• Reference: 2020/1588
• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 21 May 2020

An unintended consequence of the harsh cuts to public services, which we have seen more evidence of during the current lockdown, is that some green spaces such as road verges, roundabouts and corners of parks have been left to go wild, increasing biodiversity and benefiting pollinators. While I’m sure we share the view that public service austerity has had an overall terrible impact on London, would you agree that this accidental regreening and rewilding has been positive, and is this a something you could encourage through City Hall, TfL and other stakeholders, to demonstrate the benefits that this biodiversity achieves?

• Reference: 2020/1587
• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 21 May 2020

As you have highlighted, on ITV News on 7 May, the figures on Covid-19 deaths from the Office for National Statistics “expose the grim reality of the significant structural inequalities that have existed in our society for generations”. Because of such inequalities, the financial burden of burying victims of the virus will be adding to the considerable trauma and stress of many grieving Londoners. What is being done to ensure that people can afford to give their loved ones a dignified funeral?

• Reference: 2020/1586
• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 21 May 2020

Have you made representations to Government to ask what steps are being taken to ensure that we do not have a repeat of the Covid-19 care home crisis in London’s prisons? Are prisoners, prison officers, support workers and medical staff within remand facilities being given necessary protection and opportunities for social distancing to keep them safe?

• Reference: 2020/1585
• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 21 May 2020

It has been reported that the GLA is working with private developers to purchase and “flip” unsold homes, to convert them into new genuinely affordable homes for Londoners. This could be a great initiative to ensure that the social housing sector doesn’t suffer as a result of a dip in the private market, and could help create a more equitable recovery from the crisis. Could you say how many units there is the potential to be purchased in this manner, and whether this would be funded through re-purposed affordable housing grant, or other sources. Would you seek additional “counter-cyclical” funding...

• Reference: 2020/1584
• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 21 May 2020

The coronavirus crisis and resulting lockdown has shown how important it is for people to have outdoor space at home, be it a garden, terrace or balcony. Your new London Plan sets a minimum standard of 5 square metres of outdoor space to be included in every new dwelling. Do you have an estimate of what proportion of new homes in London meet or exceed this minimum, and will you ensure that this policy is vigorously enforced, with clear guidance given to developers and boroughs, to ensure that every new home in London has a decent private outdoor space for...

• Reference: 2020/1582
• Question by: Florence Eshalomi MP
• Meeting date: 21 May 2020

Understandably both the ULEZ and Congestion Charges have been suspended during the outbreak. There are concerns that suspending the charges may have been counterintuitive and may have encouraged some drivers to drive within the ULEZ and Congestion Charge zones. What monitoring is in place to support that only essential travel is happening?

• Reference: 2020/1581
• Question by: Florence Eshalomi MP
• Meeting date: 21 May 2020

Two of the busiest tube lines (Northern Line & Victoria Line) serve the Lambeth & Southwark constituency. What social distancing measures are being considered for commuters after the lockdown?

• Reference: 2020/1578
• Question by: Andrew Dismore
• Meeting date: 21 May 2020

The impact of Covid-19 is having a major impact on the budgets for public services, including London’s NHS, the London Ambulance Service, the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, Transport for London, and London borough councils; what is your current estimate of the shortfall for these organisations; and what assurances have you received from the Government that they will help fund these shortfalls to avoid major cuts and austerity in the near future?

• Reference: 2020/1577
• Question by: Andrew Dismore
• Meeting date: 21 May 2020

The extent to which many people have adapted to working from home has thrown into sharp focus the inadequacies of slow broadband speeds in much of the capital and their impact on the ability of many homeworkers to carry out their work; what are you doing to improve this?

• Reference: 2020/1576
• Question by: Andrew Dismore
• Meeting date: 21 May 2020

International flights have been and are still landing on a regular basis at Heathrow and until recently other London airports, with no testing or required quarantine of passengers at the airport or elsewhere, unlike many other European and worldwide countries; do you consider this failure to test arriving passengers to have contributed to the spread of Covid-19; and what do you think should now happen?