directorate of Professional Standards (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The numbers of officers and staff within Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) departments are published in the MPS Workforce Report www.met.police.uk/sd/stats-and- data/met/workforce-data-report/ Numbers are provided as Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) and therefore encompass both full and part time staff.
MPS Directorate of Professional Standards (2) Question No: 2020/2969 Jennette Arnold OBE Of these full and part time employees, how many are: (a) white (b) a non-white ethnicity (c) ethnicity is not recorded? MPS Directorate of Professional Standards (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The ethnicity of these officers and staff is provided in the published MPS Workforce Report www.met.police.uk/sd/stats-and-data/met/workforce-data-report/
MPS Directorate of Professional Standards (3) Question No: 2020/2970 Jennette Arnold OBE Please provide a breakdown of the non-white employees identified in Question ‘MPS Directorate of Professional Standards (5)’ by ethnicity. Answer for MPS Directorate of Professional Standards (3) The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
New police officers demographic breakdown (1) Question No: 2020/2971 Jennette Arnold OBE Please provide a full demographic breakdown of the 1369 officers recruited into the Met as part of the governments ‘Be a force for all’ recruitment drive. Answer for New police officers demographic breakdown (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
New police officers demographic breakdown (2) Question No: 2020/2972 Jennette Arnold OBE Please provide a full demographic breakdown of all new officers recruited into the Met in the past 12 months. New police officers demographic breakdown (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The table below shows overall recruits for each month and the number of female and Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME) recruits.
Month Total recruits Female BAME Aug-19 315.0 115.0 70.0 Sep-19 410.0 130.0 72.0 Oct-19 425.0 120.0 82.0 Nov-19 512.2 152.2 94.0 Dec-19 31.0 5.0 4.0 Jan-20 503.0 161.0 79.0 Feb-20 395.0 125.0 72.0 Mar-20 404.6 122.0 71.0 Apr-20 467.0 147.0 63.0 May-20 459.2 156.8 79.0 Jun-20 293.4 99.0 44.0
Jul-20 359.0 134.0 66.0 I am aware that there is a need to look more closely at the overarching term ‘BAME’. Accordingly, my Office for Policing and Crime will work with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to provide a further breakdown of the BAME category into specific ethnicities in due course.
Diesel air pollution (1) Question No: 2020/2975 Leonie Cooper Recent Environmental Defense Fund data identified 10 hotspots for pollution by diesel vehicles, two of which are in my constituency and all of which are outside the ULEZ. How will you be tackling diesel air pollution in town centre hotspots outside central London? Diesel air pollution (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 I am committed to cleaning up London’s toxic air. The central London Ultra Low Emission Zone has already dramatically improved air quality in central London. Next year expansion of the ULEZ to the North and South Circular roads and tighter emissions standards for the London-wide Low Emission Zone will extend these benefits London-wide. King’s College estimated that when I became Mayor in 2016 it would have taken 193 years to meet legal NO2 limits. Thanks to my bold policies London will be within compliance within the next five years. But as laid out in my London Environment Strategy this will require implementation of Zero Emission Zones and local targeted measures at the last remaining hotspots. TfL and the boroughs are already implementing targeted measures for localised air quality hotspots, including a series of Low Emission Neighbourhoods and Business Low Emission Neighbourhoods which tackle emissions at a local level through the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund.
Diesel air pollution (2) Question No: 2020/2976 Leonie Cooper Can you provide an update on your town centre Low Emission Zone programme? Answer for Diesel air pollution (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Diesel air pollution (3) Question No: 2020/2977 Leonie Cooper Do you agree with me that the Government’s planned date to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles of 2035 is too late? Answer for Diesel air pollution (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Diesel air pollution (4) Question No: 2020/2978 Leonie Cooper In light of this new data, can you provide an update on your Scrappage Schemes? How many polluting vehicles have been removed from the streets and what is the resulting fall in air pollution so far? Answer for Diesel air pollution (4) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Food waste Question No: 2020/2979 Leonie Cooper You told me on July 19th that all Borough Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs) have been signed off. Have all Boroughs committed to segregated food waste collections and, if not, which Boroughs have not? Food waste The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Proposal 7.2.1.a in my London Environment Strategy (LES) requires all London boroughs to collect as a minimum the six main dry recycling materials (glass, tins/cans, paper, card, mixed plastics and plastic bottles) from every property, and to collect food waste separately from properties with a kerbside collection. 24 boroughs already offer kerbside food waste collections. Nine boroughs do not currently offer separate food waste collections to households, sending household food waste to Energy from Waste or Landfill. These boroughs are Barking and Dagenham, Barnet,
Hammersmith and Fulham, Havering, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Wandsworth and Westminster. I am not able to direct authorities to undertake actions if they would contravene an existing contract or entail excessive additional cost. However, my officers have worked with these boroughs to set out in their Reduction and Recycling Plan (RRP) a commitment of how and when they will provide kerbside food waste services. Barnet have committed to reintroducing this service from April 2022. Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham RRPs were approved on condition of a commitment and clear road map of rollout following trials, ideally by 2022. Due to contractual restraints Wandsworth cannot introduce a food waste service before 2024 but have a trial planned within the RRP period. The remaining boroughs, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge are the constituent authorities of the East London Waste Authority (ELWA). There are contractual and technological constraints within the East London Waste Authority (ELWA)’s disposal contract which mean the potential for significant service change to waste and recycling services in the four ELWA boroughs (Newham, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham and Havering) is severely limited. We are aware of numerous contract reviews, both at the level of national government (DEFRA) and indeed constituent councils, that have found little to no latitude within the contract to alter this situation. I am working with these boroughs to identify what other improvements can be made and all have produced RRPs which are focussed on making real improvements within their constraints.
Plastic waste (1) Question No: 2020/2980 Leonie Cooper In your answer to me on sustainable waste management on July 19th, you told me that getting the Carbon Intensity Floor for incineration down to 200g/kWh of CO2 is practically challenging due to plastic’s higher emissions when burned. In light of that, what progress has been made towards your target for 65% recycling by 2030? Plastic waste (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My target of 65% recycling by 2030 is for municipal waste, which includes household or business waste that is similar in composition. I have now approved all 33 borough waste Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs). Taken together, if implemented in full by the boroughs, the RRPs are expected to increase London’s household waste recycling rate from 33% today to 40% in 2022. This shows we are making progress on household waste and this should continue as the introduction of consistent services and initiatives identified in RRPs continue to take effect.
As set out in my London Environment Strategy, achieving the 65% target will also require improvement in recycling from businesses. I have no powers to direct businesses to deliver my strategy but if the RRPs are implemented the number of boroughs providing commercial waste recycling services will increase from 29 to 31. This includes 18 boroughs looking to grow their commercial waste service offering. Additionally, through the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), I am supporting boroughs in developing their commercial waste services by offering individual support and service reviews and establishing a commercial waste forum for the exchange of knowledge and good practice. LWARB are also developing support for commercial food waste services within boroughs and launching a commercial waste section of the London Recycles website. However, we still need government to provide more support. I estimate that London requires a minimum of £100m of investment in local recycling services to reach my targets and have requested this money from the UK Government. I will continue engaging with the Government to make sure that London gets its fair share of funding for investment in local authority services to drive up recycling performance.
Plastic waste (2) Question No: 2020/2981 Leonie Cooper Will you consider setting a separate target for increased plastic recycling, in order to reduce the carbon intensity of incineration? Plastic waste (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My London Environment Strategy already sets clear targets to achieve 50 percent local authority collected waste recycling by 2025 and 65 percent municipal waste recycling rate by 2030. My Environment Strategy also sets out a minimum level of household recycling service provision for all boroughs to meet, which includes collecting the six main dry recycling materials, including plastic bottles and mixed plastics (pots, tubs and trays). 29 boroughs currently meet my minimum standard for dry recycling materials. The four that do not are Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge. These four boroughs already collect plastic bottles but are constrained from expanding their collection service as they are the constituent authorities of the East London Waste Authority (ELWA) which has contractual restrictions in place meaning changes to waste and recycling services is severely limited. However, my officers along their counterparts from the London Waste and Recycling Board are working with these boroughs to identify what further action can be taken. With the progress I have made towards consistent recycling of plastics and the targets that are already in place I do not believe setting a separate target for plastic recycling is
necessary at this stage. Further progress now requires government to take action to make businesses take greater responsibility for the plastic they produce and provide London with funding to support better recycling infrastructure.
Plastic waste (3) Question No: 2020/2982 Leonie Cooper Understandably, many of your water refill points closed at the start of the pandemic until it was clear they did not pose an infection risk. What progress has now been made towards reopening them? When will they all be back in operation, if not already? Plastic waste (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 In the absence of nationally available guidance, my officers sought advice from the London COVID-19 Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) to inform decision making around safely reopening public drinking water fountains. The London Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) provides a single point of trusted and credible scientific and technical advice to the London Transition Management Group* (LTMG) in line with the LTMG’s objectives. The STAC guidance supported reopening drinking fountains, with additional measures in place (i.e. frequent cleaning and safety signage). My officers are working closely with Thames Water and insurance providers to plan the reopening of the drinking fountains in line with STAC guidance and bring them back into operation as quickly as possible.
Emissions from buildings (1) Question No: 2020/2983 Leonie Cooper In your answer to question 2020/2274, you stated that London’s buildings account for 74% of emissions. Does this account for embodied carbon? If so, what proportion is embodied carbon and, if not, how much of London’s emissions come from embodied carbon from buildings? Emissions from buildings (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Buildings account for 74% of London’s direct emissions (emissions from fossil fuels burnt in the city plus emissions from electrical power consumed in the city from homes, workplaces and transport). This figure does not account for indirect, life-cycle carbon (embodied)
emissions. That is emissions associated with the construction of buildings, raw materials acquisition, processing, manufacturing or transportation of building materials to London. Embodied emissions from buildings add a further 6 MtCO2e per year, around 15% of the total direct and indirect emissions from buildings. See the ‘Application of PAS 2070 – London’ report for further information: I am committed to reducing embodied carbon emissions from buildings and construction as part of my aim for London to reach net zero by 2030. I have taken the lead on this by introducing a requirement for new developments to reduce life-cycle carbon emissions in the new London Plan. This ambitious new policy will drive low carbon building design, putting London’s buildings at the forefront of climate action.
Emissions from buildings (2) Question No: 2020/2984 Leonie Cooper The Environment Committee recently published a report into London’s carbon emissions which focused heavily on building emissions. Will you be adopting our recommendations, which were developed through extensive engagement with Londoners? Emissions from buildings (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I welcome the Environment Committee’s recent report on The Climate Emergency. I will shortly be sharing my response with the London Assembly on how I will be progressing the Committee’s recommendations. Reducing building emissions is central to delivering a green recovery, my aim for London to be net zero by 2030 and tackling fuel poverty. The drive to reduce emissions from buildings has the potential to support tens of thousands of jobs over the next decade and be a key driver in job creation in London’s green economy. I have also made this a priority in my Green New Deal which will be central to London’s green and prosperous recovery from COVID-19.
Waste self-sufficiency Question No: 2020/2985 Leonie Cooper In your answer to question 2020/2275, you told me that London’s net waste self- sufficiency is now at 60%, a welcome 14% increase from when the current London Plan was published. Are you confident you will meet your target for London to be 100% net waste self-sufficient by 2026, and what specific plans do you have to achieve this goal? Waste self-sufficiency The Mayor
Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My London Environment Strategy sets the objective to maximise local waste sites and ensure that London has sufficient infrastructure to manage all the waste it produces, with a target to be net self-sufficient by 2026. My London Plan requires boroughs to plan for their identified waste needs and meet their apportioned tonnages of household, commercial and industrial waste. My officers are working with the boroughs, through their Local Plans, to ensure this is achieved. My London Plan also safeguards existing waste sites to help meet the 100% net waste self- sufficiency target. I will resist the loss of such sites or require compensatory capacity be provided. In developing their Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs), I also asked boroughs to identify sites that meet waste apportionment targets and include plans for maximising recycling at local Reuse and Recycling Centres, including measures to accept a wide range of materials including hazardous waste. I have now approved all 33 borough RRPs. The recent pandemic has impacted the quantities and types of waste that London produces, and we are yet to see the full impact of this. Although these measures I have described and those aimed at reducing the generation of waste are vital in achieving this target we need government, in implementing their Resources and Waste Strategy, to bring forward policy to further reduce waste and support boroughs to ensure London gets its fair share of support for waste and recycling services.
Reusable face masks Question No: 2020/2986 Leonie Cooper Could you work with London’s fashion and textile industries to ensure all low-income Londoners have effective, reusable face masks? Reusable face masks The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am a strong advocate for the use of face coverings in places where social distancing is not possible, and glad to see the Government has finally mandated their use in enclosed spaces. My face coverings task and finish group continues to monitor the availability of affordable, reusable face coverings for low income groups. Our research has shown that these are widely available across a range of price points, ensuring accessibility for low-income groups. Officers also held discussions with representatives of London’s fashion and textile industries and made links to small creative retailers to support distribution. They signposted supermarkets to the British Fashion Council Bags of Ethics project with the result that Waitrose and Sainsbury’s joined the project. These face coverings have been designed by
leading British designers and the project aims to raise £1 million, with 100% of profits supporting health charities.
Climate resilience Question No: 2020/2987 Leonie Cooper Can you provide an update on when your guidance for schools and Early Years settings on how to adapt to London’s changing climate will be published? Climate resilience The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 The guidance for schools and Early Years settings on how to adapt to London’s changing climate was published in August, 2020. It is on the GLA’s website: https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/environment/environment-publications/how- schools-and-early-years-settings-can-adapt-climate-change
London Power (1) Question No: 2020/2988 Leonie Cooper I was pleased to read in your London Power first Quarterly Report that nearly 3,000 homes have so far been powered by London Power. How are you working to increase this number? London Power (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am pleased that between January and June we have already delivered fair, affordable, green energy to nearly 3,000 London households and will continue to grow in order that more Londoners can benefit. Marketing for London Power was paused in March as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but will be resumed this autumn. My officers are also engaging with London boroughs to gain their support in further promoting London Power to their residents.
London Power (2) Question No: 2020/2989 Leonie Cooper How many vulnerable customers have so far been cross-referred between London Power and your other energy schemes? London Power (2) The Mayor
Last updated: 21 September, 2020 In the last month, London Power has activated a direct referral service to the Warmer Homes Advice Service, which allows customer details to be passed directly to WHAS providers in their area, with the customer’s consent. This package includes home energy visits, general energy advice, water poverty interventions, fire safety checks, benefit checks and debt and bill disputes. We will be monitoring the effectiveness of this referral service to ensure as many vulnerable Londoners benefit from additional support.
London Power (3) Question No: 2020/2990 Leonie Cooper What customer feedback have you so far received? Are you conducting customer satisfaction analysis? London Power (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Customer feedback has been very positive – currently London Power is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. We monitor customer satisfaction by asking customers to rate their experience following interactions with our customer service team. To date, 82% of responses have been positive showing a high level of customer satisfaction (11% neutral, only 7% negative).
Fuel poverty (1) Question No: 2020/2991 Leonie Cooper Fuel poverty is always a serious concern, but this year I am particularly worried due to the coming economic crisis and the likelihood that many Londoners will be spending more time at home than usual, increasing their bills. What proportion of London’s population are you expecting to be in fuel poverty this winter? Fuel poverty (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The relative nature of the fuel poverty metric means that it is difficult to estimate the impact that the virus and accompanying economic downturn will have on Londoners. It is however clear that expected higher energy use combined with income reductions for many will result in more households struggling to pay their energy bills I would also expect the number of households in debt to their energy supplier is likely to rise. There are around 392,000 households in London suffering from fuel poverty and six London boroughs are in the worst 10 per cent in England for fuel poverty levels. I am
supporting Londoners through my programmes such as Warmer Homes, the Warmer Homes Advice Service, Retrofit Accelerator – Homes, and London Power. I am also lobbying government on several fronts, such as for London to receive its fair share of funding and for higher energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector.
Fuel poverty (2) Question No: 2020/2992 Leonie Cooper At MQT last December, you updated me on the progress with your Fuel Poverty Action Plan and Warmer Homes schemes. How has this been affected by the pandemic, and can you provide me with the latest data? Fuel poverty (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Delivery of my fuel poverty programmes has continued during the pandemic, albeit in a modified form. The delivery of my Warmer Homes programme was limited during lockdown because of restrictions on visiting homes but was still able to assist households (with appropriate social distancing measures in place) without heating and hot water. Since July it has resumed normal service and has seen a very high volume of applications. Due to this, all funding is currently projected to be committed to deliver this year’s target and the programme is temporarily closed to new applications. We have sought further funding from the government’s Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme to expand the programme. The Warmer Homes Advice Service has maintained telephone advice provision throughout but has switched to virtual home energy visits. Between the start of the second round of the service in August 2019 and June 2020 it helped 3,029 households, supporting them with Warmer Homes applications, assisting them to deal with energy debt and billing disputes, and helped them to access bill discounts.
Fuel poverty (3) Question No: 2020/2993 Leonie Cooper Will you be updating your Fuel Poverty Action Plan to reflect the economic challenges faced by Londoners at the moment? Fuel poverty (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My current Fuel Poverty Action Plan was published two years ago, and I am currently focused on delivering against its objectives through projects such as my Warmer Homes
programme and London Power. The government is expected to publish its new Fuel Poverty Strategy for England later this year and I will assess the implications for London and my Action Plan. There are currently 392,000 London households in fuel poverty and current national policy has been ineffective in reducing this number. Fuel poverty spending will need to be increased significantly to meet the national 2030 target, particularly to address solid-walled homes, and minimum energy efficiency standards strengthened with adequate resources going to boroughs to enforce these standards. Better still, these spending powers should be devolved to London so that I can deliver a fully integrated action plan.
Fuel poverty (4) Question No: 2020/2994 Leonie Cooper Your Fuel Poverty Action Plan has now been published for two years. Will you be publishing an interim results report on all the metrics? Fuel poverty (4) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As part of my annual London Environment Strategy progress update I update on elements of the Fuel Poverty Action Plan. As there is a two-year time lag in government fuel poverty statistics this means that it will not be possible to report in changes in levels of fuel poverty between 2018 and 2019 until next summer.
River pollution Question No: 2020/2995 Leonie Cooper There have been recent reports that the Environment Agency is considering watering down its river pollution targets. Can you guarantee London will retain higher standards in our waterways? River pollution The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Environment Agency has said that regulation is essential to protect and enhance the environment and that is why many rivers are cleaner than at any time since the Industrial Revolution. I support this view, but I am concerned by the Government’s lack of progress with the Environment Bill which is ultimately responsible for setting future UK water quality standards
I expect there to be no softening of standards under domestic environmental law, however this is ultimately beyond my control and a question for Government now that we have departed the EU. My London Environment Strategy is clear on the importance of protecting the ecology and water quality in London’s waterways. l will press Government as needed, to ensure that new legislation which drives the standards of our rivers and waterways, delivers further improvement in their water quality and ecology. I will continue work with the Environment Agency and London’s water companies, both of which I expect to take further action to reduce the amount of pollution released into the environment and ensure the health of London’s rivers and canals continues to improve.
