MQT late answers Dec 18
Question No: 2018/5324
Andrew Dismore
What impact would the £30,000 minimum salary cap to foreign workers have on London’s businesses?
Answer for Salary cap on foreign workers
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 December, 2018
Officers are drafting a response
Salary cap on foreign workers
The Mayor
Last updated: 07 January, 2019
A £30,000 minimum salary cap for experienced workers could generate critical skills shortages and thereby limit London’s growth and ability to deliver key goods and services.
It does not recognise the contribution people employed in lower paid roles make to our economy – and would rule out almost half of all the jobs in the capital, many of which are filled by EU workers.
It will hit hardest homebuilders, hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants; who face many other challenges to survive.
Business leaders share my concern on this – which is why we have written to the Home Secretary to propose it is not introduced.
Question No: 2018/5325
Andrew Dismore
What did you do to promote Small Business Saturday?
Answer for Small Business Saturday
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 December, 2018
Officers are drafting a response
Small Business Saturday
The Mayor
Last updated: 07 January, 2019
I have always been a big champion for Small Business Saturday. It is a fantastic event that highlights the critical role small businesses play in our economy and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support their communities. This year I helped promote the day through a number of my social media channels.
I also met with Michelle Ovens, who leads on the Small Business Saturday Campaign to discuss the event and show my support. My Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander also helped promote the day by setting out how Transport for London intends to support its small business tenants to facilitate their business success by providing a best-in-class experience for their customers.
Fire safety audits since Grenfell
Question No: 2018/5332
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2018/3272
London Fire Brigade has said they have conducted more than 1100 fire safety audits to buildings with flammable cladding since June 2017. Other than flammable cladding, what fire safety issues have been identified by these audits?
Your response being:
The audits carried out by London Fire Brigade have included an audit of the general fire precautions. This includes a review of the fire risk assessment, training records, maintenance records and a physical sampling of those areas to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies. The most common issues arising have been in relation to breaches of compartmentation, defects relating to fire doors and no or lack of a sufficient and suitable fire risk assessment. Where such issues have been found the responsible person for the premises has been informed. In more serious cases, an enforcement notice has been issued including a schedule for remediation.
How many audits have been carried out since Grenfell; and how many enforcement notices have been issued?
Answer for Fire safety audits since Grenfell
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 December, 2018
Officers are drafting a response
Fire safety audits since Grenfell
The Mayor
Last updated: 07 January, 2019
London Fire Brigade has carried out 1,196 fire safety audits of residential high rise buildings since June 2017. As a result of these audits, 523 premises were issued with a Notice of Deficiencies and 65 premises received an Enforcement Notice.
Question No: 2018/5334
Andrew Dismore
In relation to the London Fire Brigade six surplus sites, the former fire station and headquarters at 8 Albert Embankment, the former Southwark Training Centre and fire station, the former fire stations at Clerkenwell, Mitcham and Bounds Green, and the basement and part ground floor of 206 Brompton Road) how much has been spent on a) maintenance and b) security for each of those premises so far; what is the ongoing monthly cost; and in each case what is the present timetable for disposal?
Answer for LFB estates strategy
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 December, 2018
Officers are drafting a response
LFB estates strategy
The Mayor
Last updated: 07 January, 2019
Please see the attached Appendix.
Question No: 2018/5335
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2018/3277:
What was the cost to the Met Police of President Trump’s recent visit? Have the Government funded this cost, or will they in the future? Have you had any such discussion with the Home Office?
Your response being:
A special grant claim for the costs of policing President Trump’s visit has been lodged with the Home Office. The gross cost is £3.2m including opportunity costs of £1.8m. We await the Home Office decision as to funding.
Have the Home Office responded yet; if so with what result; and if not, when do you expect to hear from them?
Answer for Trump visit
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 December, 2018
Officers are drafting a response
Trump visit
The Mayor
Last updated: 07 January, 2019
As previously reported, the total gross cost of the visit was £3.2 million, including £1.8 million opportunity cost. The Home Office have agreed to fund the additional costs of £1.4 million.
Question No: 2018/5336
Andrew Dismore
A shocking video shows more than 20 rockets flying at a police van as it travels through the Lisson Grove Estate in an attack on Guy Fawkes Night, with some ricocheting off blocks of flats and parked cars. the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association has warned members to avoid accepting fares to the area near Marylebone station in light of attacks on them. What is being done about this?
Answer for Firework attack on Police van
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 December, 2018
Officers are drafting a response
Firework attack on Police van
The Mayor
Last updated: 07 January, 2019
In the six-month period from May to November 2018 the Met received 14 reports of theft-related offences against taxi drivers in the Lisson Grove area where the driver was present at the time of the offence. Most of these offences involved some form of distraction to enable the theft and only one involved an element of violence. Where investigative opportunities exist, further enquiries have been conducted to identify offenders and secure evidence. Four persons were arrested in June 2018 for theft from a taxi driver in this area and are currently released under investigation. Due to recent anti-social behavior in the area, Westminster police have increased patrols around Lisson Grove and are paying close attention to taxi cabs and possible suspects.
Question No: 2018/5337
Andrew Dismore
The Met have adopted successful new tactics in the fight against moped enabled crime, including tactical contact’ in which the perpetrator is knocked off the moped by a car driven by a highly trained driver. Do you support these new tactics?
Answer for moped enabled crime
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 December, 2018
Officers are drafting a response
moped enabled crime
The Mayor
Last updated: 07 January, 2019
We have seen the number of moped crimes reduce, as a result of a range of measures being used by the Metropolitan Police, which I support. This includes police pursuits, DNA forensic tagging and the use of automatic tyre deflation devices.
Only in the most extreme cases, where there is danger to the public, is risk-assessed tactical contact also used, which is carried out by specially-trained officers. Only specially trained officers are authorised to engage in pursuit activity and they are supported by a tactical advisor, with a senior officer in the Command and Control centre having oversight. Met police tactics are in line with nationally approved tactics.
I believe this is a proportionate response in these circumstances. I am pleased to see fewer motorcycle offences in London and hope the tactics used by the Met will make offenders think twice about their actions
