Transport in London

Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM proposed, and Elly Baker AM seconded the following motion:

“This Assembly notes that since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Transport for London (TfL) has received three short term funding settlements from Government, totalling around £4 billion, which have allowed TfL to continue to operate London’s transport network and that the current settlement only runs until the 11th December 2021.

This Assembly notes the ‘Implications of reduced funding for TfL’ paper submitted to the 24 November 2021 TfL Finance Committee and the serious concerns it contains, detailing a potential managed decline of TfL’s services without long term funding.

This Assembly further notes that during the Covid-19 pandemic train operating companies received continuous financial settlements, totalling up to 24 July 2021, more than £10.4 billion.

This Assembly notes the Department for Transport commissioned and funded a KPMG report into TfL’s finances last year, which has not been published to date.

This Assembly believes that TfL should be treated in an open and fair manner and that long-term financial support is vital for maintaining transport services serving Londoners, commuters and visitors, but also ensuring vital supply chains are maintained for businesses across the UK.

This Assembly calls upon the Chair of the London Assembly to write to the Secretary of State for Transport calling for the taxpayer-funded KPMG report to be finally published and for TfL to be treated in a fair and similar manner to the train operating companies in terms of the level and length of funding that they have received since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the motion was agreed, with 15 votes being cast in favour and 8 votes being cast against.