Questions to the Mayor of London – answered at on 18 June 2020.
Are you satisfied with the resources available to and activities of London Local Authorities in relation to enforcing health and safety in offices, shops and hospitality premises in light of the Covid 19 pandemic?
Together with the Health and Safety Executive, Local Authorities (LAs) are responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation. Together they ensure that employers manage the health and safety of their workforce and those affected by their work.
I speak regularly with London Councils and they have made it clear that LAs are currently working at capacity to deliver the measures to support the immediate reopening of highstreets, as well as working on long-term recovery plans. It is imperative that LAs are sufficiently resourced in order to manage the Covid-19 crisis.
Local Authorities are providing critical case specific advice to independent, small businesses that may not be able to access other technical advice. In addition, they have funding pressures from managing of queues and stewarding, as well as public realm management to provide additional space for safe distancing.