• Question by: Sakina Sheikh
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): Assembly Member Sheikh, please? Sakina Sheikh AM: Thank you, Chair. My question is to the Deputy Mayor regarding the Renters (Reform) Bill that you made reference to just now. As you will know better than me, it is four years delayed. The area of the Renters (Reform) Bill that we are particularly interested in is the ban on section 21 [of the Housing Act 1988] no-fault evictions. This four-year delay has led to more than 10,000 Londoners being evicted since it was initially promised. We are pleased to see that it is finally in Parliament, but...

• Question by: Neil Garratt
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): Thank you. Assembly Member Garratt, please? Neil Garratt AM: Afternoon, everyone. Obviously, it is easy work to sit here on a panel and explain what the Government should be doing and, very quickly, without really noticing, you can commit billions of pounds of spending on vast sites that we do not own or control. You said earlier, Tom, that urgent Government action has been required. I have not quite been keeping track, but it seems to me that every time you have spoken you have explained what the Government should be doing differently or is doing...

• Question by: Krupesh Hirani
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): The question was not asked of you. It was asked specifically of Mr Colvile. Let us move on to the next Assembly Member. Assembly Member Hirani, please. Krupesh Hirani AM: Thank you. Feel free to come back on the issue of SIL, Tom Copley, because McVitie’s is a major employer in Brent, at Park Royal, and the industrial area around that area employs over 30,000 people in the area and so it is a major site in terms of employment. Do feel free to come back.

• Question by: Nick Rogers
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): Thank you. Assembly Member Rogers, please? Nick Rogers AM: Thank you, Chair. Good afternoon, panel. My question is for Robert. Robert, last month [November 2023] there was a Telegraph article looking at how the Mayor’s policies hold back delivery of housing in which you were quoted. I wonder if you might be able to give us your views on how you think mayoral policies around things such as Strategic Industrial Land (SIL) are actually holding back the supply of new housing.

• Question by: Unmesh Desai
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): Assembly Member Desai, please? Unmesh Desai AM: Thank you, Chair. Good afternoon, panel. My question is to the Deputy Mayor. Tom, proposals made earlier this year to expand TfL’s public transport connections have the potential to unlock 30,000 new homes. How important is investing in transport infrastructure to tackle London’s housing crisis and what is needed?

• Question by: Peter Fortune
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): Thank you. Yes, please, Assembly Member Fortune. Peter Fortune AM: Thank you, Chair. If I can slightly pun off Ben Disraeli [19th-century Prime Minister], there are lies, and there are damn lies, and there are ‘Sadiqstics’. I know. Thank you very much. Tom Copley (Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development): It is a low blow. Peter Fortune AM: There is a certificate available if you can beat it. People get confused with these numbers and these different kinds of measurements, right. Let us look at raw numbers. If you build 100 houses over ten years...

• Question by: Leonie Cooper
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): Which you were not asked your opinion on. Can we stick to the questions that are asked and not descend into a fight about political affiliations? It does not make us look good as an Assembly. Can we move on next to Assembly Member Cooper, please? Léonie Cooper AM: Thank you, Chair. I would like to ask the Deputy Mayor for Housing [and Residential Development] a question about preparedness for winter. We have already had a couple of cold snaps. Given the massive pressures on public services, particularly local authorities, as a result of the acute...

• Question by: Susan Hall
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): Unfortunately, the Liberal Democrat Group is now out of time. I did not want to come in too early, you have had quite a few seconds over your time. Assembly Member Hall please. Susan Hall AM: Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. If I can start with Robert, please, is it realistic to expect 50 per cent affordable housing on public sector land, compared of course with the 35 per cent for private sector land, especially in the current climate, and to what extent has this put off public landowners from developing their surplus land, especially as...

• Question by: Hina Bokhari OBE
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): Thank you. Assembly Member Bokhari please. Hina Bokhari AM: Thank you, Chair. Deputy Mayor, I am really pleased that you have managed to rearrange your timings to allow this to happen because, as you can see, the questions that we are asking, and your introduction does highlight the importance of this area and I am really pleased that we can cover this. Now I am going to talk a little bit about the experiences of those living in social housing in London and it is pretty bleak at the moment. For example, a Lambeth Council tenant...

• Question by: Lord Bailey of Paddington
• Meeting date: 07 December 2023

Andrew Boff AM (Chair): Thank you. Assembly Member Lord Bailey. Lord Bailey of Paddington AM: Thank you, Chair. Good morning to the panel. Tom, I was hurt that you only missed Andrew and you did not welcome seeing me! Tom Copley (Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development): But I see you regularly now, Assembly Member Bailey. Lord Bailey of Paddington AM: OK, apology accepted. Tom, I want to focus on the delivery of the AHP because of course you were given £4 billion to deliver some homes, 151,000. You have reached that target, but we have only had completions...