Thames Tideway Question No: 2020/2996 Leonie Cooper How has the construction of the Thames Tideway tunnel been affected by COVID-19? Thames Tideway The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Thames Tideway tunnel was due to be completed in 2024, but is now likely to be completed in the first half of 2025, adding nine months to the current schedule. The delay is due to works pausing during the COVID-19 lockdown. In terms of costs, the revised forecast adds a further £233 million to the project, taking the estimated project cost to £4.1 billion. My Deputy Mayor for Environment & Energy has asked Tideway last month to confirm that the impact of delays and the cost increase will not fall on customer bills. Tideway are currently in discussions with Ofwat on a package of measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Agreement of that package is expected in the coming months. Whilst Tideway do not at this stage know what impact this will have on customer bills, they confirm they do not expect the original £20-£25 range on annual bills for Thames Water wastewater customers to be exceeded.
Support for Londoners that are no longer shielding Question No: 2020/2997 Leonie Cooper Following the Government’s advice that clinically extremely vulnerable individuals will no longer have to shield, the food and medicine packages that a number of shielded Londoners received stopped on the 1st August. How did the London Transition Board coordinate the work of your office, local authorities and national government to prepare people for this change and ensure nobody was put in danger by having this support suddenly removed?
Support for Londoners that are no longer shielding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Supporting vulnerable Londoners through COVID has been essential but complex, involving numerous partners from different sectors. This was overseen initially by the COVID Strategic Co-ordination Group, which has since evolved into the London Transition Management Group overseen by the London Transition Board chaired by myself and the MHCLG Secretary of State. London’s approach has built on the lessons learned from working in partnership during the early stages of the pandemic. Every borough has developed Food Transition Plans for ongoing arrangements for food support during the pandemic and through recovery. These plans build on the lessons from the emergency and are supported by the London Food Board. Community pharmacists across London have played a key role in supporting the most vulnerable of our communities. Many already provided services for housebound people to ensure they received vital medicines. This service has grown over the period of shielding and has built on strong partnership working with local community groups, local authorities and others in local neighbourhoods.
Redundancy Criteria Question No: 2020/2998 Leonie Cooper Should persons who have been shielding and persons who have been furloughed be added to the government’s list of unfair redundancy criteria? Answer for Redundancy Criteria The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Support for Londoners to Re-enter the Workforce Question No: 2020/2999 Leonie Cooper Across the UK, almost 200,000 additional people aged over 50 were classified as economically inactive between March-May as compared to December-February. How are you supporting older Londoners who have lost their jobs as a result of Covid-19 to re-enter the workforce? Support for Londoners to Re-enter the Workforce The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
Supporting Londoners worst hit by the pandemic, including people aged over 50, into good jobs is a top priority for London’s recovery. I have introduced flexibility to allow Adult Education Budget (AEB) funded providers to spend more of their allocation on pre- employment support and job-focused training. This will allow providers to meet the specific needs of older Londoners to help them re-enter the workforce. I have also introduced AEB flexibility to allow unemployed learners who have already achieved a first level 3 to take a subsequent level 3 qualification. This will enable many older Londoners to reskill and access employment opportunities. Through my European Social Fund ‘Sector Skills Programme’, I will be investing £6 million to enable unemployed Londoners to gain industry relevant skills and progress into employment. I continue to lobby government to ensure London gets the funding it needs to help Londoners back into work, and that national employment programmes meet the needs of all groups, including older people.
Employment Rights Hub Access Question No: 2020/3000 Leonie Cooper If possible, please provide monthly figures on the number of people that have accessed the Employment Rights Hub since its launch. Employment Rights Hub Access The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Employment Rights Hub has had almost 18,000 unique page views since it was launched in October 2019. Monthly figures are as follows: Date range Unique Page Views 17/10/2019 – 17/11/2019 302 18/11/2019 – 17/12/2019 96 18/12/2019 – 17/01/2020 91 18/01/2020 – 17/02/2020 226 18/02/2020 – 17/03/2020 2094 18/03/2020 – 17/04/2020 2648 18/04/2020 – 17/05/2020 2052 18/05/2020 – 17/06/2020 10,260 18/06/2020 – 17/07/2020 1562 18/07/2020 – 17/08/2020 1172 18/08/2020 – 09/09/2020 2316 Total since 17/10/2019 22,395
Londoners Missing out on Government Support Schemes Question No: 2020/3001 Leonie Cooper A report by the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee has found that over a million people are locked out of coronavirus support schemes ( https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmtreasy/454/45403.htm#_idT extAnchor000). How many people in London have been effectively ‘locked out’ of support schemes and how are you lobbying the government to support these Londoners? Londoners Missing out on Government Support Schemes The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 It is not possible to calculate the exact number of Londoners who have been unable to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). A number of groups have not benefited from the CJRS, including casual workers and workers employed by employment agencies, and many low paid Londoners have ended up receiving less than the National Minimum Wage while on furlough. GLA Economics estimates that there could be around 118,000 self-employed Londoners missing out in part or entirely on the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. I have consistently said that this crisis will require long-term economic intervention from the Government on an unprecedented scale. I have called on the Government to maintain the CJRS in those sectors hardest hit by Covid-19 such as retail, culture and hospitality to support London’s workers and employers through this crisis and avoid an increase in poverty.
Targeted Support for Theatre Workers Question No: 2020/3002 Leonie Cooper The trade union representing theatre workers across the country, Bectu, has reported that around 2,700 theatre related job losses have already taken place in London (including redundancies of permanently employed staff and lay-offs of casual workers and zero hours contract staff). Has the Government responded to your call for targeted sector support through schemes such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or Self-Employed Income Support Scheme or are these workers being hung out to dry? (https://bectu.org.uk/news/theatre-job-losses-jump-from-3000-to-5000-in-a-month- reports-bectu/0) Targeted Support for Theatre Workers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London’s creative ecosystem, including theatre, stands to lose up to £16.5bn this year, and 151,000 jobs.
Many creative organisations, including theatres, cannot reopen with social distancing. Whilst I welcome Government’s £1.57bn fund for the arts, this will not retain jobs by supporting reopening, and vital businesses and freelancers, like set designers or prop hire, are ineligible and at severe risk. I welcome reports that Government is striving for theatre to return without social distancing by November. A ‘Seat Out to Help Out’ scheme, which almost 50,000 people have supported in a petition, would be welcome for some, but only when adequate rapid testing will truly mean that all theatres can reopen and save jobs. I and others have repeatedly called on Government to offer targeted extension of the Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. I have not received a response from Government on this. If reopening cannot go ahead in November, Government must urgently extend these employment support schemes.
Universal Credit and Rent Arrears Question No: 2020/3003 Leonie Cooper Research by the Smith Institute (www.smith-institute.org.uk/book/falling-behind-the- impact-of-universal-c…), carried out in 12 London boroughs found that on average, tenants build-up £240 of rental arrears after they make a Universal Credit claim. How are you working with London Councils, who commissioned the research, to lobby for the end of the 5 week wait for Universal Credit? Universal Credit and Rent Arrears The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I have long argued that Universal Credit is in need of a complete overhaul. The latest research by the Smith Institute is yet more evidence that glaring design flaws like the five- week wait, mean that Universal Credit, far from being a tool to tackle poverty, instead pushes claimants even deeper into hardship. Since the start of the pandemic I’ve written to both the Prime Minster and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions calling on them to scrap the five-week wait. This is clearly still a much-needed change when hundreds of thousands of Londoners, and many more nationally, are in dire need of immediate financial support. As you know, I am working with London borough leaders through the London Recovery Board to oversee London’s recovery from the pandemic. Ensuring that Londoners have access to the financial support they need to escape hardship will be a key element of this work.
Economic Disproportionality Question No: 2020/3004 Leonie Cooper Research by the Social Metrics Commission found that across the UK nearly half of Black/African/Caribbean/ Black British households were in poverty compared to just one in five white families. What action are you taking to address this inequality in London and how are you lobbying the Government to influence relevant policy decisions over which you have no direct remit? Economic Disproportionality The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The findings from the Social Metrics Commission clearly demonstrate the scale of the challenge we face in tackling economic inequality amongst different ethnic groups. I’m doing what I can to close the gap in London by providing targeted support to those who need it most. For example, I’m helping young black men into living wage employment through the Workforce Integration Network and I’m using the European Social Fund and Adult Education Budget to assist Londoners who face the biggest disadvantages in the labour market get the skills they need to find and progress in work. However, many of the levers to lift Londoners out of poverty are in the hands of Government. I’ve repeatedly called on them to ensure that the benefit system covers the basic cost of living and housing. We know that doing so is likely to be particularly beneficial to many Black African and Caribbean households due to the high poverty rates amongst these communities. Equally, it is important that the benefit system is accessible to all Londoners, including non-UK nationals with no recourse to public funds.
The Disproportional impact of No-Recourse to Public Funds Question No: 2020/3005 Leonie Cooper Research from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford suggests that no recourse to public funds (NPRF) restrictions falls disproportionately on people of colour. Do you share my concerns that this policy is pushing greater numbers of people into poverty as unemployment rises and how are you lobbying the Government to call for an end to this policy? The Disproportional impact of No-Recourse to Public Funds The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Thousands of people with entitlements to live and work in the UK pay taxes but are unable to access mainstream welfare benefits and social housing because they have no recourse to public funds. Children in these families can’t get free school meals when they need them. I share your concern – without this vital safety net, families risk being forced into destitution
and this disproportionately impacts Londoners from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds. There has been a collective call to suspend the NRPF condition from across local government. I have lobbied the Government extensively on this issue, including writing to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, briefing parliamentarians ahead of Immigration Bill debates, and raising public awareness of the impact of NRPF through social media and the press. I am also investing in immigration advice so that Londoners can secure their full residency and citizenship rights.
Economic Impact of Covid-19 on the Central Activities Zone Question No: 2020/3006 Leonie Cooper What specific economic challenges does the Central Activities Zone face as compared to the rest of London and what work have you and GLA teams carried out to assess the specific challenges faced by this sector? Answer for Economic Impact of Covid-19 on the Central Activities Zone The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Footfall in the Central Activities Zone Question No: 2020/3007 Leonie Cooper How has footfall in the Central Activities Zone changed since the start of the pandemic and are there signs that footfall is now increasing in this area? Answer for Footfall in the Central Activities Zone The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Pay it Forward Scheme (1) Question No: 2020/3008 Leonie Cooper Please can you provide the total monetary value of the support raised by the Pay it Forward Scheme per borough? (location of recipient requested not location of supporter). Answer for Pay it Forward Scheme (1) The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Pay it Forward Scheme (2) Question No: 2020/3009 Leonie Cooper How many individual donations have been pledged under the Pay it Forward scheme? Answer for Pay it Forward Scheme (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Furloughed Space Loans Scheme Question No: 2020/3010 Leonie Cooper What are the Mayor’s views on the Furloughed Space Loans Scheme proposed by the British Property Federation and British Retail Consortium? https://transactions.freshfields.com/post/102g5jo/covid-19-and-the-uk-commercial- property-industry-the-furloughed-space-grant-sche Answer for Furloughed Space Loans Scheme The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Mayor’s Construction Academy (1) Question No: 2020/3011 Leonie Cooper How are you evaluating the performance of the Mayor’s Construction Academy? Mayor’s Construction Academy (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The performance of the Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) will be evaluated via an independent impact evaluation. The MCA team have procured ICF consultants to deliver both an interim evaluation, which was completed over the summer and will be published in the autumn. In addition, work on the final evaluation will begin later this year.
Mayor’s Construction Academy (2) Question No: 2020/3012 Leonie Cooper The COVID-19 Housing Delivery Taskforce found that the work of the Mayor’s Construction Academy could be built on in order to secure a stable pipeline of workers. What role can the Mayor’s Construction Academy play in boosting the number of apprenticeships in the construction sector taking place in London? Mayor’s Construction Academy (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) hubs support partnership and collaboration between employers and training providers to provide local solutions to skills shortages. Hub Coordinators are working creatively to respond to COVID-19 as methods of delivering coordination need to adapt to new ways of working. For example, on 15 July, West London College MCA hub in partnership with the National Careers Service (London), delivered London’s first ‘virtual’ construction careers event, promoting jobs, apprenticeships and learning opportunities across the capital. #ConstructLondon was supported by more than 100 employers and partners and another event is planned for October 2020.
Mayor’s Construction Academy (3) Question No: 2020/3013 Leonie Cooper The COVID-19 Housing Delivery Taskforce found that the work of the Mayor’s Construction Academy could be built on to secure a stable pipeline of workers. Would you consider conducting a cost benefit analysis, focusing on the number of individuals the scheme has already helped into employment, to make the case for further government investment? Mayor’s Construction Academy (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) hubs fund coordination activity rather than training provision. As such this means that there are no MCA-specific learners, as activity is funded by other existing funding streams such as Adult Education Budget, Apprenticeships or the Construction Skills Fund. The MCA team have procured a final economic impact evaluation of the programme which will include a detailed cost benefit analysis, as well as an overall value for money assessment in line with Green Book guidelines. The MCA provides a strong delivery model for enhancing partnership working and the model is being looked at in detail to support other growth sectors as part of wider recovery-
type activity. Findings from the MCA evaluation will help to make the case for further funding.
Government’s Apprenticeship Hiring Bonus Question No: 2020/3014 Leonie Cooper How will you be working with businesses of all sizes to encourage them to take advantage of the Government’s ‘apprenticeship hiring bonus’ of £2,000 to employers in England for each new apprentice they hire under age 25? Government’s Apprenticeship Hiring Bonus The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 GLA officers have worked closely with government officials to increase awareness of the incentive by sharing information with relevant employer representative groups and through our networks. My London Progression Collaboration (LPC) pilot programme is also actively promoting the incentive to employers across London. The LPC is supporting London’s businesses to create apprenticeship opportunities and its ‘Reskilling the Recovery’ campaign has complemented the Government’s incentive by raising £1.3m of unspent apprenticeship levy funds to support training costs at smaller firms. In order to ensure that the incentive drives the desired employer behaviour in London, I have lobbied government to introduce regional weightings to reflect the higher cost of living, working and training in the capital and to extend the time that the incentive is available from 5 months to at least 12 months.
Government’s Kickstart Scheme (1) Question No: 2020/3015 Leonie Cooper How will you be working with businesses of all sizes to encourage them to take advantage of the Government’s Kickstart Scheme? Government’s Kickstart Scheme (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I have recently established a working group with London Councils, sub-regional partnerships, the Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus leads in London to coordinate employment support initiatives, including Kickstart. GLA officers are currently working with these partners to ensure Kickstart meets the needs of Londoners and to identify the role City Hall will play in the initiative.
I am particularly concerned that the Kickstart programme does not provide a London Living Wage for participants and I will be urging central government to ensure Kickstart wages reflect the high cost of living in London. I am determined to work with partners to support Londoners into rewarding jobs with opportunities to train and progress, and I will be working closely with the capital’s employers, skills and training providers, unions and the voluntary and community sector to create and promote opportunities for Londoners, particularly those who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Government’s Kickstart Scheme (2) Question No: 2020/3016 Leonie Cooper How will you be working with businesses of all sizes to encourage them to offer training opportunities and use the Government’s Kickstart Scheme subsidy to offer young workers the London Living Wage? Government’s Kickstart Scheme (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My Good Work Standard sets the benchmark that I want every London employer to work towards and achieve. Skills and progression is one of the Good Work Standard’s four pillars, and a structured programme of learning and training, including apprenticeships, is key to its achievement. Last year I established the London Progression Collaboration (LPC) in partnership with the Institute of Public Policy Research, to support London’s hospitality, retail and construction employers to create apprenticeship opportunities for Londoners. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, I have broadened the LPC’s remit to provide support to employers from all of London’s industries and advise on apprenticeship retention as well as recruitment. Finally, I recently established a working group with stakeholders (Please see Mayor’s Question 2020/3015) to coordinate employment support initiatives, including Kickstart. However, I am particularly concerned that the Kickstart programme does not provide a London Living Wage for participants and I will be urging central government to ensure Kickstart wages reflect the high cost of living in London.
Covid-19 Economic Disproportionality in Relation to Under 18s Travel Question No: 2020/3017 Leonie Cooper 78% of South Asian and Asian young Londoners were worried that their parents would struggle to make ends meet if they had to pay for transport (https://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/publications/free-transport-means-everything-me-
understanding-impact-suspension-free-travel-under-18s/?platform=hootsuite). Are BAME communities being disproportionately impacted by the Government’s requirement to remove the under 18s travel card? Covid-19 Economic Disproportionality in Relation to Under 18s Travel The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 It is abundantly clear that losing free travel would hit the poorest Londoners hardest at a time when family finances are stretched more than ever. Fifty-seven per cent of the under 18 population in London are BAME and as more families face financial stress from COVID- 19, I am concerned that suspending free school travel would add additional burdens to low- income Londoners. We also know children and young people in some of the most deprived areas in London are exposed to the highest road danger risk. Please also see my answer to Mayor’s Question 2020/3145.
Walk-in Test Centres Question No: 2020/3018 Leonie Cooper How are you working through the London Transition Board to ensure walk-in test centres for COVID-19 do not become vectors for transmission of the virus? Walk-in Test Centres The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am pleased that accessible mobile and local testing units are being set up across London. DHSC have piloted the walk-in model in Newham and Brent and developed a standard operating model of delivery to minimise transmission of the virus. The walk-in centres go a long way towards making the test process easy and quick for Londoners. However, I am concerned about reports that people are being turned away from walk-in centres, or asked to wait days or travel large distances. I wrote to the Government outlining these concerns. Nothing is more vital than a fully functioning test, trace and isolate system if we are to prevent a second wave and save lives and our economy. The PHE London Coronavirus Resource Centre is monitoring outbreaks and there are frequent data reports to monitor, tackle and, escalate the response to any outbreak. The London Regional Director of Public Health chairs the Evolution of the Outbreak sub-group which reports to the London Transition Board.
National Food Strategy Question No: 2020/3019 Leonie Cooper What role can the first part of the National Food Strategy play in helping to eradicate food poverty in London? National Food Strategy The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I welcome the proposed actions in the recently published National Food Strategy, particularly those aiming to support children and families experiencing food insecurity. Food insecurity is a symptom of broader poverty, and I am working to help all Londoners to access healthy, sustainable food, no matter where they live or their income. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity in London, and rising unemployment risks making this worse. I will continue to work on a wide range of policies to reduce poverty in London and shall continue to lobby Government to play their part by committing to long-term, permanent funding to protect children and families against poverty and food insecurity. I hope that the strategy, when its second part is published early next year, will lead to the Government taking decisive action to help our food system work better for all.
