• Reference: 2017/2334
• Question by: David Kurten
• Meeting date: 22 June 2017

In the London Fire Brigade's recruitment process for firefighters in 2016, why was the ratio of female recruits to applicants significantly higher than the ratio of male recruits to applicants?

• Reference: 2017/2333
• Question by: David Kurten
• Meeting date: 22 June 2017

What reasons do you think lie behind the increase in London's unemployment, with the city now having the highest rate of unemployment of any region of the UK. According to the Office of National Statistics, the rate in London is now 6.1%, compared to the South East of England with an unemployment rate of 3.5%, 4.8% in Wales, 5.3% in Northern Ireland and 5.9% in the North East of England?

• Reference: 2017/2332
• Question by: David Kurten
• Meeting date: 22 June 2017

What is your thinking behind the statement to the Evening Standard on 5 May 2017 that 'London wants and needs immigration'?

• Reference: 2017/2331
• Question by: David Kurten
• Meeting date: 22 June 2017

I was delighted to see the Mayor leading the St George's Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square on 22 April, but would like to ask why that event did not take place on St George's Day, which as you will be aware, falls on 23 April?

• Reference: 2017/2330
• Question by: David Kurten
• Meeting date: 22 June 2017

Are you aware that on 2 May 2017, Pershing Square Holdings launched a £3.6 billion close-ended investment fund on the London Stock Exchange Specialist Fund Market and do you think the City of London is flourishing in spite of, or because of, the Brexit referendum?

• Reference: 2017/2329
• Question by: Peter Whittle
• Meeting date: 22 June 2017

In Mayor's Question 2016/4175, I asked whether any Clinical Commissioning Groups were planning to deny routine surgery to patients on the grounds of obesity, or smoking. You responded that: 'London CCGs do not currently ration or deny care based on the smoking habits or BMI levels of their patients.' However, the front page of the Evening Standard on 10 January 2017 stated that both Richmond and Croydon CCGs have already decided to do exactly that. Which version of these events is true?

• Reference: 2017/2327
• Question by: Peter Whittle
• Meeting date: 22 June 2017

In MQ 2017/2126, I asked 'How is your campaign progressing to persuade Her Majesty's Government to rescind its offer of a state visit to the UK by President Trump later this year?' Your reply was: 'Please see my response to MQ 2017/1846.' However, that reply relates to a question asked by Assembly Member Andrew Dismore on the subject of the National and International Capital Cities Grant - a worthy subject no doubt, but nowhere in that reply does it make any mention of state visits by foreign leaders. Would you be so kind as to revisit your response to 2017/2126?

• Reference: 2017/2326
• Question by: David Kurten
• Meeting date: 22 June 2017

In MQ 2016/2829 I asked what sound modelling had been carried out by the London Ambulance Service on the impact of night-time siren volumes on the quality of life of Londoners. I note that your reply made no mention of whether sound modelling had actually been carried out by LAS. Neither did it mention the impact of siren volumes on the quality of life of Londoners. I would invite you to revisit your response and would ask that you address both of these issues in your reply.

• Reference: 2017/2325
• Question by: David Kurten
• Meeting date: 22 June 2017

In your response to MQ 2016/2829 you stated that 'In 2006 LAS adopted an 80 watt siren amplifier in all its fast response unit vehicles, new ambulances and those patient transport service vehicles fitted with siren equipment. Its emergency fleet fitted with 100w amplifiers is being phased out as part of a vehicle replacement programme.' Can you advise when the phasing out of vehicles with 100w amplifiers will be completed.

• Reference: 2017/2324
• Question by: Peter Whittle
• Meeting date: 22 June 2017

In Mayor's Question 2016/2931, I asked about siren volumes on emergency service vehicles during the quiet hours in London. The reply stated that there are 'no current plans to review the use of sirens in London'. Why not? It is obvious to most London residents that emergency service vehicle drivers are unaware that sirens must be used with restraint at night. This issue has repeatedly been raised over a dozen years by Assembly Members, without any one of us receiving anything that might be regarded as a satisfactory response. All of which, raises the rather trickier question of why the...