• Question by: Lord Duvall of Woolwich in the Royal Borough of Greenwich OBE
• Meeting date: 16 November 2023

Len Duvall AM: In the list of successes and achievements in terms of what you have contributed to City Hall, there was a gap. You missed something out, which I thought was important - others may not think so because they would like to forget - when you protected Londoners and particularly those who were involved in the TfL/Government debacle when the Government tried to force you to include a Congestion Charge across all of London at a higher charge. You resisted it because you believed it was too high. Is that correct? But you also did something else, again...

• Question by: Caroline Pidgeon
• Meeting date: 16 November 2023

Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM: Thank you. Mr Mayor, I would like to pick up some wider issues with construction businesses and HS2. In the last couple of weeks the HS2 contractor, Skanska Costain, has stated it will not stop digging until it reaches Euston. It would have serious ramifications for its work programme and a huge loss of efficiencies. I am sure you would agree with me that changes this late in a project is going to end up costing the taxpayer more. Therefore, I am wondering what conversations you have had with the businesses constructing HS2 regarding the impact...

• Question by: Tony Devenish
• Meeting date: 16 November 2023

Tony Devenish AM: Thank you. I agree with what Assembly Member Desai just said there. Talking about hate crimes, one of the issues in terms of how tensions have risen in recent weeks has been protestors on the Cenotaph and you saw them probably, Mr Mayor, the Royal Artillery Memorial in Hyde Park had a protestor standing on it. Would you support legislation to make sure that anybody that basically tries to deface a war memorial is arrested and faces the courts?

• Question by: Andrew Boff
• Meeting date: 16 November 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): Could we go on the timer? Mr Mayor, you did refer to your criticism of homelessness, this idea that homelessness is a lifestyle choice. Will you be expressing that view to Camden Council, who have decided just before Christmas to remove the tents from homeless people, and declaring to them that homelessness is not a lifestyle choice, it is a very appalling only option for many people living in our city?

• Question by: Lord Bailey of Paddington
• Meeting date: 16 November 2023

Lord Bailey of Paddington AM: Good morning, Mayor. I want to talk about this AI fake video stuff and audio that has been put out. Do you think that we need legislative change? Because I was quite stunned when the MPS came back and said it is not an illegal offence, considering the very high level of harm this could lead to?

• Question by: Unmesh Desai
• Meeting date: 16 November 2023

Unmesh Desai AM: Thank you, Chair. Mr Mayor, I was pleased to see that [The Rt Hon] Suella Braverman [MP] was finally replaced as Home Secretary after the awful events last weekend. Do you agree with me that those in public office that considered her an “ideal Home Secretary” should retract their comments given that the former Home Secretary’s actions to stoke tensions in our city had serious consequences for Londoners and our police officers?

• Question by: Elly Baker
• Meeting date: 16 November 2023

Elly Baker AM: Thanks, Chair. Thanks for your update on the Transport Bill, Mr Mayor. I share your concern about the flimsy nature of the Bill. We also welcome the forthcoming Bill on pedicabs. I am sure Assembly Member Clarke will be extremely excited that we are going to have some powers to regulate at some point. I understand that the first Mayor’s Question about regulating pedicabs was asked by [Baroness] Jenny Jones [former Assembly Member] in 2001; that is 22 years that it took to get a Bill. Do you think we are going to have to wait two...

• Question by: Tony Devenish
• Meeting date: 16 November 2023

Tony Devenish AM: Thank you, Chair. I do not think I can ask the Mayor any more on this. I totally understand his answer. But, through you, can I ask you to take it offline with [London Assembly] Group Leads and see if we can write to the MPS Commissioner on this? Either the MPS needs to get better lawyers, or we need a change in law. I am not sure which it is, but we need to make sure that we unanimously around this table do take this up, because we cannot have this kind of outrage. Thank you.

• Reference: 2023/4448
• Question by: Andrew Boff
• Meeting date: 16 November 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): The Mayor will now provide an oral update of five minutes in length on matters occurring since the publication of his report. Mr Mayor.

• Reference: 2023/4447
• Question by: Siân Berry
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

In the letter from Tajmina Jetha, Head of Programme Management, Housing and Land, to the Chair of the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee, dated 25 October 2023, it said: “the GLA is estimating that £173.5m of the funding approved for projects in the Affordable Housing Programme 2021-26 will be applied to homes replacing obsolete units.” What percentage of the total funding in the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 is this £173.5 million?