• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 12 December 2007

In some ways you have already dealt with some of the points I was going to raise. I am glad to hear about the study on the short-haul flights and clearly rail via St Pancras is very attractive as an option. Hopefully there will be a day soon where we can go beyond just Paris and Brussels from there. Sarkozy's position in France is clearly indicative of where public opinion in Europe is now, and I think that is where we are going to have to head. I am concerned about how BAA seems to be rewarded for managing Heathrow...

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 12 December 2007

Just on another front, I did go to a public meeting last week in one of the villages affected in Hillingdon: Harlington. It is a crying shame that the residents have been painted in environmental terms. Many of them also have jobs at Heathrow; they clearly know the trade-off between jobs and the environment and their quality of life. I just hope that in economic studies that is reflected as well. I feel the debate has been couched in terms which are not helpful and that actually there are some trade-offs. I think you have touched on them: short-haul flights...

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 12 December 2007

If Mr Brown finally makes up his mind to have a general election, will you be urging the people locally to vote Conservative rather than Labour?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 12 December 2007

Final question; mixed mode, which is another threat that Heathrow poses to a lot of residents at both ends of the runway, of course, as we have discussed, could happen much sooner and is a considerable threat to quality of life for people. You mentioned to me in a written answer that you were going to write to the aviation minister about mixed mode. Have you done that and what response have you had?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 12 December 2007

Have you got power so that you could step in over mixed mode?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 12 December 2007

What comment would you make on the reported fact that both BAA and British Airways actually helped the Government in the construction of its consultation papers?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 12 December 2007

Do you think that the reason why they have made this announcement that they were wresting it from the hands of the London Mayor was precisely because you have come out so strongly against it?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 12 December 2007

I have a question, a very local question - because City Airport featured in Peter Hulme Cross's question - which is that in the area of City Airport there are growing numbers of people who are unhappy with aircraft noise and there is a particular issue about the different regulatory regime that applies to private jets. There are growing numbers of corporate air travellers from City Airport and they appear to be able to take off at full throttle, at maximum noise without any comeback within the regulatory regime, and that is causing far more nuisance than the scheduled flights...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 12 December 2007

Are you concerned that you may have to fight a little bit to be able to play a role in how the plans go forward for Heathrow, because, as I understand it, it was announced by the Government that this would be taken out of the hands of the London Mayor and the GLA on the basis that this was a national strategic decision that had to be taken, rather than a regional strategic decision? Does that mean you are going to have to fight rather hard to be able to get in there to play a role on behalf...

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 12 December 2007

Mr Mayor, you are right. You did not start off from the position which you now hold. Indeed, four years ago you would not come down to the villages and attend a public meeting to discuss the expansion of Heathrow. You did go down there but you slunk in a bit like a thief in the night - and five minutes later you slunk out again. Do you think that the consultation which is being conducted at the moment by the Government is transparent, open and honest?