Healthy Start Vouchers Take-up in London Question No: 2020/3020 Leonie Cooper What is the current uptake of Healthy Start Vouchers in London and can this be broken down by borough? Healthy Start Vouchers Take-up in London The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The latest regional data shows 41,330 eligible beneficiaries are claiming Healthy Start vouchers, out of a total 90,485 eligible beneficiaries, representing 45.7% uptake. The following table provides a breakdown of the latest data by local authority. The data can also be accessed via the Healthy Start website (https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthy- start-uptake-data/): Beneficiaries claiming Beneficiaries Borough vouchers eligible Uptake Barking and Dagenham 1644 3697 44% Barnet 1360 3312 41% Bexley 1078 2215 49%
Brent 1525 3576 43% Bromley 1014 2262 45% Camden 1006 1818 55% City of London 3 17 18% Croydon 1911 5069 38% Ealing 1617 3627 45% Enfield 2344 5220 45% Greenwich 1949 3669 53% Hackney 1714 3309 52% Hammersmith and 670 1488 45% Fulham Haringey 1340 2934 46% Harrow 807 2081 39% Havering 1038 2499 42% Hillingdon 1361 2915 47% Hounslow 1363 3149 43% Islington 1451 2517 58% Kensington and 334 699 48% Chelsea Kingston upon Thames 505 1058 48% Lambeth 1462 3215 45% Lewisham 1805 3800 48% Merton 702 1659 42% Newham 1821 4331 42% Redbridge 1122 3102 36% Richmond upon 400 876 46% Thames Southwark 1738 3610 48% Sutton 651 1767 37% Tower Hamlets 2210 4167 53% Waltham Forest 1405 3118 45% Wandsworth 1161 2270 51% Westminster 819 1439 57%
Economic Impact of Covid-19 on Disabled Londoners Question No: 2020/3021 Leonie Cooper The United Nations Human Rights Committee has expressed concerns about the devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on persons with disabilities across the world (https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/campaigns-and-policy/act-now/the-devastating- impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-disabled-people/). How are you ensuring that the existing economic inequalities that disabled Londoners face are not exacerbated by Covid- 19? Economic Impact of Covid-19 on Disabled Londoners The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I know that disabled people experience significant inequalities in a number of areas critical to financial stability – from barriers to entering and progressing in the labour market through to disproportionate exposure to the underlying design and delivery flaws that plague the welfare benefit system. Leaders from across London are collaborating on London’s recovery to tackle social and economic inequalities, especially those exacerbated by Covid-19, and will include issues experienced by Deaf and Disabled Londoners. In the meantime, my Employment Rights Hub offers inclusive information for workers on flexible working and protection from discrimination; my Good Work Standard supports and encourages employers to provide inclusive and flexible work and recruitment practices; and the GLA continues to improve employment outcomes for disabled people by match funding the devolved DWP London Work & Health Programme.
Economic Impact of Covid-19 on Disabled Londoners (1) Question No: 2020/3022 Leonie Cooper Research by Citizens Advice found that one in four disabled people are currently facing redundancy. The charity has called for a watchdog that will be a one-stop shop to protect employment rights. Would you support this call which could help prevent redundancies disproportionately falling on Londoners living with a disability? (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/06/parents-carers-and-disabled-people- in-uk-twice-as-likely-to-lose-job) Economic Impact of Covid-19 on Disabled Londoners (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 While this is a tough time for employers, the pandemic cannot be an excuse for businesses to break the rules. It is concerning that in the UK redundancies are disproportionately being offered to disabled people, carers, and people who are or have been shielding from Covid- 19.
Anyone who has been made redundant unfairly should have their rights enforced. My Employment Rights Hub has information for workers about what to do if their employer is breaking the rules. However, the majority of employment rights are not enforced by any public body, and existing enforcement routes are complex, poorly-funded, and have been disrupted during the pandemic. The government has rightly recognised that the employment rights enforcement system needs reform. It should introduce its forthcoming single enforcement body as quickly as possible in response to the jobs crisis we now face, and my officers will work with the relevant departments and agencies to ensure it works for London.
South Wimbledon Tube station Question No: 2020/3023 Leonie Cooper When will South Wimbledon tube station fully re-open? South Wimbledon Tube station The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 All stations that were closed for staffing reasons during the pandemic have now reopened, except Heathrow Terminal 4, which remains closed at the request of the airport. South Wimbledon station is currently open on weekdays between 07:00 and 19:00, and Transport for London expects the station to fully reopen from Sunday 27 September.
Cycle hire Question No: 2020/3024 Leonie Cooper Why is the Santander cycle docking station near Battersea Park Road and Battersea Bridge always empty? Answer for Cycle hire The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
South Wimbledon Tube station Question No: 2020/3025 Leonie Cooper Has there been any more rail grinding undertaken at South Wimbledon tube station since the last round of works?
South Wimbledon Tube station The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Yes. Transport for London carried out rail grinding at South Wimbledon tube station on 31 August between Morden and South Wimbledon northbound; on 1 September between South Wimbledon and Colliers Wood northbound; and on 2 September between South Wimbledon and Morden southbound.
Vehicle Stop Demographics Question No: 2020/3027 Unmesh Desai Please provide the ethnic breakdown of members of the public subjected to vehicle stops in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 to date. Answer for Vehicle Stop Demographics The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Vehicle ‘Stop and Account’ Demographics Question No: 2020/3028 Unmesh Desai Please provide the ethnic breakdown of members of the public subjected to vehicle ’stop and accounts’ conducted in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 to date. Answer for Vehicle ‘Stop and Account’ Demographics The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Cultural Awareness Toolkit Question No: 2020/3029 Unmesh Desai How is the effectiveness of the Met’s newly commissioned cultural awareness toolkit to be measured and how long will this toolkit be used for? Answer for Cultural Awareness Toolkit The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Violence Suppression Units Stop and Search Question No: 2020/3030 Unmesh Desai How many stop and searches have been carried out by officers within Violence Suppression Units in each month since April 2020? Answer for Violence Suppression Units Stop and Search The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Fines for ‘Unlicensed Music Events’ Question No: 2020/3031 Unmesh Desai How many fines have been issued to those organising or attending illegal ‘unlicensed music events’ between April and August 2020? Answer for Fines for ‘Unlicensed Music Events’ The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Gerrymandering Investigations Question No: 2020/3032 Unmesh Desai How many investigations into electoral boundary gerrymandering has the Met conducted in the past 10 years? Answer for Gerrymandering Investigations The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Out of Court Dispersal Orders Question No: 2020/3033 Unmesh Desai Why have the number of out of court dispersals doubled between Quarter 3 2019/20 and Quarter 4 2020/21? Answer for Out of Court Dispersal Orders
The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Community Resolution Orders Question No: 2020/3034 Unmesh Desai Please provide a breakdown, by number and type, of offences that were dealt with through a community resolution order in each of the last 12 months. Answer for Community Resolution Orders The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Met Funding Shortfall Question No: 2020/3035 Unmesh Desai What is the funding gap faced by the Met by the end of this financial year and in the next financial year? What impact could this have on officer numbers? Met Funding Shortfall The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 As per the Quarter 1 reporting, the current pressure faced by the Metropolitan Police Service is £19.1m. The link is included below. This is currently addressed through assessments of overtime and recruitment to bring spend down to an affordable level. In 2021/22 there is an expected reduction in funding for MOPAC and the Met of £63.8m and plans are currently being worked through to address this. https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/q1_pack_performance_and_finance_18_a ug_2020.pdf
New Met Officer Allocation Question No: 2020/3036 Unmesh Desai When do you expect to find out how many officers will be allocated to the Met Police from the second tranche of the government’s ‘Be a force for all’ 20,000 officer recruitment initiative? New Met Officer Allocation
The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As yet we do not have confirmation of when we will find out our target from the Home Office. This lack of clarity by the Government is deeply frustrating. It means that the Metropolitan Police Service is unable to plan properly for its budget, estates and training needs in the medium term.
Met Action Plan Publication Question No: 2020/3037 Unmesh Desai When will your plan to build wider trust and confidence in policing be published? Answer for Met Action Plan Publication The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Public Involvement in Met Action Plan Question No: 2020/3038 Unmesh Desai Can you provide details of which organisations and communities have been engaged in the development of your plan to build wider trust and confidence in policing? Public Involvement in Met Action Plan The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 On the 5th June I convened an emergency roundtable with community leaders, youth groups and rights organisations to better understand what more we as a city can do to make changes that build on trust and confidence, transparency and accountant ability. From this starting point, and throughout the development of this cross-City Hall Plan over 300 people have been engaged through three interactive workshops, a community feedback session, youth workshop and victims’ roundtable. The final list of community stakeholders will be published alongside the Plan.
VRU Strategy Progress Question No: 2020/3039 Unmesh Desai What progress has the VRU made in developing a strategy for supporting vulnerable young people more likely to be involved in violence and/or being exploited as lockdown continues to be eased? VRU Strategy Progress The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Ensuring young people receive the support needed through lockdown and thereafter is critical. London’s Violence Reduction Unit has built a strategy centred around the influential relationships that can impact positively on a young person’s life - families, youth workers, teachers and peers. The Unit is supporting families through the development of a parents and carers network, has set up a Young Leaders Action Group, invested in a leadership programme for 100 youth sector workers and funded training for healthcare professionals to spot signs of domestic violence in response to the increased calls to police and helplines during lockdown. Furthermore, the Unit has recently funded mentoring support to disadvantaged young Londoners who attend London’s PRUs. This funding package of £2.38 million includes investment of £1.38 million for community-led after-school activity, which evidence shows is when young people are most at risk of becoming involved or being a victim of violence.
Sentencing for Attacks on Officers Question No: 2020/3040 Unmesh Desai Attacks on police officers in London have risen. Do you believe that there should be tougher sentences for those that attack emergency service workers? Sentencing for Attacks on Officers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Police officers come to work every day to protect the public, prevent crime and bring offenders to justice. It is appalling that we have seen a rise in attacks on our officers. The existing Assault on Emergency Workers legislation provided an increase in sentencing to 12 months, which was a welcome improvement from the six months maximum available through the offence of Assault on Police (s89 Police Act).
My Office for Policing and Crime has called upon the Government for a further uplift to two years, reflecting the seriousness with which assaults on emergency workers should be viewed. Attacks on police officers are never acceptable and will not be tolerated.
Met Ability to Respond to ‘Unlicensed Music Events’ Question No: 2020/3041 Unmesh Desai Are you confident that the Met are properly equipped to deal with the rise in ‘unlicensed music events’ in London? Met Ability to Respond to ‘Unlicensed Music Events’ The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 The MPS has reacted proactively and effectively to the rise in unlicensed music events (UMEs). The MPS quickly identified the risks around UMEs and set up a dedicated response involving senior leaders from each borough and a central response overseen by experienced senior public order commanders. Additionally, the MPS briefed staff regarding their powers and the risks UMEs pose; increased local engagement highlighting the issues through local contacts and social media; and worked with partners to identify and deter organisers. When the public have reported ongoing UMEs or those in the process of being set up, they have responded quickly with local officers and will continue to do so. Apart from the August Bank holiday weekend, the number of UMEs has declined in recent weeks, including a significant reduction in the number of events that have escalated to the point where central public order assistance was required.
Minimising the Risk of Public Disorder Question No: 2020/3042 Unmesh Desai What action have you taken to minimise the risk of public disorder in London in recent months? Answer for Minimising the Risk of Public Disorder The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Shared ownership charter Question No: 2020/3043 Unmesh Desai Following my question 2020/1935, if a shared ownership provider has been found to have breached the terms of your Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges, will they be removed from the published list of organisations signed up to the charter? Answer for Shared ownership charter The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Royal Docks air quality Question No: 2020/3044 Unmesh Desai What steps are you taking to improve air quality around the Royal Docks? Given there is significant residential development completed and planned in the area, constituents have raised with me issues of poor air quality, in part due to the presence of London City Airport, but also lots of industrial and logistics sites, construction sites and the future Silvertown Tunnel. Royal Docks air quality The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Air quality in and around the Royal Docks, like the rest of London, benefits from the broad range of interventions I have introduced to reduce pollution. In particular much of the Royal Docks will be within the expanded ULEZ and new residents will benefit from the transformational improvements to cross river bus services enabled by the Silvertown tunnel. This means that not only will new residents be more able to use public transport, reducing the need to drive, but that they will also see improved local air quality resulting from reductions in transport emissions. Changes to the Non-Road Mobile Machinery Low Emission Zone introduced this year also mean that, by the time significant construction begins, machinery used will be cleaner. The planning framework for this Opportunity Area is currently under production but the final form will take into account air pollution from local sources like the airport and industry. My London Plan policies are also designed to ensure that as the industrial and logistics sites are redeveloped, they should reduce their impact on surrounding residential areas.
Silvertown Partnership (1) Question No: 2020/3045 Unmesh Desai When are works expected to start of Phase 1 of the Silvertown Partnership scheme, the redevelopment of Millennium Mills? In March 2020, the developers posted on their website that they were preparing plans to commence construction work, and were confident of maintaining a “business as usual approach” in the light of covid-19, but have any expected delays been communicated to the GLA, with whom the Silvertown Partnership has signed a development agreement? Silvertown Partnership (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Silvertown Partnership submitted their Phase 1 Reserved Matters Planning Application in September 2019 which was then approved by the London Borough of Newham in December 2019. The Silvertown Partnership are currently working through their plans to commence on site during the first half 2021 and are in the process of procuring an enabling works contractor for phase one. The Silvertown Partnership have not sought a delay to contractual milestones though any application to the GLA for an extension related to Covid-19 will be considered.
Silvertown Partnership (2) Question No: 2020/3046 Unmesh Desai Outline Planning Permission was granted to the Silvertown Partnership scheme in August 2016. One of the conditions of that outline permission was that, within two years, a detailed planning application would be submitted for a new bridge across the Royal Victoria Dock to connect the site with the ExCel centre and Custom House station. Has this application been submitted, and if not, why not? Silvertown Partnership (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The application for the new footbridge has not yet been submitted to the Local Authority. The conditions for the Outline Planning Permission are applicable only when the development has been implemented. As set out in question 2020/3045, implementation is due in early 2021. It is anticipated that a planning application for the bridge will be submitted in the second half of 2021.
Royal Albert Docks (1) Question No: 2020/3047 Unmesh Desai The Royal Albert Dock scheme, in which the GLA entered into a development agreement with ABP in May 2013, was due to have been completed by 2022. What is the current timeframe for the completion of all phases of the scheme? Royal Albert Docks (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The new build phase 1 at Royal Albert Dock completed in April 2019. The second part of Phase 1 which includes the refurbishment of the two Listed Buildings is due to be completed by ABP by December 2022. Royal Albert Dock is split into 6 consecutive phases detailed in the Development Agreement. The dates for the subsequent phases change based on the completion dates of the previous phase.
Royal Albert Docks (2) Question No: 2020/3048 Unmesh Desai In your response to Assembly Member Shah’s question 2019/20599 in November last year, you said you were discussing options for the delivery of phase 2 with the developer of the Royal Albert Docks scheme. Could you provide an update on those options and when delivery is expected to start and finish? Royal Albert Docks (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 We do not currently have any dates from the developer ABP on when Phase 2 delivery is to start or finish.
Royal Albert Docks (3) Question No: 2020/3049 Unmesh Desai In your response to Assembly Member Shah’s question 2019/20599 in November last year, you stated that Phase One of the Royal Albert Docks scheme had completed in April 2019. How much of the 530,000 square feet of new office space has been let to date, and how much of it remains empty? Royal Albert Docks (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
ABP have let circa 3000 square foot of floor space and circa 561,500 square foot remains unlet.
Huawei Question No: 2020/3051 Andrew Dismore What impact does the government’s decision to exclude Huawei from rolling out 5G services and their involvement in 4G have on the overdue and over budget development of the Emergency Services Network, and on ensuring inter-service operability? Huawei The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 The Emergency Service Network (ESN) Programme is a Home Office led project and an official statement on Huawei is expected in the coming weeks. In the meantime, London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police have had discussions through the Programme Board and understand that the removal of Huawei equipment from EE’s network is being managed and monitored closely to ensure any disruption to the build, or operation of ESN is avoided. The Home Office reports that it does not anticipate any impact on programme schedules. All ESN traffic is encrypted across the mobile network therefore the security risk during the transition period is minimal.
Camden Safer Neighbourhood Board Funding Question No: 2020/3052 Andrew Dismore Camden SNB have received a letter from MOPAC informing them that there is a review of “discretionary” expenditure, and that they should not commit to any expenditure. It is 5 months into their financial year, and bad practice for a public body to approve a grant, send out an approval letter and agreement only to withdraw the offer of funding. Will you commit to fund the vital work of the Safer Neighbourhood Boards? Camden Safer Neighbourhood Board Funding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Public engagement is, and will continue to be, an important aspect of the work of both MOPAC and the Met Police. As a result of the unprecedented effects of Covid19, like many other organisations, MOPAC is prioritising funding to respond to the crisis and support our most vulnerable citizens. As a matter of urgency, officers are working to establish the new demands on City Hall, the police and victims’ services and as part of that are reviewing all discretionary funding streams. Officers are of course, working to resolve these matters as quickly as possible and continue to update Safer Neighbourhood Boards on developments.
Public Health England Question No: 2020/3053 Andrew Dismore Have you had any discussions with the Government regarding the scrapping of PHE? If so have you emphasised that this is a kick in the teeth to the economy and provision of jobs in Barnet, given how many employees based in their Colindale centre are local residents? Answer for Public Health England The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
A-Level Chaos [1] Question No: 2020/3054 Andrew Dismore Do you know how many A-Level students from London had grades downgraded? A-Level Chaos [1] The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Ofqual figures showed that 39.1% of the 718,276 teacher assessments for A-levels submitted in England were lowered by one or more grade during its standardisation process. There is no public data on the percentage of London students that were downgraded. Statistics on the number of reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level are due to be published by Ofqual between December 2020 and January 2021. Source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmen t_data/file/909368/6656- 1_Awarding_GCSE__AS__A_level__advanced_extension_awards_and_extended_project_q ualifications_in_summer_2020_-_interim_report.pdf (page 135).
