• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 14 December 2005

Thank you for that update. If I come to the first issue you raised about severe winter weather, it just seems that our transport infrastructure finds it very difficult to deal with any severe weather, if you compare it against North America and Scandinavia. Is there a case that maybe the specifications of our transport infrastructure should be such that it could deal with things like that?

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 14 December 2005

I am sure you would want to place on record the appreciation for the heroism of the firefighters in putting the fire out at Buncefield. I think one of the concerns we would have, and I think this must be shared by everyone, is the vulnerability of some of these locations throughout London and whether you think there is a case for a review of other potential vulnerable sites.

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 14 December 2005

Can I thank you for the work that you have been doing around the threat to Londoners from the severe winter that is forecast? Can you just give us your assurance that in terms of older people you will be using the endeavours of your office and speaking to those people in health and in the local government social services so that we can get the message out? I do not suppose we can get it out to every elderly person in London, but it is critical that they understand the importance of this and that they seek help and...

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 14 December 2005

I am glad to hear that you seem fairly up to date with Buncefield oil depot. One of the particular concerns is the PM10s (particulate matter of fewer than 10 microns' diameter), which will cause respiratory problems to Londoners, but I am not asking a question about that. I just want to ask about the Asian flu plan. It is set up to maintain the GLA Functional Bodies, but what about ordinary Londoners and what will the NHS and our general practitioners (GPs) be able to do for ordinary folk trying to get through? It is one thing keeping the...

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

However, the Conservatives supported the Olympic Games, not like us. We did not support the Games coming to London unless and until there was a referendum on the matter and full disclosure. Our point is, though, it does not matter what you think is politically motivated but Lord Coe (Chairman, London 2012) is a Conservative and he is involved with the Olympics; Lord Moynihan (Chairman, British Olympic Association) and many others and the Conservative Party supported it. Therefore how can that be political? Lance Foreman is no longer actively involved so where is this being political?

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

To keep his business.

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

For the record I am a Board Member and Vice Chair of the LDA. The question is to correct something Damian (Hockney, (AM)) said in particular, which is that the role of the agency here is to dislodge and effectively close down businesses. Would you not agree and recognise that the LDA is strenuously working to assemble alternative sites; it is entering into deals to build alternative accommodation for businesses to move into and is going way beyond what it would be required to do under the compulsory purchase regulations, which simply require it to pay the money and move...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

Before that they must know, so are they going to know by Christmas about where they are going?

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

Therefore what you are saying is the value of the land ' nobody can come to an agreement on this yet you say you reckon it is worth £1 million to £1.5 million per acre?

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 16 November 2005

The LDA refused. The fish man, the one we always talk about ' Lance Foreman ' came to a Heads of Agreement with the LDA and then they tore it up, after he had found the land. My problem with this is Mary Reilly told me when we sat here on 9 September that 24 deals had been done to Heads of Agreement. Last month I asked the LDA again at the Budget Committee in October. On 2 November they came back and said 22 had been done. That is a step down of two, so it went from 24...