Andrew Dismore

MQ 2017/0215 Impact of HS2 on Euston

Further to Question No: 2016/4854:

Further to Question No: 2016/4380:

Andrew Dismore AM

 

In August you wrote a very welcome letter to the Secretary of State for Transport about the impact of HS2 on Euston setting out your concerns on behalf of residents after you met with local representatives. Details of this appeared in the Evening Standard last month. Have you received a reply yet; and if so, will you publish it; and if not what are you doing to press for a reply?

 

Your response being:

 

The Secretary of State responded to my letter on 10 October, stating that he shares my desire to maximise the opportunity HS2 presents locally and wants to see a comprehensive redevelopment of Euston.

His response also recognises that it is critical to mitigate the impacts of construction on people living and working around the Euston area. Whilst the SoS’s response provides some reassurance, I will continue to push for a better outcome at Euston to reduce the impacts of HS2 and protect peoples quality of life and livelihoods.

Will you now publish the Secretary of State’s letter of 10th October?

 

Written answer from the Mayor

 

It has been brought to my attention that you submitted MQ 2017/0215 on 18 January 2017, has not received a response. I apologise for this oversight.

 

A copy of the letter to which you refer has been sent to your office. It has also been published, along with other correspondence to the Transport Secretary, on the london.gov.uk website at: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/9937-attachment-redacted.pdf

 

Grahame Park

Question No: 2016/4504

Andrew Dismore

 

What action are you taking to ensure that current secure and temporary tenants living on the Grahame Park estate in Barnet are treated fairly in the regeneration of the estate; and in particular are rehoused in the new developments?

 

Written answer from the Mayor

 

Working with the landlord and council, my team will ensure any regeneration plans accord as far as possible the principles and practices set out in my good practice guide to estate regeneration, Better Homes for Local People. In December last year I refused a planning application for this project as it would have resulted in the net loss of 257 affordable homes.

 

 

HS2 [1]

Question No: 2016/3380

Andrew Dismore

 

Will the GLA present oral objections at the House of Lords petition hearings into HS2?

 

Written answer from the Mayor

 

It has been brought to my attention that MQ 2016/3380, that you submitted on 14 September 2016, has not received a response. I apologise for this oversight.

 

Following agreement with the DfT of Assurances relating to the HS2 Bill, the GLA will not be presenting oral objections at the House of Lords petition hearings into HS2.

 

Policing operation concerning Julian Assange

Question No: 2018/0885

Andrew Dismore

How much has the policing operation concerning Julian Assange, ensconced in the Ecuadorean Embassy to avoid his arrest warrant cost in total?

 

Written response from the Mayor

The MPS withdrew the physical presence of officers from outside the Embassy on 12 October 2015.  The estimated cost of policing the Ecuadorian Embassy between June 2012 and October 2015 was £13.2m, of which £7.2m was opportunity costs (police officer pay costs that would be incurred in normal duties) and £3.8m additional costs (estimated additional police overtime as a direct result of the deployments at the Ecuadorian Embassy). Indirect costs (e.g. covering support departments and administration overheads) amounted to £2.2m.

 

The costs provided are an estimate based on averages, as actual salary and overtime costs would vary daily.

 

National Clean Air Fund [1]

Question No: 2018/0896

Andrew Dismore

What is your view on Theresa May’s decision to ban Londoners from benefiting from the National Clean Air Fund? What representations have you made, and to whom?

 

Written response from the Mayor

The purpose of the National Clean Air Fund is to minimise compliance costs and impacts on residents, drivers and businesses affected by new Clean Air Zone schemes like the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

I have proposed that London will have the largest ULEZ in the country so it is shocking that ministers are not allowing Londoners to benefit from this funding in the same way as citizens from other parts of the country will be able to. This is despite the fact that Londoners are contributing to this fund as a result of the changes to Vehicle Excise Duty announced by the Chancellor in November.

I have raised this matter with Philip Hammond, Michael Gove, Chris Grayling and Jo Johnson. In addition, Shirley Rodrigues, my Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, has raised this matter with Therese Coffey, the Minister responsible for air quality.

I am waiting for a formal response to my representations on this matter from Michael Gove.

 

Vehicle excise duty [2]

Question No: 2018/0897

Andrew Dismore

Have you sought legal opinion on the legality of Theresa May’s decision to ban Londoners from benefiting from the National Clean Air Fund? Would you consider legal action on behalf of Londoners and London’s Councils?

Written response from the Mayor

I have sought legal advice and have been advised that as ministers have considerable discretion in determining how funding of this type can be used it is unlikely any legal action would be successful. I continue to lobby ministers that it is essential that Londoners can access such funding. This will be essential to help minimise compliance costs on residents, drivers and businesses affected by Clean Air Zone schemes like the Ultra Low Emission Zone. Given I have proposed the largest Ultra Low Emission Zone in the country, and that Londoners are contributing to this fund as a result of the changes to Vehicle Excise, I think it is essential that Londoners can benefit from this funding in the same way as citizens from other parts of the country.

 

PHV English tests [1]

Question No: 2018/0683

To: Mayor and Commissioner

Andrew Dismore

Why is it taking a year or more to process checks of English language qualifications for PHV drivers?

Written response from the Mayor

The process of verifying evidence that has been provided to meet the English language requirement is complex.  Transport for London (TfL) has received a wide range of documents from applicants for a private hire vehicle driver’s licence to demonstrate that they meet the English language requirement.

TfL is therefore currently working through all the various types of certificate and qualification in order to verify that they meet the required standard. This has involved discussions with various awarding organisations to ascertain if, and how, they are able to provide verification of the certificates/qualifications they issue.

Drivers have until 16 July 2018 to provide evidence to prove that they meet the required standard. TfL will make contact with drivers once a decision has been made on the documentation that they have provided.

I have asked TfL to take all necessary steps to ensure that evidence submissions are processed promptly. In the meantime, private hire drivers are able to continue working while this process is taking place.

PHV English tests [4]

Question No: 2018/0686

To: Mayor and Commissioner

Andrew Dismore

Why has it taken over a year so far and no sign of progress, other than a standard holding reply to my constituent Abdul Salam, to decide on whether the English language qualifications he has submitted for his PHV licence are acceptable?

Written response from the Mayor

As mentioned in 2018/0683, delays have been caused by the need to review and verify all the various types of certificates and qualifications.

I sympathise with your constituent and appreciate the frustration this is causing. I understand Transport for London has been in contact with you regarding Mr. Salam’s position and has confirmed that your constituent is able to continue working while this process is taking place.

Camden High Line

Question No: 2018/0687

To: Mayor and Commissioner

Andrew Dismore

Do you support the proposed Camden High Line? If so, what will you be doing to make sure the project is realised?

Written response from the Mayor

This innovative project could become a great asset to people walking and cycling in Camden. Through an allocation of £2500 from my CrowdFund London initiative (July 2017) I am supporting detailed feasibility work on the proposal to transform this former railway asset into a public park and green link.

I continue to encourage co-operation between those proposing the High Line and Network Rail, which owns the asset.  They will need to explore and agree the challenges and opportunities involved in taking forward this exciting proposal as well as identifying funding to bring the project forward.

River and water safety [4]

Question No: 2018/0700

To: Mayor and Commissioner

Andrew Dismore

The biggest cause of loss of life on the river by drowning is suicide; what do you see as your and TfL’s role in minimising and preventing this risk?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to 2018/0528