A-Level Chaos [2] Question No: 2020/3055 Andrew Dismore What impact do you consider the A-Level results chaos will have on young people in London, and what is your message to them? A-Level Chaos [2] The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
I’d like to congratulate students from across the capital who got their results this summer for their hard work. London’s young people, like many all over the country, have endured a dreadful year and have suffered further due to the chaos over A-level results. This confusion compounded the uncertainty young people were already feeling as a result of the pandemic at such a crucial juncture in their lives. On 13 August, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Education to raise my concerns regarding A-level results. This fiasco could have been completely avoided if the Government had taken action months ago. As school leavers take their next steps this Autumn, we anticipate an increase in young people experiencing mental and emotional distress. We know that some issues emerge immediately, but others appear later, with the return of some kind of normality. It is important young people feel free to seek help without stigma or feeling embarrassed. The Good Thinking digital mental health and wellbeing service, signposts to a wide range of online and voluntary sector support as well as clinical resources https://www.good- thinking.uk/
A-Level Chaos [3] Question No: 2020/3056 Andrew Dismore Have you had any discussion with London universities after the A-Level results chaos? What is their feedback? Have you raised this with the Government? A-Level Chaos [3] The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I welcomed the reversal in policy to Centre Assessed Grades, but this last minute change has placed enormous logistical pressures on London’s universities and caused significant unnecessary distress for young people. This matter has also been discussed by the London Transition Board Education subgroup, chaired by Cllr Peter John which includes representatives from London’s HE sector. Students are the number one priority for universities, and admissions teams have worked tirelessly to ensure as many students as possible can start their desired course. Unfortunately for some students, this will mean deferring till next year. London Higher has rightly highlighted the logistical challenges faced by universities trying to accommodate additional students at short notice, while remaining Covid-secure. This disruption and the removal of temporary student number caps also raises new financial concerns for institutions whose financial modelling has been impacted. I am calling on government to ensure that adequate emergency support funding is in place for higher education institutions.
Cultural Landmarks in trouble Question No: 2020/3057 Andrew Dismore What discussions have you had with the arts sector regarding the financial stability of the arts and cultural sector in London? What was their feedback? Have you raised this with the Government? Cultural Landmarks in trouble The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Since March, we have liaised extensively with the sector and expanded our Culture at Risk Office, responding to over 630 cases since lockdown. My Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE, has been in close and continuous dialogue with the arts sector and has hosted a number of industry roundtables on the impact of the pandemic on creative workspace, freelancers and the self-employed and, night time business. Following evidence from industry that independent cinemas, grassroots music and LGBTQ+ venues and creative workspaces were at particular risk of imminent closure, we launched the £2.3m Culture at Risk Business Support Fund to help save them. This has supported 97 organisations and over 11,500 individuals to date. We have collaborated with the Creative Industries Federation and Oxford Economics to publish evidence on the devastating financial impact of COVID-19 on culture. Our research shows that London could lose up to £16.5bn in 2020 and 151,000 jobs due to the pandemic. I have repeatedly called on Government to provide targeted support for jobs by extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for cultural and creative organisations that cannot operate sustainably, or at all, under continued social distancing requirements.
Culinary sector in London Question No: 2020/3058 Andrew Dismore Have you received representations from London’s culinary sector on the current state of their industry? What was their feedback, particularly with regards to Eat Out to Help Out? Have you raised this with the Government? Answer for Culinary sector in London The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Fibre Optic Broadband Question No: 2020/3059 Andrew Dismore Do you agree with me that with homeworking becoming a reality of modern working life, it is vital all Londoners have access to high-speed broadband? BT Openreach do not currently have plans to ensure rollout to all areas, such as Silverbell Court in N11. Will you ask them to do so? Fibre Optic Broadband The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London’s future digital connectivity will be built on fibre. High-speed connectivity is crucial for businesses of all sizes and sectors, not to mention Londoners accessing digital services at home and around the city.
My Connected London team speak regularly with the large number of operators who provide connectivity across the capital to discuss addressing not spots and maximising their investment in fibre and mobile infrastructure by addressing deployment issues. They will be happy to discuss coverage in Silverbell Court with operators.
I have previously announced that the GLA is coordinating £34.9m of funding from different sources to boost full fibre coverage across London in areas that are not being addressed by commercial deployments. This will enable new connections to public sector sites in areas that suffer from poor connectivity, making these areas more commercially viable for further private investment. As part of GLA’s recovery work, my team is working with London’s boroughs on allocating this funding to priority areas to reduce London’s not spots.
Coronavirus Second Wave [1] Question No: 2020/3060 Andrew Dismore Have you assessed the likelihood and impact of a second wave of coronavirus infections on the Economy of London, not only on the arts and cultural sector, but also the culinary sector, education sector, and overall impact on jobs? Coronavirus Second Wave [1] The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 GLA Economics has developed and recently updated medium-term macroeconomic scenarios for London - informed by the recent Bank of England’s and OBR’s projections for the UK – to examine the impact on London if these national scenarios came true.
Under the central scenario – where some restrictions and social distancing measures remain in place until late in 2021 but a gradual return to economic growth prevails -, London’s economy would contract by 10.5% this year before returning to growth in 2021. In terms of output, the worst-hit sectors this year would be Accommodation and food services (- 30.1%); Arts, entertainment and recreation (-25.3%), and Education (-24.7%). The fall in London employment is expected to be only 1.7% this year due to the Government’s current support to businesses but employment will contract further next year and its recovery is projected to be significantly slower than outputs. A more serious second wave (leading to reintroduction of stricter lockdown measures) would worsen these impacts.
Coronavirus Second Wave [2] Question No: 2020/3061 Andrew Dismore Have you assessed the impact a second wave of coronavirus would have on GLA services, especially the police, fire brigade and TfL, including the impact on their budgets? Answer for Coronavirus Second Wave [2] The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Rollout of Coronavirus Vaccine in London Question No: 2020/3062 Andrew Dismore Have you had discussions with the Government on how the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine (if and when it happens) will work? Rollout of Coronavirus Vaccine in London The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 An effective and operational vaccine will be crucial to getting our economy fully back up and running, and allowing Londoners to go back to doing the things they love. PHE’s ‘Beyond the numbers report’ also signals how important it will be to ensure that those at higher risk from COVID are immunised as soon as possible if and when a vaccine becomes available. To date I have not yet had any conversations with Government about the roll out of the vaccine. I look forward to working with Government and regional partners including PHE, the NHS and Local Authorities to ensure that the rollout of any vaccine is a success and reaches all the Londoners it needs to.
CCTV cameras for East Finchley Question No: 2020/3063 Andrew Dismore You may recall the serious problem last winter of teenagers in East Finchley being mugged in the evenings. The SNT are requesting an improvement in local CCTV coverage in the area, especially from the tube station to the entrance to Cherry Tree Wood. Will you ask TfL to install and extra camera or cameras at the station, in consultation with the SNT, in order to improve safety here? Answer for CCTV cameras for East Finchley The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Government Safer Streets scheme (1) Question No: 2020/3064 Andrew Dismore MOPAC put forward 3 bids to the Government Safer Streets scheme and was successful in just one of them. What was a) the process and b) criteria applied by MOPAC in deciding which bids to put forward? Answer for Government Safer Streets scheme (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Government Safer Streets scheme (2) Question No: 2020/3065 Andrew Dismore Give the rising street crime rates in the Bloomsbury area and its impact on the local West End economy, especially affecting tourists and visitors to London, why was this area not chosen as a suitable bid to the Government Safer Streets scheme? Answer for Government Safer Streets scheme (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Cottages behind West Hampstead fire station Question No: 2020/3066 Andrew Dismore What progress is being made with the refurbishment of the cottages behind West Hampstead fire station? Answer for Cottages behind West Hampstead fire station The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Delay to incorporation of Grenfell Tower learning Question No: 2020/3067 Andrew Dismore The Consolidated GTI and HMI action plan notes a delay from April 2020 to March 2021 incorporating learning from Grenfell Tower into incident command training, so that all LFB personnel understand the nature and risk of high rise and external wall system fires. Why is the delay on this so much longer than other covid-19 related impacts? Answer for Delay to incorporation of Grenfell Tower learning The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Operational discretion training (1) Question No: 2020/3068 Andrew Dismore Has London Fire Brigade completed operational discretion training for level 1 and 2 officers? If not, when will it do so? Answer for Operational discretion training (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Operational discretion training (2) Question No: 2020/3069 Andrew Dismore It has been suggested that the operational discretion logs underplay the extent LFB officers are working outside LFB policies, attributed to cultural problems within the Brigade. In
addition to training for officers, what steps is the Brigade taking to ensure officers feel supported to use their judgement? Operational discretion training (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The revised operational discretion policy is due to be published in November 2020 subject to formal consultation. The policy incorporates best practice by aligning with National Operational Guidance. The policy will be simplified to provide greater clarity on the safety critical steps required when exercising operational discretion. A key component of this policy will be the inclusion of a written declaration of support from the London Fire Commissioner to operational staff. This will help address the cultural issues identified and empower officers to make the right decisions knowing they have the Commissioner’s support.
Training exercises during the covid-19 pandemic Question No: 2020/3070 Andrew Dismore What steps is London Fire Brigade taking to enable face to face training at various levels to take place while covid-19 remains in general circulation? Training exercises during the covid-19 pandemic The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London Fire Brigade (LFB) has a training recovery plan in place to ensure the delivery of essential risk critical training required to maintain operational capability. Training content has been changed to enable Covid-19 control measures to be implemented. LFB’s delegates maintain 2 metre social distancing wherever possible, and additional external venues have been secured to support this strategy. Face coverings and eye protection are being utilised where a distance of 2 metres or more cannot be maintained between delegates and trainers due to the course learning objectives. Reduced class sizes have also been implemented for some courses. Hand sanitiser is provided at venues and antibacterial wipes provided in all rooms. In addition, signage has been placed at training venues promoting current Government guidelines on self-isolation, sanitation and social distancing. Training facilities are now subject to an increased cleaning regime including concentration on high touch areas such as door handles.
Urban firefighting and rescue course Question No: 2020/3071 Andrew Dismore Please provide an update on the five-day course covering high rise, fire survival guidance and evacuation policies as noted in LFB’s consolidated GTI and HMI action plan. Answer for Urban firefighting and rescue course The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Evacuation steering group (1) Question No: 2020/3072 Andrew Dismore When do you expect the evacuation steering group to next meet, and what has been its previous meeting schedule, and what is its membership? Answer for Evacuation steering group (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Evacuation steering group (2) Question No: 2020/3073 Andrew Dismore What involvement did LFB have in the design of the call for evidence, commissioning and related work from academics for the evacuation steering group, and when will this research be complete? Answer for Evacuation steering group (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Evacuation steering group (3) Question No: 2020/3074 Andrew Dismore What preparation is LFB making for the eventuality that its high-rise firefighting policies currently in development are contrary to the findings of the evacuation steering group?
Answer for Evacuation steering group (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Evacuation steering group (4) Question No: 2020/3075 Andrew Dismore LFB’s Consolidated GTI and HMI action plan states that “it has been determined that the evacuation steering group did not meet in February”. How was this determined? Answer for Evacuation steering group (4) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Evacuation alert systems Question No: 2020/3076 Andrew Dismore Have any prototypes or actual equipment relating to whole-building evacuation alert systems been delivered to LFB or NFCC? Answer for Evacuation alert systems The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Breathing apparatus data review Question No: 2020/3077 Andrew Dismore What was the conclusion of LFB’s review of the effectiveness of extended duration breathing apparatus in high rise fires? Answer for Breathing apparatus data review The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Culture change plan Question No: 2020/3078 Andrew Dismore When will LFB publish their culture change plan? Answer for Culture change plan The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Value for money in LFB contracts Question No: 2020/3079 Andrew Dismore Have any contract specific remedial action plans been initiated following the review of the Brigade’s contracts? Answer for Value for money in LFB contracts The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
8 Albert Embankment redevelopment - September 2020 Question No: 2020/3080 Andrew Dismore Please provide an update on the redevelopment of the old Brigade headquarters at 8 Albert Embankment following the Secretary of State’s decision to call in the planning application 8 Albert Embankment redevelopment - September 2020 The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Planning Inspectorate has appointed an inspector and the Public Inquiry has been confirmed as starting on Tuesday 1 December 2020. The Inquiry is expected to last eight days and will be held in virtual format to avoid any potential delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic. London Fire Brigade’s development partner U+I is working with their legal representatives to ensure all processes required by the Inquiry are fully met. The outcome of the Inquiry is expected between March and May 2021.
City Hall Independent Audit Committee of LFB Question No: 2020/3081 Andrew Dismore What is the membership of this committee, has it met yet, and will its papers be published? Answer for City Hall Independent Audit Committee of LFB The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Met Police investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire (1) Question No: 2020/3082 Andrew Dismore When do the Met expect to conclude their criminal investigation into individuals and bodies related to the Grenfell Tower fire? Met Police investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) had previously informed the bereaved families, survivors and public that both the police and the CPS agree that the criminal investigation must take into account any findings or reports produced by the Grenfell Tower public inquiry, including the Inquiry’s final reports for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. The publication of any final public inquiry report will follow its Phase 2 hearings. Once the report has been considered, if the police investigation concludes there is sufficient evidence to consider criminal charges in relation to the fire, a file will be submitted to the CPS for a charging decision. The MPS assessment is that any file submission to CPS by the MPS is unlikely to be sooner than the latter part of 2021. This timeline will be subject to review as the Phase 2 hearings progress. The police investigation has been in regular engagement with the CPS since the beginning of the investigation and continue to do so.
Met Police investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire (2) Question No: 2020/3083 Andrew Dismore How much has the Met spent on its investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire since its commencement? Met Police investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire (2)
The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Between June 2017 and May 2020, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has spent approximately £48m on its response to the Grenfell Tower fatal fire. £35.5m relates to police officer and police staff pay costs. £12.5m relates to a range of costs including forensics, premises, transport, public inquiry legal costs and other supplies and services.
Met Police investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire (3) Question No: 2020/3084 Andrew Dismore How many officers has the Met currently engaged on its investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire? Met Police investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 The number of Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) staff working on the Grenfell Tower response has varied, dependent on the stage of the response and investigation. In September 2020 there are 156 police officers and police staff whose work on either the criminal investigation or in support of the public inquiry. Not all of these officers and staff are full time and they are further supported by the wider MPS, experts and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Public order LFB attendances Question No: 2020/3085 Andrew Dismore How many public order incidents, or incidents requiring a public order response, has LFB attended since the beginning of March 2020, and for the equivalent period in 2019? Answer for Public order LFB attendances The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Firefighter pension discrimination remedy Question No: 2020/3086 Andrew Dismore What impact does LFB predict on its finances from the proposals set out in the Government’s consultation document on remedying the unlawful discrimination in firefighter pensions, following the FBU’s court victory in 2019? Answer for Firefighter pension discrimination remedy The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Support for Beirut Question No: 2020/3087 Andrew Dismore What aid has LFB provided to the people of Beirut following the tragic explosion in that city on 4 August, and will funding for this come from national Government? Answer for Support for Beirut The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
August 2020 Surrey fires Question No: 2020/3088 Andrew Dismore Please provide a breakdown of the mutual aid rendered by LFB to Surrey FRS during August 2020. August 2020 Surrey fires The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London Fire Brigade attended 55 incidents in Surrey during August 2020. Below is a breakdown by incident type. Incident type Incidents AFA 3 False alarm – good intent 11 Flood call attended – batch mobilised 1 Incomplete Incident 3
Primary Fire 13 Secondary Fire 3 Special Service 21 Total 55
Babcock secondees Question No: 2020/3089 Andrew Dismore What is the cost to the Brigade, on top of the standard Babcock contract costs, for the expanded secondee programme proposed to address issues in the GTI and HMI reports? Babcock secondees The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The estimated cost of this initiative is £732,740 per year, and the budget was supplemented by this amount on 1 April 2020.
Causes of fires during lockdown Question No: 2020/3090 Andrew Dismore Please set out the percentage and numerical change in the number of fires in domestic dwellings, comparing March to September 2020 with the corresponding period in 2019. Causes of fires during lockdown The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 All dwelling fires for the period from 01 March to 09 September were as follows: Year Number of Incidents 2020 2653 2019 2760
There were, therefore, 107 fewer such incidents in 2020 than the corresponding period in 2019 which is 3.9 per cent less.
King’s ICU fire safety concerns (1) Question No: 2020/3091 Andrew Dismore How many notices or other items of correspondence about fire safety did LFB issue to King’s College NHS Trust before the emergency closure of its ICU on 22 July 2020? Answer for King’s ICU fire safety concerns (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
King’s ICU fire safety concerns (2) Question No: 2020/3092 Andrew Dismore When was the remedial work on the dangerous external wall panelling at King’s College NHS ICU completed? Answer for King’s ICU fire safety concerns (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Vulnerable people in buildings with flammable cladding (1) Question No: 2020/3093 Andrew Dismore How many a) hospitals, b) other healthcare sites, and c) social care sites have ACM and other forms of flammable cladding in London? Vulnerable people in buildings with flammable cladding (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The GLA does not hold this information. The GLA’s role is to administer the Social and Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Funds and the Building Safety Fund in London on behalf of the Government. The Government is responsible for collecting and recording information on buildings of 18 meters or above in height, with ACM and other forms of unsafe cladding, in London and the rest of the England. The latest monthly data release is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-programme-monthly-data- release-july-2020
Vulnerable people in buildings with flammable cladding (2) Question No: 2020/3094 Andrew Dismore How many people requiring sleep-in carers reside in buildings of 18m+ with ACM and other forms of flammable cladding in London? Vulnerable people in buildings with flammable cladding (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The GLA does not hold this information. The GLA’s role is to administer the Social and Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Funds and the Building Safety Fund in London on behalf of the Government. The Government is responsible for collecting and recording information on buildings of 18 meters or above in height, with ACM and other forms of unsafe cladding, in London and the rest of the England. The latest monthly data release is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-programme-monthly-data- release-july-2020
Fire safety in schools (1) Question No: 2020/3095 Andrew Dismore What representations have you made to ministers and officials to ensure that the consultation on BB100 (fire safety in schools) is complete and in force before the £1.7 billion new schools fund begins constructing new buildings? Answer for Fire safety in schools (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Fire safety in schools (2) Question No: 2020/3096 Andrew Dismore What representations have you made to ministers and officials to ensure that fire safety in schools includes the provision of sprinklers in all new buildings? Answer for Fire safety in schools (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Extended duration breathing apparatus drills (1) Question No: 2020/3097 Andrew Dismore What was the outcome of the EDBA drills conducted in July 2020 to test high rise firefighting capabilities? Extended duration breathing apparatus drills (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Extended Duration Breathing Apparatus (EDBA) and Standard Duration Breathing Apparatus (SDBA) tests carried out in July 2020 were not scientific testing, and as such, can only be considered indicative of working durations when completing specific tasks. This will inform further controlled scientific testing. Indications suggest that EDBA can provide further travel distances than SDBA in high-rise buildings, but under controlled conditions. The tests also indicated that the primary limiting factor on travel distances is the physiology of firefighters when combined with equipment weight and tasks. This supports the conclusions of the 2004 Building Disaster Advisory Group (BDAG) report. As a result of these indications, London Fire Brigade is now investigating commissioning physiological testing with an academic institution to understand tolerances and control measures.
