• Question by: Joanne McCartney
• Meeting date: 13 March 2013

I want to start with Mayor Pipe and then move to the other two guests if I can. My questions were about the four pilots because two of them, Enfield and Haringey, I represent so we have great concerns about it. I was quite shocked to hear that you view this as just a test of DWP's own systems as opposed to a true pilot. My question is around the pilot which I believe is to last approximately six months and lessons are supposed to be learned before it is rolled out. In the meantime is it your belief that...

• Question by: Stephen Knight
• Meeting date: 13 March 2013

I wondered if I could very quickly ask Mayor Pipe a question on the Ministerial statement yesterday on the 'bedroom tax'. It appears to me that what is being said is rather than change the actual proposals so that the categories talked about are exempt, what is being done is that the Government is asking local authorities to use discretionary payments to effectively pay that money back. Is that right? Can you explain what the process would be and, importantly, is the Government actually funding this?

• Question by: Richard Tracey
• Meeting date: 13 March 2013

Can we look at the cost. We all understand the principles of trying to help people that are truly in need but it is right, is it not, that Housing Benefit costs have gone up by £10 billion since the beginning of the decade? It was about £11 billion in 2000/01 and it is now £21 billion, and if it were to go on then it would be £25 billion in the coming year if the reforms were not brought in. Jules Pipe, do you want to comment on that?

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 13 March 2013

I want to follow up from Stephen Knight's questioning on the CPI. Perhaps I could ask Kate, because she did not get a chance to answer. Have I got it right that the CPI is going to mean that rents are now going to be tagged to the CPI, rather than to rent inflation? Further, as the CPI has always risen at a much lower rate than rents, the 30th percentile which the LHA is tagged to will drop to perhaps 20th or 10th percentile available? Have I got this right?

• Question by: Richard Tracey
• Meeting date: 30 January 2013

Mr Mayor, are you aware in terms of improving or certainly keeping up the standards of rail travel in London we have won the battle over the Wimbledon and Sutton Loop line?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 19 December 2012

Roger Evans (AM): I was just going to remind the Mayor of the controversy that we had in previous years over the very large amounts of money paid to the people who we employed to build the Olympic site and to run the Olympic Games. I just ask you, Mr Mayor, does that not prove that if you pay people who are good, good money you actually get good results for it?

• Question by: Len Duvall OBE
• Meeting date: 19 December 2012

Len Duvall (AM): Chair, I have not had the benefit of receiving a copy of this [letter to the Chair of the PCC] last night and nor do I understand why the Chair of the Police and Crime Committee did not receive it last night when you received it. So can I begin by saying some issues? When you had a meeting with the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, it was reported in the press that you were angry. Why was that?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 19 December 2012

John Biggs (AM): I think you will agree with me that one of the great achievements of the Olympic Games was the very good health and safety record during the construction of that enormous enterprise. You will share with me concern about the problem that has happened at Crossrail and I am sure we will both agree that this should be an isolated incident and we must learn from it. One of the characteristics of the Olympics was that there was a collective agreement on health and safety and, whatever ones other views about trade unions and collective rights are...

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 19 December 2012

Jenny Jones (AM): I certainly think it is a point worth making. As Assembly Member Duvall has said, in the letter it says that the core element of those reports is true, namely that there was contact. This is the latest in a long line of slip-ups from your Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. His first appearance in front of the Police and Crime Committee has become a national joke. He has alienated many of us around this table. He has alienated many in the police. He has not mastered his brief to actually do the things that you...

• Question by: Len Duvall OBE
• Meeting date: 19 December 2012

Len Duvall (AM): Good morning, Mr Mayor. Why did you employ this individual and what steps did you take about looking at the salary of the individual as well?