• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

Can we just be clear on that? You are on record as saying that would be the minimum level but there may be a need for a larger sized Safer Neighbourhood team. Can you guarantee that is the minimum level?

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

Therefore your commitment that it would all be in place by March 2007, which you went on public record as saying would be achieved, is not worth the paper it is written on.

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

You have told us in your very first response to Bob Blackman (AM) that currently neighbourhood teams consist of the sergeant, the two constables and the three PCSOs. I was interested in the use of the word `currently'. Are you envisaging that the size of neighbourhood teams will be reduced and if you are suggesting that the size of neighbourhood teams will be reduced, will you say and indeed commit, that the total number of people who will be allocated to Safer Neighbourhoods per borough will remain the same, irrespective of how the Safer Neighbourhood teams themselves are constituted?

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

The budget that we have seen ' the draft budget we have seen from the MPA - suggests there will be a 3.2% increase in Government grant but that still leaves, even after various efficiency savings, some £32 million gap. How is that to be bridged?

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

Therefore are you saying to us that it is either a choice that the Government provides the resources to achieve Safer Neighbourhoods or alternatively you will not increase the precept by 11.2% to pay for it?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

In effect, you are telling us that an undertaking that you have given to the IOC is more important than an undertaking that you have given to the people of London. You have told the people of London that they will have safer neighbourhoods by the end of next year and you have told the IOC, because you say you have signed a piece of paper, that you will commit Londoners to underwrite the Olympics. Why is an undertaking to the IOC more important than an undertaking to Londoners?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

I understand that but it comes to this, and let us not go through past history, you have a contract which you signed. You remember a lot of us pressed you to seek more support from Government and argued that the London Council Taxpayer should not be paying for the Olympics. The fact is, because the contract is signed, there is a real risk that the Olympic precept will have to take precedence over the roll-out of Safer Neighbourhoods in the way that you would wish.

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

Do you not feel a little let down, because sitting as I have been on the MPA, I had a feeling, if not a good idea, that Government was going to come up with enough money for this, as the Prime Minister was desperate for it to happen. Do you not feel you have been let down by Government now because at the late date they are not coming forward with any extra money for this.

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

Mr Mayor, do you recall the conversation in a lift in this building with Joanne McCartney and me when I raised the subject of Middlesex University and, to paraphrase, you said `Over my effing dead body'. What brought about your complete change of heart?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

Does that not make your threat to remove people's tickets if they misbehave rather an empty one?