Extended duration breathing apparatus drills (2) Question No: 2020/3098 Andrew Dismore What floor were firefighters using EDBA able to reach in the drills conducted in July 2020? Extended duration breathing apparatus drills (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Firefighters operating under Extended Duration Breathing Apparatus (EDBA) procedures were able to reach a simulated thirtieth floor using extant EDBA procedures. It should be noted that this was in a controlled environment without the conditions anticipated during an incident.
Extended duration breathing apparatus drills (3) Question No: 2020/3099 Andrew Dismore What consideration has been given to methods of lengthening the operational time of EDBA sets, such as adjusting the flow rate or using pure oxygen? Extended duration breathing apparatus drills (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
Extended Duration Breathing Apparatus cannot be extended further. The length of duration relates to the wearer and what tasks they are completing. A small trial was conducted with oxygen re-breather sets at the July 2020 Breathing Apparatus (BA) tests. It confirmed that travel distances and the duration of BA sets are limited by firefighter physiology and heat stress, rather than the amount of air available.
Extended duration breathing apparatus drills (4) Question No: 2020/3100 Andrew Dismore What consideration has been given to the physiological impact of using EDBA on firefighters arising from the EDBA drills? Answer for Extended duration breathing apparatus drills (4) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Pumps off the run Question No: 2020/3101 Andrew Dismore For each day of the operation of the tripartite agreement with LAS, how many LFB vehicles were off the run? Please break this down by vehicle types. Answer for Pumps off the run The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Borough commander savings consultation Question No: 2020/3102 Andrew Dismore What consultations has the Brigade conducted with officers on possible savings, were the representative bodies involved, and if so, how? Borough commander savings consultation The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London Fire Brigade (LFB) is currently preparing their budget submission. As part of this process all departments have provided budget proposals which are now being discussed at budget scrutiny meetings. The outcome from this process will be considered by the
Commissioner’s Board in early October, and further consultation will then be undertaken on the budget proposals including with representative bodies. This consultation will build on earlier engagement with representative bodies on the Budget Guidance, as well as on budget matters more generally which are raised as part of regular meetings. LFB also continues to communicate directly with the workforce. For station-based staff this has been via officer-led discussions with on-duty staff to gather their views on potential savings. The Commissioner and directors are also holding a series of virtual ‘Town Hall’ open meetings. This engagement is part of the ongoing dialogue with staff which includes the budget and the wider transformation agenda.
Day 6 and 7 arrangements with LAS Question No: 2020/3103 Andrew Dismore Will firefighters driving ambulances under the day 6 and 7 arrangements be employed by LAS for that time or through another method? Answer for Day 6 and 7 arrangements with LAS The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Specialist appliance crewing (1) Question No: 2020/3104 Andrew Dismore How many LFB operational staff have completed a) Fire and Rescue Unit and b) Command Unit training in each year since 2016? Answer for Specialist appliance crewing (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Specialist appliance crewing (2) Question No: 2020/3105 Andrew Dismore In each month of 2020 so far, how many times has a) a fire and rescue unit and b) a command unit been off the run because of lack of trained crew? Answer for Specialist appliance crewing (2) The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Specialist appliance crewing (3) Question No: 2020/3106 Andrew Dismore What is LFB’s target number of operational staff trained for fire and rescue unit and command unit crewing, and what is the total number of actual staff trained? Answer for Specialist appliance crewing (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Filling LFB junior officer roles (1) Question No: 2020/3107 Andrew Dismore In each round of promotions to leading firefighter, sub officer, and station officer since 2016, how many applicants were there for each category of officer, and how many available places? Answer for Filling LFB junior officer roles (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Filling LFB junior officer roles (2 Question No: 2020/3108 Andrew Dismore What is the current target establishment for leading firefighters, sub officers, and station officers, and what is the actual number of substantive LFB staff in those ranks? Filling LFB junior officer roles (2 The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As of 31 August 2020 the establishment and actual numbers were as follows: Rank Establishment Actuals Station Officer 265.00 245.71
Sub Officer 620.00 500.57 Leading Firefighter 533.00 483.94 Firefighter 3129.00 3262.22 Total 4547.00 4492.44
A Station Officer promotion process has concluded in the first week of September. Successful candidates will fill both current vacancies and new vacancies arising between now and the next process in 2021. A Sub Officer promotion process is currently in progress and a Leading Firefighter process will start in October 2020.
High rise firefighting operational limits Question No: 2020/3109 Andrew Dismore Will you publish your correspondence with the Health and Safety Executive and Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience, regarding the safety of high-rise firefighting operations in the current built environment in London? Answer for High rise firefighting operational limits The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Memorial to Covid 19 victims Question No: 2020/3110 Andrew Dismore Nearly 7,000 Londoners have died of the Covid 19 virus Will you consider organising a memorial or ceremony to mourn those Londoners lost to the virus? Answer for Memorial to Covid 19 victims The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Learning from Exercise Cygnus (1) Question No: 2020/3111 Andrew Dismore Was improved wifi and audiovisual equipment provided for the Strategic Coordinating Group following this being flagged as an issue in the review of Exercise Cygnus? Learning from Exercise Cygnus (1)
The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The arrangements for hosting and facilitating Strategic Coordinating Groups are constantly reviewed and worked upon to ensure that the meetings can be held virtually to maximise participation and ease of administration. Wifi access at MPS Lambeth facility had been enhanced for visitors operating from that facility. The London Resilience Group issued personal portable devices to all its staff in late 2017 to enable administrative support to SCGs from any location. This capability has been proven during several recent responses where the administrative support has been provided remotely. During the recent COVID response the SCG has utilised further enhancements in technology and now regularly runs its meeting through video conferencing applications and retains the ability to revert to teleconferencing facilities with more secure features if required.
Learning from Exercise Cygnus (2) Question No: 2020/3112 Andrew Dismore Was the excess deaths framework developed following the lessons of Exercise Cygnus suitable or adaptable for the covid-19 pandemic? Learning from Exercise Cygnus (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Excess Deaths Framework that was further developed following Exercise Cygnus was adapted and utilised for the COVID 19 pandemic and provided the basis for the initial mortality management response. The frameworks in use by the Resilience Partnership are not focussed on, and only applicable to, a single risk cause. They provide the generic framework of options and likely issues to provide the responders with the tools to develop the specific plan applicable to the scenario they are faced with.
Learning from Exercise Cygnus (3) Question No: 2020/3113 Andrew Dismore During Exercise Cygnus, which “critical public services” did it become apparent would be “overwhelmed in the event of severe pandemic influenza due to capacity limitations or interdependencies across organisations and sectors”? Learning from Exercise Cygnus (3)
The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Exercise Cygnus was a National Command Post Exercise, as such the focus was on procedural aspects and the mechanisms to coordinate the response between local and national levels, as opposed the going into such detail of organisational scenarios which would allow participants to fully examine their capacity limitations. The response to a pandemic and the capacity of each organisation would be dependant on the varying infection rates, absenteeism and increased demand for service that a pandemic produces. The details of these potential realities were not provided in sufficient depth to determine if critical public services would have been overwhelmed. It is the purpose of individual organisational pandemic planning to identify their internal capacity limitations and make plans for prioritisation of services and alternative service delivery to meet the needs of their critical public service delivery. tree coverage Question No: 2020/3114 Andrew Dismore Do you support the campaign to increase tree canopy coverage in London? What are the practical steps you are taking or can take to help achieve this? tree coverage The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 In my London Environment Strategy, I set a target to increase London’s tree canopy cover by 10 per cent of current levels by 2050 - from 21 per cent to 23.1 per cent of London’s land area. This will add an extra 3,300 hectares of canopy cover – 23 times the area of Hyde Park. Since 2016, I have supported the planting of over 280,000 trees across London, with trees in every borough. 5,000 more street trees will be planted this winter, and in July I announced plans to create two new woodlands in our Green Belt, which will span 84 hectares and plant a further 140,000 trees. I am also working with the Forestry Commission and other members of the London Urban Forest Partnership on a London Urban Forest Plan. This will set out priority actions that the partnership will take for the capital’s trees including to increase canopy cover.
Tube Noise [1] Question No: 2020/3115 Andrew Dismore TfL have informed me that they will not be proceeding with the installation of Delkor track fastenings, having trialled its use recently. Will you publish the report and results of the trial? Answer for Tube Noise [1] The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Tube Noise [2] Question No: 2020/3116 Andrew Dismore Did the Delkor track fastenings installation reduce tube noise? Did it have other impacts elsewhere, such as increased in-carriage noise? Answer for Tube Noise [2] The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Tube Noise [3] Question No: 2020/3117 Andrew Dismore Given the decision not to proceed with Delkor track fastenings, what further action are you taking to reduce tube noise? Answer for Tube Noise [3] The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Tube Noise [4] Question No: 2020/3118 Andrew Dismore All known locations of severe tube noise in my constituency, Finchley Central, Golders Green, Kentish Town, Mornington Crescent and Warren Street have reported an increase in tube noise over the last few months. What is the reason for this in each location?
Answer for Tube Noise [4] The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Tube Noise [5] Question No: 2020/3119 Andrew Dismore I note a recent report by Hird Rail states that they are working with TfL on the potential for new sleepers which reduce tube noise: https://www.railbusinessdaily.com/hird-rail- introduce-new-unique-sleeper-to-reduce-noise-and-vibration-to-the-london- underground/ Has TfL tested their Hybrid Polymer Sleepers? What was the outcome of these tests, and will you consider a trial? If successful, will you install these in locations that suffer from tube noise? Answer for Tube Noise [5] The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
112 bus extension Question No: 2020/3120 Andrew Dismore When is the 112 bus extension to North Finchley due to come into effect? 112 bus extension The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The extension of route 112 between Brent Cross and North Finchley via A406 North Circular Road and A1000 Finchley High Road started on Saturday 29 August. It now runs between North Finchley and Ealing Broadway, connecting these north and west London hubs. This is part of the Mayor’s commitment to improve orbital bus services in outer London and encourage more Londoners to walk, cycle and use public transport.
383 bus extension Question No: 2020/3121 Andrew Dismore When is the 383 bus route extension to Finchley Memorial Hospital due to come into effect? 383 bus extension The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) plans to temporarily extend route 383 once highway works within the Finchley Memorial Hospital grounds have been completed to accommodate single-deck buses. These works need to be carried out by the hospital, which is the highway authority, and are being funded by TfL. The provisional start date for the service change is late autumn 2020. The route would be extended between Woodside Park station and Finchley Memorial Hospital via North Finchley town centre, and would continue to serve the existing route between Woodside Park station and Barnet, The Spires. A public consultation on this change is also planned and TfL will review its popularity once it has been in place for a year.
Finchley Memorial Hospital bus services Question No: 2020/3122 Andrew Dismore Will you consider extending other bus routes to Finchley Memorial Hospital? The extension of the 383 only benefits a few residents of North Finchley, and excludes residents of Finchley Central and East Finchley from being able to access the hospital by bus. Answer for Finchley Memorial Hospital bus services The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
125 bus extension [1] Question No: 2020/3123 Andrew Dismore Has there been any assessment of the performance of the 125 bus extension in terms of passenger numbers? Answer for 125 bus extension [1] The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
125 bus extensions [2] Question No: 2020/3124 Andrew Dismore Were tests carried out and assessments made about the safety of the 125 bus extension down Greyhound Hill in Hendon, especially in icy conditions? 125 bus extensions [2] The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) assessed the operation of route 125 on Greyhound Hill before its extension between Finchley Central and Colindale station, with highway change proposals shared within the public consultation documents for the extension. Changes to these designs were made following consultation feedback and discussions with Barnet Council. A route test was undertaken on 16 April 2019, along with further site meetings conducted with representatives across TfL and from Barnet Council, to assess the safety of running double-deck buses along Greyhound Hill. The route test involved a double-deck vehicle running in both directions along the road and making turning manoeuvres at Hendon, next to Middlesex University. It also assessed interaction with trees, pedestrian crossing points and parking, with tree pruning and parking changes subsequently completed. Bus stop locations were also assessed, with two locations selected which provided visibility for other vehicles to overtake and where buses could pull up to the kerb to provide step free access. These highway changes were made in early May 2019 and the route was extended via Greyhound Hill on 25 May 2019. During icy conditions, Greyhound Hill is included as one of Barnet Council’s gritting routes to ensure buses can manoeuvre along this road.
Face coverings on TfL services Question No: 2020/3125 Andrew Dismore Despite publicity, it is clear that some passengers are ignoring the requirement to wear face coverings on TfL services. What can you do to encourage better compliance? As some people appear to think that the rules don’t apply to tube station concourses and platforms, but put on coverings when boarding trains, will you improve the publicity to make clear the rules apply throughout stations as well as on trains and buses? Answer for Face coverings on TfL services The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Public Health England [1] Question No: 2020/3126 Andrew Dismore The Government has decided to scrap Public Health England. You may be aware that PHE is based in Colindale in my constituency, and is a major local employer. Do you agree with me that the decision to scrap PHE is a political move by the government in order to scapegoat them for their own poor response to the COVID crisis. Do you further agree that the middle of a global health crisis is the worst possible time to scrap the body leading the national response to the virus? Given the high toll of Coronavirus on London, its loss is especially devastating to this city, isn’t it? Public Health England [1] The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The full impact and detail of the reorganisation is not yet clear, and I understand that the new structures will not be in place until spring next year. Any reorganisation of PHE must prioritise restoring the funding for public health work across the system, and proper investment in its workforce. I will continue to advocate in all my meetings with PHE leadership, including Baroness Harding, that jobs should be protected. It is beyond belief that, during the middle of a crisis, the Government is embarking on a mass reorganisation of one of our front-line agencies. I continue to work closely with PHE’s Regional Director for London, Professor Kevin Fenton, and his team on all issues relating to our response. PHE’s health protection work will continue uninterrupted as part of new NIHP structures. I sought this assurance directly from Baroness Harding when I met her.
Road traffic Question No: 2020/3127 Len Duvall OBE Can you confirm whether members of the public have been told that it is TfL’s policy to filter traffic onto B roads because TfL does not want traffic on A roads? Can you clarify TfL’s policy in this area? Answer for Road traffic The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Increased support for London’s children & young people’s development and well-being. Question No: 2020/3129 Florence Eshalomi MP The past few months have been challenging, especially for our children and young people. The disruption to schooling due to the lockdown and the fall-out from the crisis on school exam results has created a crisis of confidence for many of our children & young people. Can the Mayor outline what additional long-term resources are available to further the development of our children and young people? Increased support for London’s children & young people’s development and well- being. The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 City Hall research, backed up by a UK Youth report on the impact of COVID-19, shows that the pandemic has had a significant impact on young people’s mental health, wellbeing, loneliness, activity levels and future opportunities. The London Recovery Board, which I co- chair with the Chair of London Councils is co-ordinating the planning for London’s long- term recovery and is working in partnership across London. Helping young people to flourish with access to support and opportunities is one of the recovery programme’s key outcomes. City Hall action includes investment of £30m European Social Funding to support young Londoners, many of whom are not in education or employment, and funding of additional activities over the next six months through the Young Londoners Fund to improve wellbeing, skills and opportunities. Additional Adult Education Budget for 2020-21, secured through the Department for Education’s COVID-19 Skills Recovery Package, can be used to deliver high value courses to learners aged 19 if they cannot find employment or work- based training. We have also worked with the Healthy London Partnership to update the Schools Mental Health Toolkit. This, together with Thrive LDN and the Good Thinking digital mental health and wellbeing service, signposts teachers, youth workers, parents and students to a wide range of online and voluntary sector support.
Elephant & Castle Trader Relocation Question No: 2020/3130 Florence Eshalomi MP The historic Elephant & Castle Centre is to close on the 24 September, around half of the small independent businesses, about 40 in number, still have no relocation space and are therefore looking at the loss of their livelihoods. Will the Mayor support the Elephant & Castle Relocation Proposal, commissioned by local charity Latin Elephant, in collaboration with Southwark Law Centre and the wider Up the Elephant Campaign? The proposal details how enough stalls could be provided at 3 sites around the Elephant, to accommodate all the stall holders still without alternative premises.
Answer for Elephant & Castle Trader Relocation The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Community Response: COVID 19 Risk Fund Question No: 2020/3131 Florence Eshalomi MP Funding has been distributed through the London Community Response (LCR) to support the capital’s civil society organisations in their work to reducing the COVID-19 risk to potentially vulnerable groups. The LCR is an unprecedented funder collaboration, the GLA is one of the funders. Transform Wellness Ltd, a non-profit organisation that operates across my Lambeth constituency, applied for funding but their bid was unfortunately unsuccessful, and they were informed that they would not be receiving feedback. At the pre-application stage they were under the impression that feedback will follow. Can the Mayor look into this matter? It is crucial that organisations are receiving comprehensive feedback to ensure transparency of the funding process. London Community Response: COVID 19 Risk Fund The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Due to the high volume of applications to the London Community Response Fund, over 3000 applications to date, the fund is unfortunately unable to offer bespoke feedback to all applicants as standard practice. The LCR team do try to make this clear in the guidance. In order to be considered for the fund organisations must meet criteria that are set out in the guidance document. All organisations that do not meet these criteria, receive an email from the fund giving a range of possible reasons as to why their application was unsuccessful in the sifting phase. The fund is able however to provide more detailed feedback on request. My community engagement team would be happy to follow up with Transform Wellness to explain why their application was not successful at the sifting stage.
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods Question No: 2020/3132 Florence Eshalomi MP Some of my constituents are concerned that due to the nature of the Experimental Traffic Orders (ETO) they have not been properly consulted regarding roads and streets that fall under the Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes. They are equally concerned that their views will not also be taken into consideration after the trial period if the LTNs are to become permanent. What is being done to ensure that there is a balanced and transparent consultation process?
Answer for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Update on the Northern Line Extension Question No: 2020/3133 Florence Eshalomi MP Can the Mayor provide an update on the Northern Line Extension? Answer for Update on the Northern Line Extension The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Unsafe Cladding Question No: 2020/3134 Florence Eshalomi MP What can City Hall do to support Lambeth & Southwark leaseholders who are facing difficulties due to issues around unsafe cladding of their homes? Unsafe Cladding The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The GLA is delivering the Government’s Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund (SSCRF), Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund (PSCRF) and Building Safety Fund (BSF). My team is working closely with building owners to progress funding applications at pace. Unfortunately, these funding programmes are not of sufficient scale to cover all buildings with unsafe cladding and do not protect leaseholders from the cost of interim safety measures, therefore my team and I continue to lobby the Government to improve how leaseholders are supported. The Homes for Londoners Board wrote to the Government about building safety in December 2019. This was followed up by another letter in February 2020. Unfortunately, the Secretary of State for Housing has yet to reply to either letter. There is more information about the GLA’s role in building safety on our website, available at https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/housing-and-land/building-safety-london.
