Climate Change (1)
Question No: 4004 / 2009
Richard Barnbrook

According to the Mayor’s Transport Strategy London will achieve a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions from ground based transport by 2025, at the same time London’s population and employment growth will increase and accelerate. Are these targets wholly un-realistic and therefore misleading to Londoners?

Answer from the Mayor:
My draft Transport Strategy (MTS) states my target of reducing London’s total CO2 emissions by 60% by 2025 from 1990 levels. My Climate Change Action Plan provided indicative emissions reduction targets from different sectors. For transport, this is 52% over the period 1990 to 2025, acknowledging that reducing emissions from transport may be more challenging than in other sectors. The CO2 emissions target has been set in London in order to demonstrate leadership and to help to ensure London is positioned at the forefront of the shift to a low-carbon economy.

As stated in the draft MTS, without intervention, transport related CO2 emissions in London could rise to around 12m tonnes per annum by 2025, largely driven by the growth London is expected to experience. Given measures outlined in the draft MTS and currently committed Government and EU measures, it is estimated that 2025 transport related CO2 emissions in London will be around 6.6m tonnes, or around 2 million tonnes above the target. Further Government commitment to accelerate the low carbon vehicle market will be necessary to help plug this gap.

London’s anticipated population and employment growth of between 10% and 15% in the period to 2025 are taken into account in the MTS analysis. I believe the CO2 reduction target is feasible given a near complete decarbonisation of ground transport is required to meet the Government target of an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 from a 1990 base. However to meet the timescales for the London target, particularly in the transport sector, an increased level of commitment from Government and the EU will be required in the following four key areas to accelerate the rate of change:

Accelerate the rate of development and production of low carbon road vehicles (get full electric and plug-in hybrid cars and vans to market at a mass-market scale as soon as possible),
Ensure price competitiveness of low carbon road vehicles (a package of incentives to ensure electric and plug-in hybrid road vehicles are price competitive with conventional technology)
Decarbonise transport energy sources (whether this be through low carbon electricity, sustainable bio-fuels or hydrogen);
and tackle emissions from aviation (whether this be through provision of alternatives such as high speed rail, or deployment of technological improvements)

Climate Change (2)
Question No: 4005 / 2009
Richard Barnbrook

According to the Mayor’s Transport Strategy some degree of climate change is inevitable. How can the Mayor make this assertion when it is impossible to say on current data what actually will occur? Hotter and drier summers have not occurred in the last 4 years in London for example, therefore, should we be less alarmist on climate change until the evidence is much clearer?

Answer from the Mayor:
The UK Climate Projections published by the government this summer state that we should expect a trend of warmer, wetter winters, hotter, drier summers, with more frequent and intense extreme weather. The observed trend over the last 30 years clearly mirrors the projections. I believe that the evidence is robust, and that we should use these projections to prepare for the future.

PCSO’s Outside Schools
Question No: 4006 / 2009
Richard Barnbrook

Would the Mayor agree that it is a sad indictment of the ruling political class that at some London schools and colleges it is necessary to post PCSOs outside the gates and at bus stops close by in order to control unruly students causing distress and spot drug dealing that is known to be taking place?

Answer from the Mayor:
No, I do not agree. The majority of our young people are law abiding and well-behaved members of our society with promising futures and opportunities ahead. However, it has been recognized that the period immediately following school closing time represents a peak in the occurrence of daytime disorder and anti-social behavior by some students.

As a response, after school police patrols have been rolled out to deal with peaks of criminal or anti-social behavior by some young people following the end of the school day. They involve police targeting trouble spots at school closing time, including bus routes and shopping parades. The after school patrols play an important role in reassuring young people and the wider community by providing a visible police presence.

Attacks On Ambulance Staff
Question No: 4007 / 2009
Richard Barnbrook

There has been a welcome and quite sizable reduction in physical attacks on ambulance staff from 355 to 180 in the period 01.01.08 to 31.07.08 and then the corresponding period this year. This is a very good effort albeit still 180 too many. Could the Mayor tell us what he believes has been the major contributing factor to the reduction and can it be applied in other areas of criminality involving violence against the person?

Answer from the Mayor:
In common with all NHS Trusts, the London Ambulance Service (LAS) works closely with the NHS Security Management Service and, over a number of years, LAS has introduced measures aiming to enhance and improve staff safety. These include provision of conflict resolution training and issuing stab vests to all front-line ambulance staff.

However, LAS is unable to confirm the specific figures you quote at this stage and, whilst it is unknown whether there is one major contributing factor to any general reductions it is doubtful whether there are lessons that are widely transferable to other areas of criminality involving violence against the person (other than mentioned above).

Translation Costs
Question No: 4003 / 2009
Richard Barnbrook
Recent reports state that the Metropolitan Police spent £12.5 million last year on translation costs with predictions that this will rise to £20 million by 2012 due to the continuing influx of immigrants. Does the Mayor agree that this is an indulgence the hard pressed London taxpayer can no longer afford in these times of economic difficulty and should reduce not increase?

Answer from the Mayor:
London is a magnificently diverse place where 300 languages are spoken by people of all faiths and backgrounds. The capital also welcomes 15 million tourists from around the world, contributing £8.2
billion to the London economy. Therefore, it is only right that the Met Police provides everyone with access to their service. Translation is essential for victims, suspects and witnesses so they can access, understand and be understood by the police.

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