• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

I am sure Londoners will hope that the RMT takes your advice to heart. Could you just update us on the work you have done towards a no-strike agreement? Last year, you told us that when you got the Tube you would have a no-strike agreement and there would be far less industrial action. It appears from the press headline that there are more threats at the moment. What progress have you made there?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

You looked a touch embarrassed, no doubt because that question was written before the news came out this morning of the latest strike threat highlighted on the front page of the Evening Standard on the Circle and Metropolitan Lines. What steps are you taking to ensure that we do not have a strike over a silly issue about someone playing squash when they are supposed to be off sick?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

It just happens that Bob Crow grew up in the tower block next door to the one that I lived in for 10 years in Cable Street. He was never a member or a supporter of the Labour Party in those days and I suspect that he never will be. But he is a trade unionist and I am a trade unionist and my instinct is to support him, but a lot of Labour Members are very frustrated with what has happened with the RMT in London. On this side of the Chamber I think we would strongly support your...

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

And if we had the powers of the Scottish Parliament we would probably be in Government supporting that. How will you demonstrate your new-found loyalty to the Labour Government at the same time as fighting this election, whilst this issue is so high profile in Parliament and outside?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

So you still have a commitment to a fully funded grant-based system in which the state not the student covers the full cost of higher education?

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

Do you think that the approach of fantasy financing and heads in the sand that the Tories have been talking about on higher education funding would actually leave us in a situation where there would be a reduction of higher education places in London? Given their track record when there was nearly a 36% cut in higher education funding over the last 10 years, the Conservatives have been very unrealistic and hypocritical on this issue. Also, would you recognise that the Liberal Democrats, who claim to be interested in the problems that pensioners have paying Council Tax, are ignoring the...

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

As we all agree Mr Mayor, education is very important. Would you not also agree that for many of our communities in the capital their own schools will be very important? I am thinking particularly of the Kenyan community and their desire to have a Kenyan school in London. Would you support that campaign bearing in mind, while you are finding the answer, that Kenya of course has just celebrated the 40th anniversary of its independence last weekend and we have an active and vibrant Kenyan community playing a full role in the life of London? (Question 2333 / 2003)...

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

So when you have your loyalty interview next month you do not expect to be asked to give any commitments and even if asked you do not intend to give any commitments?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

Yes, once the money has been spent. The irony of this is that the Assembly has always been very supportive of having a good series of events around the New Year and holiday period to celebrate that period and to promote London. Eric Ollerenshaw chaired a committee back in March 2001 which did a very good (and I can say that because I was not here and party to it) an excellent report on how to prepare for this, and yet here we are a matter of days before Christmas and you are not able to give us the assurance...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

On 22 October my colleague Graham Tope asked for a breakdown of how the £1 million (£800,000, as we then thought it was) on the fireworks was being spent and you said that you would give us the answer through the normal scrutiny function. We asked for it on 13 November, 20 November, again on 28 November, again on 9 December. At the Culture Committee on 10 December we asked the officer there for the breakdown and she was either unable or unwilling to give it to us. We had to pass a formal resolution asking for it again on...