Free Under-18s Travel in Enfield & Haringey Question No: 2020/3137 Joanne McCartney How many young people in (1) Enfield & (2) Haringey are set to miss out on the free under-18s travel that they were previously entitled to if the government’s plans to scrap this investment in our children and young people go ahead? Answer for Free Under-18s Travel in Enfield & Haringey The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Car Meets Question No: 2020/3138 Joanne McCartney What recent action has been taken by the Met Police against illegal car meets? There has been a number of events that have happened in my constituency, much to the distress of residents. Car Meets The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 The Metropolitan Police Service’s Roads Transport Policing Command (RTPC) is planning a taskforce to tackle the increasing problem of anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving which occurs at car meets. Officers will use a range of tactics to combat this including the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, tyre deflation systems, and dispersal zone orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003. Specially trained officers will be examining vehicles for road worthiness and compliance with construction and use regulations. This will include illegal window tints and non- conforming number plates. Removal trucks will also be on scene for the immediate confiscation of vehicles where appropriate and proportionate.
Unlicensed Music Events Question No: 2020/3139 Joanne McCartney What steps has the Met Police taken to stop and prevent unlicensed music events? How many such events have been reported to the police in Enfield & Haringey? Unlicensed Music Events The Mayor
Last updated: 21 September, 2020 In order to stop and prevent unlicensed music events (UMEs), the MPS set up a dedicated response involving senior leaders from each borough and a central response overseen by experienced senior public order commanders. The MPS also briefed staff regarding their powers and the risks UMEs pose; increased local engagement; and worked with partners to identify and deter organisers. When the public have reported ongoing or planned UMEs, they have responded quickly with local officers. Additionally, the MPS and local authorities jointly agreed a UME protocol which has greatly facilitated multi-agency working on this matter. The early identification and attendance at UMEs have prevented many from escalating and has significantly reduced the demand posed by the increase of UMEs from the peak in mid-August. During the period 25th June 2020 – 31st August 2020 the number of UME tagged incidents in Enfield and Haringey was 148. This does not, however, mean that there were 148 UMEs as a large proportion of the tagged incidents were not actually UMEs when attended and assessed by police.
Government U-turns Question No: 2020/3140 Joanne McCartney The government has performed a surprising number of U-turns recently, often at the last moment. How has this affected London and Londoners? Answer for Government U-turns The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Use of Facial Recognition Technology by the Metropolitan Police Question No: 2020/3141 Joanne McCartney How does the recent Court of Appeal decision in Bridges v South Wales Police affect the Metropolitan Police’s use of automated facial recognition technology? Answer for Use of Facial Recognition Technology by the Metropolitan Police The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Central Activities Zone Question No: 2020/3142 Joanne McCartney What support are you giving to the Central Activities Zone which has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic? What further support is needed? Answer for Central Activities Zone The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Emergency Active Travel Fund Question No: 2020/3143 Joanne McCartney A number of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods have been funded very recently under the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund. This funding is welcome, but due to the urgency to implement schemes quickly, normal consultation periods are not possible which has caused concern among many residents, both for and against such schemes. What can you and TfL do to ensure that there is proper consultation during the trial periods of these schemes? Answer for Emergency Active Travel Fund The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Devolution of Great Northern Services to TfL Question No: 2020/3144 Joanne McCartney Further to my most recent questions in January this year can you give me an update on TfL’s progress in persuading the Department of Transport to devolve Great Northern rail services out of Moorgate? Answer for Devolution of Great Northern Services to TfL The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Government Plans to Scrap U18s Free travel Question No: 2020/3145 Joanne McCartney Can you provide an update on the government’s plans to scrap free travel for Under 18s in London? Government Plans to Scrap U18s Free travel The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Government has yet to make clear how the proposal to temporarily suspend free travel for Under 18s will be progressed. They maintain that scrapping free travel for 11-17 year olds is to help reduce demand for public transport at peak times during the pandemic despite Transport for London’s (TfL) modelling indicating this would only suppress demand by up to 5 to 6 per cent. Meanwhile, with free travel for children intact, data from the start of schools this month shows that TfL’s innovative approach to school bus services and communications has had a significant impact - Zip card usage is down by a third. Given the many concerns I have with the Government’s proposals, I have voiced my strong opposition to these plans several times. This will impact the poorest of Londoners at a time when they are already hardest hit and at a time when we should be doing everything we can to support young people’s growth and productivity, not restrain it. I also have concerns about the safeguarding risks for children who would be left without a means to travel to school safely. It is unclear how Government intends for this to be fairly and consistently implemented across the nation’s capital made up of 33 local authorities where 10,000 children turn 11 every month. While I understand that there would be exemptions resulting in many children remaining eligible for free travel, the Government has yet to confirm if this would include children eligible for Free School Meals. It also remains unclear how the mammoth task and associated costs of determining eligibility and processing applications and appeals would happen, nor how assessments would continue on a regular basis to ensure all children who are eligible have uninterrupted access to free travel. I trust these and other questions will be fully addressed in the Government’s Equality Impacts Assessment for their scheme to scrap free travel for children when it is published. In the meantime, I continue to urge the Government to drop this condition. It is also opposed by London Councils, many in the education sector and more than 168,585 people who have signed a public petition started by a young person making clear that ‘destroying free travel would hurt so many of us.’
Free School Travel in London Question No: 2020/3147 Dr Alison Moore Under their proposals for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17-year olds the Government have changed the criteria for children in London. The main change is to
remove free travel to school from families on low incomes. Have the Government explained why? Free School Travel in London The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Please see my answer to Mayor’s Question 2020/3145.
Congestion Charge Question No: 2020/3148 Dr Alison Moore Please provide details of the a) Camera Captures during Charging Hours and b) Confirmed Vehicles observed by month during Charging Hours since 22nd June. Please break down the figures to show i) figures for 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday; ii) 6pm to 10pm Monday to Friday; and iii) 7am to 10pm Saturday and Sunday. Congestion Charge The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) monitors vehicles seen in the Congestion Charge Zone during charging hours as a whole. However, while camera captures can be reported by day, it is not possible to split the data further. The table below therefore shows total vehicles captured and total unique vehicles during charging hours on weekdays, Monday to Friday, and at weekends, Saturday and Sunday. Congestion Charge Vehicle Captures 22 June to 31 August (a) Camera detections (b) Confirmed vehicles 2020 during charging hours during charging hours Total detections Average per day Total unique vehicles Mon - Fri 7am-10pm 22 to 30 June 2020 972,800 1 to 31 July 2020 3,387,020 147,262 1 to 31 August 2020 3,064,587 145,933 Sat - Sun 7am -10pm 22 to 30 June 2020 180,565 1 to 31 July 2020 803,302 100,413 1 to 31 August 2020 1,029,132 102,913
Cleaner vehicle discount Question No: 2020/3149 Dr Alison Moore What plans, if any, do you have regarding the extension of the Congestion Charge Cleaner Vehicle Discount beyond December 2025 for Private Hire Vehicles? Answer for Cleaner vehicle discount The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Overground ticket offices Question No: 2020/3150 Dr Alison Moore What changes, if any, have been made to the London Overground ticket office opening hours during the current pandemic? London Overground ticket offices The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London Overground ticket offices were closed during the height of the pandemic, owing to the need to maintain social distancing between colleagues. The staffed ticket offices have now reopened, following the new opening hours which were introduced earlier this year.
River Services under Covid-19 Question No: 2020/3151 Dr Alison Moore What plans, if any, do you have to reduce the cost of River Services in order to encourage people to use it as an alternative to the tube or rail? Answer for River Services under Covid-19 The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Increased Public Transport Use Question No: 2020/3152 Dr Alison Moore Following the end of lockdown what proportion of the increase in patronage on the transport network has been made up of a) Freedom Pass, b) Oyster 60+ and c) Zipcard holders? Increased Public Transport Use The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Since the end of lockdown, between 14 July and 8 September, Transport for London (TfL) has seen the following increases in patronage on the transport network: • a 36 per cent increase in bus use • a 65 per cent increase in rail use • a 52 per cent increase in patronage across the transport network The table below sets out the proportional increases in usage by passenger type since the end of lockdown on the transport network.
Passenger Type % increase in bus use Adult 74% Freedom Pass 5% 60+ Oyster 3% Zip card 18%
% increase in rail use Adult 88% Freedom Pass 3% 60+ Oyster 2% Zip card 8%
% increase on all modes Adult 83% Freedom Pass 3% 60+ Oyster 2% Zip card 11%
School Bus Routes (1) Question No: 2020/3153 Dr Alison Moore What changes, if any, were made to the school bus routes TfL runs since schools were closed on 20th March? Answer for School Bus Routes (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
School Bus Routes (2) Question No: 2020/3154 Dr Alison Moore What changes have you made to the routes in September? For example, limiting the buses to children from a certain school? What additional services have been introduced and how will you be preventing adults from using the services? Answer for School Bus Routes (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
School Bus Routes (3) Question No: 2020/3155 Dr Alison Moore How have the contracted payments to the school bus operators changed as a result of Covid-19? Answer for School Bus Routes (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
School Bus Routes (4) Question No: 2020/3156 Dr Alison Moore Rachel Maclean MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport) has said, “The cost of providing travel for eligible children on TfL services will not fall on London boroughs”. Do you know who the cost will fall on? TfL or the DfT?
Answer for School Bus Routes (4) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
School Bus Routes (5) Question No: 2020/3157 Dr Alison Moore Can you confirm that children 11-15 receive a 50% discount on the adult fare when using TfL services without a ZIP card? Will a similar discount apply if free travel for under 18s is suspended? Answer for School Bus Routes (5) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (1) Question No: 2020/3158 Dr Alison Moore How many a) 5-10 Zip Oyster photocards; b) 11-15 Zip Oyster photocards; and c) 16+ Zip Oyster photocards are currently issued? How many of the a) 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard holders; and b) 16+ Zip Oyster photocard holders qualify for free travel to school? Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (2) Question No: 2020/3159 Dr Alison Moore Of the children with an a) 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard; or b) 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, how many of them live more than two miles from their school/college and so remain eligible for free travel to school? Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (3) Question No: 2020/3160 Dr Alison Moore Of the children with an a) 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard; or b) 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, who live less than two miles from their school/college, how many of them have a social worker and so remain eligible for free travel to school? Please provide details of how this information is being sourced and compared with TfL’s ZIP card data. Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (4) Question No: 2020/3161 Dr Alison Moore Of the children with an a) 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard; or b) 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, who live less than two miles from their school/college, how many of them have an Education, Health & Care Plan and so remain eligible for free travel to school? Please provide details of how this information is being sourced and compared with TfL’s ZIP card data. Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (4) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (5) Question No: 2020/3162 Dr Alison Moore Of the children with an a) 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard; or b) 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, who live less than two miles from their school/college, how many of them are in alternative provision and so remain eligible for free travel to school? Please provide details of how this information is being sourced and compared with TfL’s ZIP card data. Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (5) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (6) Question No: 2020/3163 Dr Alison Moore Of the children with an a) 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard; or b) 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, who live less than two miles from their school/college, how many of them do not have a safe walking route to school and so remain eligible for free travel to school? Please provide details of how this information is being sourced and compared with TfL’s ZIP card data. Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (6) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (7) Question No: 2020/3164 Dr Alison Moore Of the children with an a) 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard; or b) 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, who live less than two miles from their school/college, how many of them cannot walk due to a medical condition or lack of mobility and so remain eligible for free travel to school? Please provide details of how this information is being sourced and compared with TfL’s ZIP card data. Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (7) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (8) Question No: 2020/3165 Dr Alison Moore When do you expect the DfT to share the Equality Impact Assessment with TfL? Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (8) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (9) Question No: 2020/3166 Dr Alison Moore The Government would like the suspension to be in place after October Half Term. What needs to be true in order to meet this deadline? Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (9) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (10) Question No: 2020/3167 Dr Alison Moore What smartcard solution is TfL’s preference, whether it be using the existing Oyster cards or a flashcard solution? If the former, what needs to be true to deliver that and what is the timescale for doing so. Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (10) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (11) Question No: 2020/3168 Dr Alison Moore What plans do you have for managing demand when schools return in September? Answer for Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (11) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
TfL diesel scrappage scheme for vans and minibuses Question No: 2020/3169 Dr Alison Moore For your light diesel van and minibus scrappage scheme, please state a) how many applications were received prior to 28 August 2020, b) how much grant has been committed and paid out, and c) how many vehicles in total have been replaced. Please break these figures down by borough if possible.
Answer for TfL diesel scrappage scheme for vans and minibuses The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Rough Sleeping Taskforce Change of Leadership Question No: 2020/3171 Murad Qureshi Dame Casey carried out invaluable work championing the rights of rough sleepers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. With Dame Casey stepping down from her role as head of the Rough Sleeping Taskforce, how will you work with her replacement to ensure London’s perspective is heard in the formulation of national policy? Rough Sleeping Taskforce Change of Leadership The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I would like to thank Dame Louise Casey for all her support and invaluable work during the pandemic. My rough sleeping officers are working closely with MHCLG. However, the void from Dame Louise leaving is going to be significant and I would urge the government to replace her imminently to ensure effective leadership in the sector at a time of need.
Mayor’s Life off the Streets programme Question No: 2020/3172 Murad Qureshi How many proposals were received for the Mayor’s Life off the Streets Programme? Mayor’s Life off the Streets programme The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Response has been remarkable to my new Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, a key element of the Mayor’s Life off the Streets Programme. 75 proposals were received and are being assessed at pace so announcements can be made as soon as possible.
London’s Housing Delivery Recovery Plan Question No: 2020/3173 Murad Qureshi I welcome the publication of London’s Housing Delivery Recovery Plan and the five priority responses identified in the report. With the end of the Housing Delivery Taskforce, how will you and your Deputy Mayor for Housing continue to work with key stakeholders including
local authorities, housing providers and the government to pursue progress against these priority response areas? London’s Housing Delivery Recovery Plan The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 With the publication of London’s Covid-19 Housing Delivery Taskforce report, the housing sector has spoken with one voice, endorsing a clear roadmap to recovery. Since the report was published, my Deputy Mayor Tom Copley has held a cross-sector briefing – attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including London boroughs, housing associations and developers – and a webinar for London MPs to further disseminate and promote the work of the Taskforce. In the coming weeks and months, officers will continue to work with the sector to develop and implement the recommendations that we can deliver together. Finally, my Deputy Mayor Tom Copley and I have asked to meet with Ministers to agree a way forward to reboot the London housing sector. The Government must listen and support our recommendations so we can emerge from this crisis.
Housing representation on the London Recovery Board Question No: 2020/3174 Murad Qureshi How are the views of housing providers represented on the London Recovery Board and is there a representative on the Board who specifically has housing within their remit? Housing representation on the London Recovery Board The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The London Recovery Board aims to facilitate recovery from the impact of Covid-19 through a membership comprised of representatives from businesses, unions, community organisations, education and political parties, rather than individual industries. The Board is chaired by the Mayor and by Cllr Peter John of London Councils, both of whom are strongly committed to tackling London’s housing crisis. The Board has so far met twice, and one of the meetings focused on a discussion of the Housing Delivery Taskforce report, whose recommendations were the result of active and thorough engagement with housing sector representatives, including housing providers.
Why are London Office workers slow to return to their Offices? Question No: 2020/3175 Murad Qureshi In a recent Morgan Stanley survey, it was found only a third of office workers in London have returned to their desks while in Paris it is over 80 per cent. Why do you think this is so and what measures do we need to get office workers to return to their Central London offices?
Answer for Why are London Office workers slow to return to their Offices? The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Business Rate overhaul Question No: 2020/3176 Murad Qureshi In your call for a business rate overhaul, do you favour the call by New West End for a turnover tax for on-line businesses? Business Rate overhaul The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 It is critical Government takes the right action in the short and long term to support businesses in light of the challenges ahead. This is why, in the short term, I have called for an extension to the business rates holiday, which is due to end in March, guaranteed now. In the longer term, the Government must ensure that we have a system of business taxes - including business rates - that best supports economic growth. Online sales taxes are one of the options that have been proposed (alongside other forms of local business taxation) to help offset the burden of Business Rates on business and on the high street. The GLA will set out its views on alternative and complementary business taxes in its answers to the Treasury’s Call for Evidence on the Fundamental Review of Business Rates, which closes on 31st October.
Hotel to residential conversions Question No: 2020/3177 Murad Qureshi In light of the impact of COVID19 on tourism, what scope do you think we have with hotel conversions to residential in the present time? Answer for Hotel to residential conversions The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Supporting Curry Houses in London Question No: 2020/3178 Murad Qureshi Like the rest of the restaurant trade, curry houses in London have been hit by the COVID19 crisis and in particularly it supports some of the most vulnerable communities to the virus. What support can the curry houses of London expect from you during the economic recovery of London’s small businesses. Answer for Supporting Curry Houses in London The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Money laundering of Rajib Nawaz, ex-PM of Malaysia Question No: 2020/3179 Murad Qureshi Will the MET investigate whether any of the money laundering of ex-PM of Malaysia Rajib Nawaz occurred in London? Money laundering of Rajib Nawaz, ex-PM of Malaysia The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 As this question relates to an individual person, or case, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) can neither confirm nor deny the existence of any investigations.
Hit and run statistics Question No: 2020/3180 Murad Qureshi How many “hit and run”’ incidents do we annually record between cyclists and pedestrians? Answer for Hit and run statistics The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Maida Vale Tube & Development overhead Question No: 2020/3181 Murad Qureshi Is there any proposal to develop residential property above Maida Vale tube station?
Maida Vale Tube & Development overhead The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Transport for London does not currently have any plans to develop residential property above Maida Vale tube station.
Police Officer convictions Question No: 2020/3182 Murad Qureshi Following reports from SkyNews of the number of Police Officers who have criminal convictions against them, how many Met Police Officers have charges against them? Answer for Police Officer convictions The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Paddington Police Station Question No: 2020/3183 Murad Qureshi What are the plans for Paddington Green Police station particularly in the short-term? Paddington Police Station The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Paddington Green Police Station was disposed of on 23 July 2020 to Berkeley Homes (Central London) Limited. The expected future use of the site is residential.
