• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

Earlier in your written report you had referred to the McKinsey report and the success that London had achieved by being the city that embraces globalisation. Since President Chavez spends most of his time ranting against the evils of globalisation, how do you think sucking up to a man with his dubious record enhances London's standing as an economic world centre?

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

Mayor, following on from what Bob Neill said, this really is a cash transfer of up to £16 million - £17 million from the Venezuelan oil company with its tax base in Holland. In return, London will provide services - TfL will provide services - but the cash will not be set against the provision of those services, it will be used to provide subsidised travel for those on income support. My concern is, when I look at yesterday's press release, this benefit worth at least the equivalent of £280 a year for up to 250,000 of the lowest income...

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

Mr Mayor, last week you could not really answer my question about what your Budget was doing for low paid workers in London. I see you have at least come back with some kind of response this week.

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

I was simply going to address what you have said on this report, `Who Buys New Market Homes in London' in your own report. The report made no mention of these homes being kept empty and, indeed, they make it perfectly clear that only a very tiny proportion are kept empty, probably less than those which are owned by local authorities. They are indeed saying in the report which, as far as I can see you praise, that if it was not for the private rented sector, the number of houses which were being built in total in London would...

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

OK. It just seems it is more applicable to situations up in the north rather than in the context of London, and I think the real issue there is that, in west London certainly, we may not have the turnover of properties that we once assumed in terms of tenants moving through. On another front, I notice there was a report from the GLA - I think Economics - on who buys new market homes in London. And it showed a staggering figure that about 45% of new purchases are buy to lets. Now that certainly has an impact on...

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

My concern is the role of Housing Associations in the availability of more affordable homes. Do you think Notting Hill Housing Trusts initiative to sell 10% equity of their properties to tenants is going to help increase the availability of social housing in London?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

You are getting additional housing powers, what are you going to do with those powers to begin addressing this problem? Because as I implied in my original question, there is 35,000 fewer social homes now in London than there was the day you took office back in 2000.

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

Mr Mayor, obviously the concern you have raised about the availability of social housing is of concern. Do you support the idea of assessing peoples' means to qualify for social housing, and possibly for the removal of the right of children to succeed to council tenancies?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

Should the right to buy go then, or at least be modified so that homes are only sold if they are replaced?

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 05 December 2007

That is not because of our Congestion Charge; that is what is happening anyway and it has been for some years, before we ever thought of doing this.