• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 11 October 2006

That equates to a very neat and tidy solution. You move the allotment holders off to Marsh Lane for a period of approximately seven years, I understand, and then you move them back to another site approximately close to where they are now. Unfortunately it is not going to work terribly well because it takes over seven years to establish a new allotment site. Frankly, if the plot holder is going to be facing two moves within seven years, a lot of them will simply give up. Perhaps the diehards will carry on, but I do not see that this...

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 11 October 2006

I honestly believe that you are trying to defend the indefensible, because looking at your own criteria, I am looking at `Is there market failure?' Well, clearly with the Notting Hill Carnival, which is a large-scale event promoting London's Caribbean community, there is not market failure. Is there a case for investment supported by the evidence? I cannot see any case for investment supported by the evidence. I just see it as duplication. And does it duplicate activities already underway in other parts of your Agency? The event was funded by two different parts of your Agency, directly from the...

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 11 October 2006

I think it is a complete and utter duplication. I think it is a scandalous waste of taxpayers' money, and I do not think it is the job of the LDA to spend scarce resources, which ultimately come from the taxpayers through government grants, on nonsense like this. Angie Bray AM): Is it not the case that this whole Showcase arose out of an offer made by Westminster City Council to Lee Jasper and the Mayor; that because of the discussion and the ultimate refusal to put the Carnival into Hyde Park, an offer was made that Hyde Park would...

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 11 October 2006

Well, I would have thought that the purpose of the LDA was to provide London with jobs and economic development. Personally, I do not really see the rationale for spending so much money which could have been directed elsewhere, to jobs for young people, whatever, on the Caribbean Showcase, when the Notting Hill Carnival was going on at the same time. I cannot make that connection, I am afraid. I just think that it is extraordinary that you should spend the money in this way.

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 11 October 2006

Thank you. It says on the LDA's website that the LDA's objectives are regenerating London, supporting people, that is removing barriers to employment, encouraging business, and marketing and promoting London. Yet you spent £215,000, approximately 70 per cent of the cost of the Caribbean Showcase, putting it on in Hyde Park on the same day as the Notting Hill Carnival. That does not seem to add up and make sense to me.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 11 October 2006

Right, so you will be able to separate out for us the actual sponsorship money that came from the private sector as opposed to other functional body support

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 11 October 2006

I think the less we pay attention to the Review the better, because those who were part of the Review were not even asked to look at the document, let alone sign it off. I am not sure quite how much credibility it has. Can you tell us how much actual revenue came from private sponsors? £15,000 from schools I see.

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 11 October 2006

Did you attend, Ms. Reilly?

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 11 October 2006

Did you attend?

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 11 October 2006

Did you attend, Mr Lewis?