Social rent caps Question No: 2020/3184 Murad Qureshi How are you working with housing associations and local authorities to ensure that new social lettings do not exceed the Government’s social rent cap? Recent research has show that in some boroughs, the average weekly social rent of newly let social homes by Private Registered Providers exceed the social rent cap by more than £18 per week for a two- bedroom home. Social rent caps The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
I am committed to increasing the supply of homes for low-cost rent, including those for social rent. Regulation of the Rent Standard is the responsibility of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and the RSH’s approach to issuing regulatory notices, including in cases where there is a finding of a breach of the Rent Standard, is outlined in Regulating the Standards.
Affordable housing approvals Question No: 2020/3185 Murad Qureshi Could you break down the data given in table 3.12 of “Housing in London 2019” to split the “affordable housing” units into each different type of affordable housing tenure, where possible? Answer for Affordable housing approvals The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Affordable housing section 106 Question No: 2020/3186 Murad Qureshi How many affordable homes have been delivered in London through section 106, on schemes of 50 or fewer units, in each of the last 5 financial years? Answer for Affordable housing section 106 The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Londoners’ savings Question No: 2020/3187 Murad Qureshi What proportion of working-age Londoners have savings of £25,000 or more? Londoners’ savings The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 According to the Family Resources Survey 2016/17-2018/19, 11 per cent of London households headed by someone aged 18-64 had estimated savings of £25,000 or more. A further 14 per cent did not respond to the question.
Shared ownership families Question No: 2020/3188 Murad Qureshi While only a small proportion of shared ownership purchasers have children, do you have data (for example from the English Housing Survey), on what proportion of shared ownership households in London have children? If this data is available, could you break down what proportion of shared owners in London are overcrowded, what proportion have a spare room and what proportion are under-occupying (all according to the bedroom standard)? Shared ownership families The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The GLA does not hold any recent data on the proportion of existing shared ownership households in London with children, or the proportion of existing shared ownership households in London that are overcrowded or under-occupied. The MHCLG COntinous REcording of Social Housing Lettings and Sales (CORE) dataset records data on the number of shared ownership purchasers in London who have children, however it does not provide data for existing shared ownership households. The MHCLG English Housing Survey (EHS) dataset records information on overcrowding and under-occupation in existing households, however the sample size for shared ownership households in London is very small (around 20 survey cases a year) and any results derived from it would therefore not be representative.
Shared ownership sales (1) Question No: 2020/3189 Murad Qureshi Paragraph 4.2 of your Intermediate Housing Research Note states there were 2,140 first tranche LCHO sales in London in 2018/19. MHCLG data shows that there were 2,731 LCHO completions in 2017/18 and 3,495 in 2018/19. How do you account for the gap between completions and sales? Shared ownership sales (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The information referred to on low cost home ownership (LCHO) first tranche sales is taken from the Statistical Data Return (SDR) dataset 2018 to 2019, which is published by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). The GLA has contacted the RSH to enquire further about the data release. The RSH has confirmed this data covers activity by larger Private Registered Providers (PRPs) only, and not smaller PRPs who own less than 1,000 social homes. In addition, sales rates may not
always match completion figures due to factors such as fluctuating buyer demand, delays in bringing units to market and the time taken to finish a sale.
Shared ownership sales (2) Question No: 2020/3190 Murad Qureshi Are you able to break down the household income of shared ownership purchasers in London in 2017/18 into deciles? If so, can you compare these to the household income deciles of London for the same year? Shared ownership sales (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The table below shows the estimated deciles of gross household income for all households in London and for shared ownership purchasers in 2017/18. Both measures exclude any cases with zero incomes, but the estimates for all households include retired or otherwise workless households. While efforts have been made to identify comparable variables, the two measures are from different data sources, were collected using different methods and refer to different groups (home buyers compared to all households). The data source for the all households measure is the Households Below Average Income dataset, while for shared ownership purchasers it is the CORE dataset. Comparison of deciles of gross household income for all households in London and for shared ownership purchasers, 2017/18 Sources: Income for all households from Households Below Average Income dataset, for shared ownership purchasers from CORE dataset Note: The zero and 100% decile figures have been excluded as they are equivalent to the minimum and maximum incomes in the datasets.
Decile All households Shared ownership purchasers 10% £13,000 £29,330 20% £18,410 £34,000 30% £25,120 £38,000 40% £31,720 £42,110 50% £39,100 £46,820 60% £48,200 £51,120 70% £61,780 £56,640 80% £79,350 £64,560
90% £107,020 £73,650
Shared ownership sales (3) Question No: 2020/3191 Murad Qureshi Are you about to break down the deposits for shared ownership sales in 2017/18 into deciles or quartiles? Could you compare these to the equivalent for private market sale deposits? Shared ownership sales (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Decile figures for shared ownership deposits in London in 2017/18 are given in the table below. The GLA does not hold equivalent data on private market sale deposits. Deciles of deposits put down by shared ownership purchasers in London, 2017/18 Source: CORE dataset Note: The zero and 100% decile figures have been excluded as they are equivalent to the minimum and maximum deposits put down.
Decile Deposit amount 10% £8,630 20% £12,000 30% £15,570 40% £20,000 50% £24,750 60% £30,000 70% £36,800 80% £50,000 90% £78,570
Shared ownership sales (4) Question No: 2020/3192 Murad Qureshi Are you able to give a median, or quartile, figure for the deposit paid by shared ownership purchasers who were considered to be in “intermediate ownership need”? Shared ownership sales (4) The Mayor
Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The GLA Housing Research Note on Intermediate housing: The evidence base defines households that can afford private rent, but cannot afford to buy on the open market, as being in intermediate ownership need. Based on this assumption, the range of household incomes used as a proxy for intermediate ownership need in London is between £46,000 and £80,000. The table below sets out the lower quartile, median and upper quartile deposits paid by shared ownership purchasers in London with household incomes within the range stipulated above.
Lower quartile Median Upper quartile Deposit amount £15,000 £23,000 £40,000 Note: these figures are based MHCLG COntinous REcording of Social Housing Lettings and Sales (CORE) data for 2017/18.
Edgware Rd legible sign Question No: 2020/3193 Murad Qureshi When can we expect the legible sign on the junction of Edgware Rd and Old Marylebone Rd coming back to the site? Edgware Rd legible sign The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Not all Legible London signs are owned by Transport for London (TfL), and this particular sign is owned by Westminster City Council. I have asked TfL to share the location with the Council so that it can follow this up.
Route 46 Question No: 2020/3194 Murad Qureshi There have been concerns raised about the new single decker buses for Route 46 in local papers along its route even though the buses are bright and shiny, with a bulbous top containing the fuel cells and plenty of space inside. Yet they appear to rattle and squeak a lot for passengers who think due to poor suspension. Can you please give us an update on any issues with the bus and how you are dealing with them? Answer for Route 46 The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Lisson Grove legible sign Question No: 2020/3195 Murad Qureshi When can we expect the legible sign in front of the Seashell Restaurant coming back along Lisson Grove off junction with Shroton St, NW1? Lisson Grove legible sign The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Not all Legible London signs are owned by Transport for London (TfL), and this particular sign is owned by Westminster City Council. I have asked TfL to share the location with the Council so that it can follow this up.
Huawei’s removal from London’s 5G mobile networks Question No: 2020/3196 Murad Qureshi What will be the impact of the Government removing Huawei from the UK’s 5G mobile networks, for broadband coverage in London particularly during the COVID19 crisis recovery? Huawei’s removal from London’s 5G mobile networks The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My Connected London team are in regular contact with the industry in London, which has not raised any local concerns about coverage in relation to removal of Huawei infrastructure. The Government has launched a technical consultation to better understand the impacts to fixed line and mobile networks, which closes on 9 October. My team will work closely with government, industry and other stakeholders to ensure London remains connected, including through a specific digital access ‘mission’ as part of the GLA’s recovery work with partners.
Payment to self-isolate (1) Question No: 2020/3198 Onkar Sahota Do you agree that the Government’s proposal for a £13 per day payment to low-waged workers self-isolating because of coronavirus is insufficient and should be raised to a liveable level? Answer for Payment to self-isolate (1)
The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Payment to self-isolate (2) Question No: 2020/3199 Onkar Sahota Are you lobbying the Government to extend the payment to self-isolate scheme to all regions at all times, rather than only those areas under enhanced restrictions? Answer for Payment to self-isolate (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Payment to self-isolate (3) Question No: 2020/3200 Onkar Sahota How many workers would be eligible for the payment to self-isolate scheme in London, were they required to and the scheme extended to the city? Answer for Payment to self-isolate (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Merging clinical commissioning groups in London (1) Question No: 2020/3201 Onkar Sahota What impact on Londoners’ healthcare will the merging of CCGs to mirror ICS footprints have? Merging clinical commissioning groups in London (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Covid-19 has enabled learning about functioning better as a single system. Joint working across the NHS, in partnership with social care, has been critical to the response. Single CCGs, with reduced focus on the commissioner-provider split, should enable reduced duplication in ways of working, allowing more time and money to be put into direct patient services with improved quality and consistency of local health and care services for
Londoners. It should also enable quicker and more consistent reaction to the continuing pandemic and recovery. I meet regularly with the NHS Regional Director who assures me that an individual borough focus will ensure the right services for local needs, managing key relationships at borough level, working closely with GPs, local authorities and local Healthwatch and voluntary sector organisations. The NHS is trying to strike the right balance between ICS-level strategic planning and decision-making, with strong clinical input and integrated care delivery at borough level, and smaller primary care networks directly offering closer local focus.
Merging clinical commissioning groups in London (2) Question No: 2020/3202 Onkar Sahota What discussions has the London Health Board had on the merger of CCGs to mirror ICS footprints? Merging clinical commissioning groups in London (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 To date there have been no explicit discussions about the CCG mergers at the London Health Board. I wrote to the Regional Director of NHS London last year about the proposed mergers and outlined my expectation that plans should demonstrate that the mergers will have a positive impact on health outcomes and the delivery of my Health Inequalities Strategy and that patients will remain at the heart of decision making. Future arrangements should at least maintain, and ideally strengthen, patient and public voice and influence over health and care service provision.
Social care recruitment (1) Question No: 2020/3203 Onkar Sahota How many social care workers have been recruited in London through the Proud to Care scheme? Social care recruitment (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Proud to Care team has provided the following information: “2,455 Londoners have applied to work in social care since April through the Proud to Care portal. Candidates are passed to local authorities and providers to work directly with individuals to match them to local vacancies. A further 278 people have applied directly to jobs posted on the Proud to Care site.”
Social care recruitment (2) Question No: 2020/3204 Onkar Sahota What involvement does City Hall have in social care recruitment plans, for instance through the adult education budget? Social care recruitment (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 While City Hall is not directly involved in social care recruitment plans, I have, through the Adult Education Budget, introduced a number of flexibilities. These include fully funding any level 3 qualification lasting for up to a year for unemployed Londoners and those on low wages, which will support providers to deliver more social care qualifications and help Londoners access jobs in the sector.
Health and social care training (1) Question No: 2020/3205 Onkar Sahota How many places on health and social care training courses have you funded through your adult education budget in each year of its operation? Health and social care training (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 GLA Adult Education Budget (AEB) programme data is published on a quarterly basis to the London Datastore, following national release of the Department for Education’s Further Education and Skills data publication. The most recent data release contains information for the R10 delivery period August 2019 to April 2020 of the 2019-20 academic year. Data relating to Health and Social Care can be accessed in Table 2.6 Sector Subject Area, Volumes – London. 16,150 places on training courses in the health and social care subject area are reported to have been funded through the AEB. This provisional in-year figure will be updated in subsequent returns to present the final record of delivery in the 2019-20 academic year. For more information on provisional in-year data please see our AEB Data Publication Methodology Note (Section: “Issues with in-year data”).
Health and social care training (2) Question No: 2020/3206 Onkar Sahota How will your adult education budget support career progression as well as entry into social care? Health and social care training (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 As I stated in my answer to Mayor’s Question 2020/3204, I have introduced a number of flexibilities through the Adult Education Budget (AEB) which can support recruitment and progression in the social care sector. As well as fully funding certain level 3 qualifications for Londoners in low pay, all AEB providers can now use up to 10% of their grant allocation to deliver discrete, compact blocks of training to support career progression.
PPE supply chain improvements Question No: 2020/3207 Onkar Sahota What changes have been made to PPE supply chains in London to ensure that there is no repeat of “staff in care homes or in home care settings … working without PPE and without knowledge as to whether either they, or their clients were infectious” as highlighted by the London Health Board’s review of the covid-19 response so far? PPE supply chain improvements The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I understand that there is now much greater resilience in the PPE supply chain and good stocks of PPE across health and care following the establishment of a joint procurement arrangement across all London’s local authorities and the City of London. The boroughs are working in partnership with NHS and others through the London Transition Management Group with a focus on social care and primary care. Ged Curran, Chief Executive, London Borough of Merton is the lead officer on behalf of the partnership.
Deaths in care homes Question No: 2020/3208 Onkar Sahota The London Health Board’s paper on covid-19 in London stated that 5% of care home residents in London had died of covid-19 by the end of May. What is the figure now? Please break this down by borough if possible Deaths in care homes The Mayor
Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The latest published data indicates that there have been 2,045 deaths from Covid-19 among care home residents in London (over the period 28 December 2019 to 12 June 2020), which represents 5.8% of the care home population. The published data is not available at borough level.
Consistency of remuneration across health and social care Question No: 2020/3209 Onkar Sahota The London Health Board’s vision in the context of covid-19 says that better workforce planning “is unlikely to happen (or be fair) unless there is consistency of remuneration across health and care settings.” What initiatives are underway to improve consistency of remuneration, for instance through a common commissioning framework for social care, based on UNISON’s ethical care standard? Consistency of remuneration across health and social care The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The London Health and Care vision implementation plan is in development and will be considered at the London Health Board in October. The recently established London People Board is developing London-wide approaches to improve recruitment and retention and will build and add value to the work underway in NHS trusts and sub-regional partnerships. Jazz Bhogal, Assistant Director Communities and Skills represents the GLA on the NHS London People Board and I will ask her to raise this issue and to pass on details of the UNISON ethical care standard. However, in the absence of a clear national approach to social care and a fair funding settlement for London, ‘consistency of remuneration across health and care settings’ will be very challenging to implement for local partners, particularly in the care sector.
Exercises to test covid-19 plans Question No: 2020/3210 Onkar Sahota What involvement does the GLA family have in exercises to test borough Contain plans for potential covid-19 outbreaks in London? Exercises to test covid-19 plans The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The GLA family has worked with PHE on the development of the London Outbreak Control Plan and my Health Team has participated in the peer review process of Local Outbreak Control Plans across London.
GLA members of the London Transition Management Group have also been part of the Pan London Exercises and workshops that were run to support the development of the London Outbreak Control Plan. This included involvement in a MHCLG led South East England and London exercise designed to look at cross border issues between counties and London.
Outbreaks across borough borders Question No: 2020/3211 Onkar Sahota If a cluster of covid-19 cases crossed the border between two boroughs, where would authority lie to agree localised restrictions to suppress the outbreak? How would a disagreement between the two boroughs be resolved? Outbreaks across borough borders The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London boroughs are already working closely together at a sub-regional and pan London basis, as well as responding to clusters that cross borough boundaries into areas outside of London. There is little disagreement on measures required, however in the event of a disagreement, in the first instance, local political consensus would be sought. In my role as a Category 1 responder and the formal chair of the pan-London Local Resilience Forum I met with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Chair of London Councils and other London leaders and we have agreed the escalation process for London in response to COVID-19 outbreaks. We agreed that it is vital that London partners work together to respond to rising cases and provide consistent communications to Londoners.
Compliance with self-isolation guidance (1) Question No: 2020/3212 Onkar Sahota How many penalties of all forms has the Met issued for breaches of self-isolation rules? Answer for Compliance with self-isolation guidance (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Compliance with self-isolation guidance (2) Question No: 2020/3213 Onkar Sahota Of the individuals contacted by NHS Test and Trace in London, what percentage will not to self-isolate? Please break this down by those testing positive and by close contacts if possible. Compliance with self-isolation guidance (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The NHS Test and Trace service contacts people who have (i) tested positive and (ii) the first contacts of someone who has tested positive. There is no tracking or monitoring undertaken to check if the self-isolation rules are observed. I am extremely concerned that some people will find it very difficult to self-isolate, because of the limited financial support provided by statutory sick-pay and for others who will not be eligible. I have written to the Secretary of State for Health to raise my concerns.
NHS Test and Trace performance (1) Question No: 2020/3214 Onkar Sahota For each week of the operation of Test and Trace in London, what number and percentage of people referred to the system in London have been reached? Please break this down by borough if possible. Answer for NHS Test and Trace performance (1) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
NHS Test and Trace performance (2) Question No: 2020/3215 Onkar Sahota For each week of the operation of Test and Trace in London, what number and percentage of close contacts provided in London have been reached? Please break this down by borough if possible. Answer for NHS Test and Trace performance (2) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
NHS Test and Trace performance (3) Question No: 2020/3216 Onkar Sahota Are you concerned at the disparity between the percentage of people reached by NHS Test and Trace in different London boroughs, with Camden reaching 90% of people referred in compared to 69% in Barking and Dagenham? Answer for NHS Test and Trace performance (3) The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Queerantine study Question No: 2020/3217 Onkar Sahota What actions are you taking to support the health of LGBT+ Londoners in lockdown, who were found in the “Queerantine” study by UCL and Sussex University to have high levels of stress and depressive symptoms? Queerantine study The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 Thrive LDN is committed to celebrating and protecting London’s diversity, especially for those at higher risk of unfair treatment based on who they are. COVID-19 has exposed pre- existing societal and health inequalities that operate across multiple and intersecting systems. As part of Thrive LDNs ongoing public mental health response to COVID-19, we are actively working with the LGBTQ+ community and organisations to listen and learn from the experiences of Londoners whose voices are often less frequently heard. We are listening to their views about how we can best support their mental health, wellbeing and resilience, and to understand the factors that impact these. This involves engaging with Switchboard to monitor changes in service requirements, supporting a series of Brixton Reel outreach and engagement projects with intersectional groups, such as the Black, Asian and Latin American LGBTQ+ communities, as well as continuing to fund LGBTQ+ organisations through the Right to Thrive grants scheme.
Testing at ports of entry Question No: 2020/3218 Onkar Sahota What discussions have you had with Heathrow airport and other ports of entry into the UK regarding their plan for testing for coronavirus on entry for overseas arrivals?
Testing at ports of entry The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am due to meet the CEO of Heathrow Airport Limited on 2 October. I expect our discussion will include the role Heathrow can play in London’s recovery from COVID-19. Public Health England’s Port Health Team works closely with airports and other terminals. The decision to test overseas arrivals for COVID-19 at airports and other ports of entry would be taken by central government including the Border Force, Department of Transport and Department of Health and Social Care. COVID-19 testing of people arriving at airports would not rule out the need for quarantine as you can test negative while you are incubating the virus.
