• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

One thing that I am concerned about: you talked about compensation and about being fair and within codes. What does this mean, in real terms, to the businesses affected? I will explain the reason why I am asking this. Many of the businesses have come to me ' and, in fact, come to many fellow Assembly Members ' and have made clear that the terms they are being offered mean they will have to spend anything up to 20%, 30%, or 40% more from either existing reserves or raised money to be able to continue on the promised like-for-like basis...

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

They were lobbying to get their businesses. They were lobbying.

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

How much has the LDA paid on lawyers? How much has the LDA paid on lawyers?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

): I am extremely sorry, Mr Mayor, for you to suggest that people who are fighting for their own interests are behaving politically. They are behaving sensibly, in the way I suspect that you would have done, if you were in that position. I have in front of me a letter from the LDA, dated 2 September, on this question of professional costs which are likely to be incurred with regard to business relocation. This letter tells me that you actually estimate that you will be spending £5 million on professional fees relating to businesses' location. As a matter of...

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

One of these guys bought his land for £1.25 million. That was three years ago, and then it was valued by Porter Glenny, your people, at £1.071 million, a drop of 24%, when all the other land in the area, because of the Olympics, is going up.

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Then, of course, the thing you do not say during that ' the thing you do not say ' is that a large amount of that money has been wasted by yourselves, because these people started and got to heads of agreement terms last year on deals, which then incurred large amounts of lawyers', managers', project managers', and accountants' fees, and then you were the ones who stalled on it. I have a detail here of almost £200,000 worth of work done, which you have wasted. What is the most absurd thing ' and the fact that you are saying...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

I have to say, the answers are a little bit slow, and we have limited time. Sally Hamwee (Chair): I hope that Mary (Reilly) understands the balance that I have to keep during this meeting, and Angie (Bray) and I have already exchanged some words during this, but please, do carry on. There are important things that ' perhaps I should explain to everybody, primarily those sitting behind me ' there are things that we need to get on the record. Carry on.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

How many are you in negotiation with right now?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Can I just ask, then, finally, could you keep me abreast ' or all of us abreast, through the Chair ' of all the contacts you have made, and what businesses you are currently in proper negotiation with, so that we can see for ourselves what progress you are making?

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Like-for-like ' is that like-for-like? I do not think so.