Press Release
London Assembly attacks entirely out of touch with the reality of the modern international economy
14-3-2007 158
The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone today accused some members of the London Assembly of 'being entirely out of touch with London's position in the modern international economy' thereby 'endangering Londoners jobs and incomes.' He also stated that they were 'hindering the co-ordination of cities in the fight against climate change.'
Speaking as the London Assembly scrutinised members of the Mayor's Office on 'London and its international relations' the Mayor said:
'London is now recognised even by official reports to the Mayor of New York as the world's leading international city. More than one million Londoners jobs are dependent on exports. More than 700,000 London jobs are either working in foreign firms or are employed in the tourist industry. Failing to put full weight behind the international promotion of London would be a disastrous mistake for the jobs and incomes of Londoners.
'The statements made by some London Assembly members on international promotion of London incomes are entirely out of touch with the reality of the modern world economy.
'When, for example, it was announced that I would make 2007 a year of promotion of links between London and India, including a visit to that country, Assembly member Mike Tuffrey said "Londoners don't need a gap-year Mayor." Not only does this insult nearly 500,000 citizens of London who are of Indian origin but it fails to grasp that India is a rising economic superpower with a GDP of $800 billion a year growing at 9 percent a year. The jobs of 200,000 people in London are already dependent on emerging market economies such as China, India and Russia.
'When I went to New York in October 2005 this was criticised. Its benefit was that the US National Football League announced the staging of its first ever competitive match outside the American continent in London – attracting 10,000 international visitors to London. The £20 million that these visitors will spend will pay for the entire international expenditure of the GLA in the last three years 60 times over. My visit to Paris secured London’s involvement with the Tour De France, which attracts 2 billion viewers, and is broadcast to 170 countries.
'The trip my staff made to Venezuela to negotiate the oil agreement will bring 250,000 Londoners half price bus travel. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions John Hutton has now written to me to confirm - contrary to claims from Assembly members - that the half price bus travel that will be available for Londoners on income support under the oil agreement signed with Venezuela will in no way affect their entitlement to benefits. This means 250,000 Londoners will be entitled to a benefit worth £280 a year.
'The fight against climate change is by its nature international. It is for that reason that the second largest number of foreign trips by my office has been to help co-ordinate the international movement of cities against climate change - the C40.
'London's future prosperity and success depends most critically of all on it continuing to be the most international financial and business city in the world. I shall continue to put the full resources of my administration behind securing the jobs and incomes of Londoners by the international promotion of the city.'
Notes to Editors
Letter from the Secretary of State John Hutton MP states:
8 March 2007
Dear Ken,
Half Price Bus and Tram Travel for Londoners in receipt of Income Support
Thank you for your letter of 2 March which asks about the effect on benefits of your scheme to provide travel concessions to Londoners in receipt of Income Support.
I am pleased to confirm that under Income Support regulations, travel concessions are treated as akin to payments in kind and fully disregarded. This full disregard also applies to Pension Credit and income-based Jobseeker’s allowance. The scheme will not therefore result in any loss of benefit.
Warm regards
John Hutton MP
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
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