The King’s Fund analysis of NHS reconfigurations Question No: 2020/3219 Onkar Sahota Please provide an update on the timeline for The King’s Fund publishing analysis of the NHS’ latest reconfigurations in London The King’s Fund analysis of NHS reconfigurations The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The completion of the independent review I commissioned from the King’s Fund on London’s five Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP)/ Integrated Care System (ICS) five-year strategic plans to deliver the NHS Long Term Plan was delayed due to COVID-19. Since the work was started the health and care system has had to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought about rapid changes in the organisation and delivery of health and care services in London. As such, I am planning to commission a second phase of this work, to explore the changing landscape across the health and care system in London in the light of Covid-19, focusing on the development of STPs/ICSs. The plan is to publish a report incorporating findings from both phases of the work by early 2021.
Vaccine takeup (1) Question No: 2020/3220 Onkar Sahota What efforts is the London Resilience Forum making to improve winter flu vaccine takeup before winter 2020/21? Vaccine takeup (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
Every year the flu affects thousands of Londoners, and this year in particular we need to protect ourselves as best we can. The flu vaccine is the best protection we have to do so. The NHS and I will be working with partners across London to help Londoners access flu jabs in a range of setting, including at GP clinics and pharmacies. I will be supporting the NHS to promote their winter flu campaign and ensuring that it is promoted throughout London. I myself always get a winter flu jab due my asthma I would encourage others who are eligible to get one too.
Vaccine takeup (2) Question No: 2020/3221 Onkar Sahota What review of health service capacity to deliver a mass-vaccination programme in London is being undertaken? Vaccine takeup (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I understand from the NHS that a national review of the capacity to deliver a mass vaccination programme across all regions has been undertaken. This was led by the national NHS England and NHS Improvement team that commissions public health functions delivered by the NHS. This is part of a national programme of work to prepare and design the system to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine and the forthcoming flu vaccination programme.
NHS public engagement on reconfigurations Question No: 2020/3222 Onkar Sahota The NHS in London has helpfully provided me with details of focus groups asking Londoners about new models of health service. But relatively small numbers were included. Will you consider offering NHS London the use of Talk London and other services to deepen their deliberative engagement with Londoners? NHS public engagement on reconfigurations The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 It is important that patients remain at the heart of decision making and that patient and public voice is well represented in service planning and provision. This is why patient and public engagement is one of my priorities for any healthcare reconfiguration or transformation proposals.
I’m pleased to see the engagement that NHS has been doing so far, including through the deliberative panel events they have convened. I am happy to continue to support the NHS by sharing our learning, tools and best practice guidance to strengthen their engagement further.
Health Equity Working group Question No: 2020/3223 Onkar Sahota What is the membership and remit of the Health Equity Working Group and will its meeting papers be public? Health Equity Working group The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The Health Equity Group (HEG) is being set up as a sub-group of the London Health Board. The terms of reference (ToR) are still being refined by the group and are therefore in draft form. The draft ToR states that the role of the HEG is to: “provide leadership and coordination to ensure health equity is central to all London level partnership transition and recovery strategies and the London Vision; oversee the refresh of [my] Health Inequalities Strategy implementation plan; promote and support collaboration and action at neighbourhood, borough and ICS/STP level; put in place enabling work identified by local partnerships as helpful to their joint work; provide visible systems leadership and advocacy on health equity issues for Londoners.” The group is co chaired by the Regional Director, PHE London & Regional Director of Public Health, NHS London and the Chief Executive Tower Hamlets Council who is also the CELC Lead Advisor for Health The draft ToR, includes a list of groups that will be represented on the HEG this is still being refined and may be subject to change. I understand there is no plan to publish the meeting papers at this stage.
NHS Test and Trace app trial in Newham (1) Question No: 2020/3224 Onkar Sahota Please provide an update on the trial of the test and trace app in Newham. NHS Test and Trace app trial in Newham (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020
My team has repeatedly asked the Government for the number of downloads but have not yet been provided with them. I understand that Newham Council have also not had sight of the figures showing the take up of the app, and how many users (if any) have been asked to self-isolate. It’s essential that the Government works with us and the Council to ensure that we learn the lessons we need quickly during this pilot phase. In the meantime, Newham are doing all they can to make the trial a success. The council is using a network of more than 300 volunteers to reach different communities; holding video sessions with voluntary sector groups, faith representatives, business leaders, councillors and young people; and contacting more than 7,000 businesses and venues to display the QR codes that help the app work.
NHS Test and Trace app trial in Newham (2) Question No: 2020/3225 Onkar Sahota How many times has the NHS Test and Trace app been downloaded by Newham residents? NHS Test and Trace app trial in Newham (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My team has repeatedly asked the Government for the number of downloads but have not yet been provided with them. I understand that Newham Council have also not had sight of the figures showing the take up of the app, and how many users (if any) have been asked to self-isolate. It’s essential that the Government works with us and Newham to ensure that we learn the lessons we need quickly during this pilot phase.
NHS Test and Trace app trial in Newham (3) Question No: 2020/3226 Onkar Sahota How many people have been instructed to isolate in Newham by the NHS Test and Trace app? NHS Test and Trace app trial in Newham (3) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 My team has repeatedly asked the Government for the number of downloads but have not yet been provided with them. I understand that Newham have also not had sight of the figures showing the take up of the app, and how many users (if any) have been asked to self-isolate. It’s essential that the Government works with us and Newham to ensure that we learn the lessons we need quickly during this pilot phase.
Face coverings in schools Question No: 2020/3227 Onkar Sahota Will you be encouraging schools to ask students to wear face coverings in areas outside the classroom where social distancing is difficult? Face coverings in schools The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The safety of children, young people and staff in our schools is a top priority. Parents and children should keep a safe distance from other households, including at drop off or pick up times. Face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils in secondary schools when moving around the school, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain. Government guidelines state it is not necessary to wear face coverings in the classroom, where protective measures already mean the risks are lower, and where they can inhibit learning. Face coverings are not required for children in primary schools or early years settings. More guidance is available at: https://www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus/back-school-and-college I will continue to use all my communications channels to promote the use of face coverings in spaces where it is hard to keep a safe distance from others. This includes widespread promotion on TfL services, where older children and young people must wear a covering for their journey.
Rapid review of socio-economic inequalities from covid-19 Question No: 2020/3228 Onkar Sahota When will the review of the impact of covid-19 on socio-economic inequalities by the Universities of Sussex and Manchester, and the Ubele Initiative, be published, and will it contain recommendations for the GLA family? Rapid review of socio-economic inequalities from covid-19 The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 We commissioned the University of Manchester to lead on a rapid (10 weeks) evidence review on the impact of COVID-19 on those with protected characteristics and socio- economic inequalities in June 2020. We expect the report to be published by October. There will be recommendations in the report, which are focused on identifying tractable policy solutions in order to prevent, or mitigate, the inequalities in relation to protected characteristics and socio-economic position that result from the COVID-19 pandemic and policy responses to it. The recommendations have been made independently of the GLA. The agencies with the necessary authority, or responsibility, to identify and take forward
actions will vary across the recommendations; some will be for the GLA family’s consideration.
Healthcare priorities in Exercise Cygnus (1) Question No: 2020/3229 Onkar Sahota Did the review of healthcare priorities following Exercise Cygnus consider mass discharge of patients to adult social care settings? Healthcare priorities in Exercise Cygnus (1) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I have not been informed of the outcome of the review of healthcare priorities. I am advised by Public Health England (London region) that the responsibility for implementing recommendations from Exercise Cygnus lies with the Department of Health and Social Care. I can comment, however, that the relationship and work between the NHS and Social Care sector during the COVID-19 response has been very good. The NHS developed a new approach to working with care homes. This included the Market Insight Tool, built by London Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, that gives the NHS a robust understanding of the adult social care market and therefore the best intelligence regarding discharge of patients to adult social care. These arrangements have been amongst the best in the UK in the response to COVID-19.
Healthcare priorities in Exercise Cygnus (2) Question No: 2020/3230 Onkar Sahota What consultation with borough social care leads, ADASS, recognised trade unions, and other relevant bodies was done in the review of healthcare prioritisation in a pandemic following Exercise Cygnus? Healthcare priorities in Exercise Cygnus (2) The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I am not aware of the details of what consultation took place as part of the review of healthcare prioritisation. I am advised by Public Health England (London region) that the responsibility for implementing recommendations from Exercise Cygnus lies with the Department of Health and Social Care.
Exams Fiasco Question No: 2020/3231 Navin Shah What can be done to support students impacted by the exams fiasco in London, particularly BTEC students who it seems were forgotten by the government? Exams Fiasco The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 London’s young people have endured a dreadful year and have suffered further due to the exam results chaos. BTEC students have faced unacceptable delays. Earlier this year, I wrote to Higher Education Institutions asking them to consider how assessment changes would affect outcomes, particularly for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. London’s universities have done a great deal to ensure student contextual data was accounted for in their admissions and have worked tirelessly to ensure as many students as possible can start their desired course. As school and college leavers take their next steps we anticipate an increase in those experiencing mental and emotional distress. I continue to work with hundreds of London’s health, care, charity, education and business organisations through Thrive LDN to ensure mental health remains a priority. I have also commissioned the Institute of Employment Studies to conduct a mental health needs assessment of Further Education in London which will identify how to better support students. This summer, I announced further investment of £2.1m for activities to improve young Londoners wellbeing, skills and opportunities. This is set to provide vital support for 15,000 young people, as COVID-19 lockdown measures ease. Applications also recently closed for projects to support young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education employment or training. The Education sub-group of the London Transition Board includes representatives from London’s schools, colleges and universities who regularly update on the ongoing impact on students.
Step-Free Access Works Question No: 2020/3232 Navin Shah Can the Mayor provide an update on works to make stations step-free? Will works that were ongoing prior to Covid-19 be completed including those at Harrow On The Hill Station? Will stations where work was due to start be impacted? Answer for Step-Free Access Works The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Face Coverings on TfL Question No: 2020/3233 Navin Shah My constituents have raised concerns that the wearing of face coverings on public transport is not being enforced and vulnerable people are being put at risk, as Londoners start to return to work and school. What can be done to ensure that those using public transport follow Government advice, and how can TfL enforce this? Face Coverings on TfL The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 The overwhelming majority of Londoners are doing the right thing and protecting others by wearing a face covering. Transport for London (TfL), together with its policing partners, is working hard to ensure compliance with face covering regulations and provide a safe transport network for its customers. There are a range of measures in place, including an extensive communications campaign with posters, signage, PA announcements, social media as well as enforcement activity. Compliance remains high at around 90 per cent overall. TfL and its policing partners are monitoring the situation closely and targeting areas where compliance is lower. The police and TfL’s operations enforcement officers are deployed to priority locations across the transport network to encourage compliance, refusing entry to the network and asking people to leave if they are not wearing a face covering and are not exempt from the requirement to do so. TfL officers alone have stopped 81,856 people from getting on its services until they wore a face covering; 5,882 people were prevented from boarding; 1,511 people have been asked to leave the service they were on; and 350 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) have been issued. These figures do not include enforcement activity undertaken by the police. Compliance and enforcement activity is being further increased with the rollout of Transport Support and Enforcement Officers, the authorisation of staff from TfL’s contractors to enforce the regulations, and more joint operations with the police. Additionally, TfL has been working with ACRO (Criminal Records Office) to implement new regulations which have recently come into effect that increase the level of penalty for repeat offenders. It is important to note that between five and 10 per cent of the population have an exemption from wearing a face covering. TfL has heard from many vulnerable customers who cannot wear a face covering, that they are fearful of being victimised by other customers when using public transport. We want to create a safe and welcoming environment for all customers and are looking at options to see what more can be done to support vulnerable customers.
Stanmore Station Maintenance Question No: 2020/3234 Navin Shah My constituent has raised longstanding maintenance issues outside Stanmore Station, despite numerous requests these have still not been fixed. The light columns outside the station are still faulty, and despite TfL stating they would endeavour to have this resolved by the end of June, this has not happened. Can this be looked into? Answer for Stanmore Station Maintenance The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Kingsbury Curve – Tube Noise Question No: 2020/3235 Navin Shah Residents continue to raise concerns about noise emanating from the Kingsbury Curve. There seems to be conflicting information as to what work has and will take place to help resolve this issue. Could you provide a full breakdown of the actions taken to mitigate the extreme noise? Further to this the local residents have been advised about resumption of the planned track renewal works on the Jubilee Line between Wembley Park station and Kingsbury. The works will be carried out overnight causing further noise and sleep disruption. Can TfL not use this opportunity to deal with the existing high noise levels? Answer for Kingsbury Curve – Tube Noise The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Harrow On The Hill – Tube Noise Question No: 2020/3236 Navin Shah For years I’ve been working with local residents and TfL to resolve the noise generated from Metropolitan line. We were assured by the TfL that acoustic fence would provide the requisite noise reduction and much work with specialists took place on that basis. After three years, now TFL engineers seem to believe that an acoustic fence might not be the right solution to provide the noise reduction. How long do the residents have to wait for the right solution(s)? We require urgent and serious help to resolve the matters and get the works implemented. Answer for Harrow On The Hill – Tube Noise The Mayor
Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Transport Plans for the Return of Schools Question No: 2020/3237 Navin Shah With the withdrawal of concessionary fares for under 18’s it is critical that TfL review how the network is operating and make necessary adjustments. Please advise how the effectiveness of the planned changes will be monitored and further changes implemented should these become necessary. Would borough by borough breakdown be available to assess how the network is operating? If so, may I have the full breakdown? Answer for Transport Plans for the Return of Schools The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Tube Map incorporating Thames Link Question No: 2020/3238 Navin Shah The London Assembly’s Transport Committee this year called for TfL to incorporate Thameslink services on the Tube Map by August 2020 which unfortunately has not happened. TravelWatch have produced new series of travel hacks which will help transport users to travel north to south across London without using the Tube. Please confirm if TfL is planning to produce a co-ordinated map or not? Tube Map incorporating Thames Link The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) already produces a co-ordinated map that shows all TfL services and other train operating companies, and this is widely available. However, it is looking into how the Thameslink service could be included on the Tube map as there could be some useful benefits given the pandemic and current social distancing requirements.
Part Season Tickets ‘Lottery’ Question No: 2020/3239 Navin Shah TravelWatch have recently called for ‘an overhaul of the out of date fares system to stop the current season ticket lottery and recognise the changing needs of commuters, many of whom no longer need to travel into London every day’. Do you support the call for the
three changes e.g. part time season tickets, fares capping and end of unfair season ticket prices? Answer for Part Season Tickets ‘Lottery’ The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Visas Denied for Social Care Workers Question No: 2020/3240 Navin Shah Under the new points-based immigration system coming into effect from 1st January, social workers will be excluded from post-Brexit health visa. With more than 100,000 care vacancies in the social care sector in England what impact will this have on patient care in London and how can this be overcome? Answer for Visas Denied for Social Care Workers The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Revival of Hospitality Sector Question No: 2020/3241 Navin Shah Statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that the UK has entered its deepest recession since records began and hospitality has been the hardest hit sector. It was reported that 22,000 jobs across the restaurant sector had been lost so far in 2020. The losses are nearly double the amount shed during the whole of 2019, with experts fearing that the worst is yet to come. What can you do in the short and long term to revive this sector in London? Answer for Revival of Hospitality Sector The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
London Plan and Covid -19 Question No: 2020/3242 Navin Shah Is the London Plan robust enough to withstand the impact of Covid19 on our communities when it comes to policy areas like family size homes; fabric of town centres, regeneration areas including the future of Opportunity Areas? Or should you be considering changes to the London Plan to equip London for the new norm? Answer for London Plan and Covid -19 The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Congestion Charge Question No: 2020/3243 Navin Shah A seven days a week congestion charge is criticised as discriminatory by some residents, disallowing older people who need to travel to London by car. Can you, will you, consider further exemptions where older people are not able to use public transport? Answer for Congestion Charge The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Suspension of Concessionary Fares – 60+ Oyster Card Question No: 2020/3244 Navin Shah I’m concerned that there is not enough focus on the travel needs of older people. Please confirm that you are committed to the scrapping of the discriminatory ban on use of the 60+ Freedom Pass during morning peak hours. Please indicate what steps you’ve taken to lobby the government to withdraw the restrictions and how long will older people have to wait till their freedom to travel is restored? Answer for Suspension of Concessionary Fares – 60+ Oyster Card The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Public Transport Subsidy Question No: 2020/3245 Navin Shah Do you agree that public transport needs to be heavily subsidised by the government, as is the case in Germany and France, as an incentive to Londoners to use public transport to enable reduce congestion and improve toxic air quality in London? Answer for Public Transport Subsidy The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 Officers are drafting a response
Vehicle Stop and Search Demographics Question No: 2020/3246 Unmesh Desai Please provide the ethnic breakdown of members of the public subjected to stop and searches following their vehicle being stopped in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 to date. Vehicle Stop and Search Demographics The Mayor Last updated: 22 September, 2020 The requested stop and search demographic data can be downloaded from the publicly available MPS Stop and search dashboard which can be found below: https://www.met.police.uk/sd/stats-and-data/met/stop-and-search-dashboard/ In order to download this dataset, the user will need to follow several straightforward steps. Access the ‘Search Proportionality’ tab of the dashboard. Click on the download option at the bottom of the page. Select ‘Data’ from the options table. Select ‘Full data’ from the ‘View data’ pop up. Finally select ‘Download all rows as a text file’. The requested data will then be available to view. The data includes the ‘subject’ of stop – which includes person, person & vehicle, and vehicle. Stops of vehicles that do not result in searches are not recorded in the same manner. This is an area that I am exploring with the Metropolitan Police Service in the development of my Action Plan.
Working Air Conditioning for Bus Drivers Question No: 2020/3247 Murad Qureshi Bus drivers are forced to drive in unbearable heat with no working air conditioning. TFL made it mandatory for buses to have air conditioning fitted since 2012, but some bus companies choose not to have them working. What will you do to improve the working
conditions of bus drivers, particularly this year after some bus drivers and transport workers tragically lost their lives in the Covid 19 pandemic? Working Air Conditioning for Bus Drivers The Mayor Last updated: 21 September, 2020 I continue to work on many fronts to enhance the working conditions of bus drivers, including minimum rates of starter pay, new fatigue management systems, safer vehicle design, the Licence for London and providing toilets where they are most needed. There has been some relaxing of operator rules on company uniform to help with comfort too. While the vast majority of London buses were providing air conditioning in the cab during the pandemic, a small number had systems switched off as a precaution so these could be modified to draw their air entirely externally. The end of this programme overlapped with some hotter days this summer. Operators engaged with their drivers locally, however, to make them aware of this temporary measure. Please also see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/2615.