• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Sorry, it is not about percentages. It is just: are you saying that there is a commitment and that we will not see boards made up of white men in suits?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

A lot of people will look to their local councillors as being people to protect their interests. How do you see that working? I know the local five boroughs have, more or less, agreed a single position on the Olympics and how they work with it. Do you have any problems with any of their requests and proposals?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

I think it would be very helpful if that were done, but also, if something which is accessible to local businesses who are not politicians like us ' who understand all these convoluted politician-speak reports ' something which they could understand and could understand how they could have access to tendering and contracts and get some of the benefits which they have been promised out of the Olympics. I hope that is possible, as well. The second question, then, is about employment training in the construction industry. My understanding is that there has already been quite a bit of work...

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Still, even in what you have just described, you have not mentioned any interaction with the people on the ground ' the businesses ' at this stage. You are talking about consulting the boroughs and consulting other stakeholders. I would have thought that at this stage, you need the information from the people who are going to be looking for the contracts, and who are going to be producing it. I find it quite difficult to get information. If I could, I will address the next bit to Tony (Winterbottom, Executive Director, Regeneration & Development, LDA), rather than you. Tony...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Absolutely. I am aware of the Canary Wharf initiative, and I laud it. It is absolutely fantastic, and it is the kind of thing we want. We work very closely in north London with The College of North West London to try to look at the skills that will be needed in that area. Therefore, through the LSC and the further education colleges, it is absolutely essential that we work out the skills that are needed. That is what happened in Canary Wharf. They worked out the skills that were needed, and then were able to provide the training for...

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

There has to be something ready, and you must engage with Londoners.

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

I know he did.

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

This sounds like a bureaucratic nightmare to me. How are people who are endeavouring to run a business, make a small profit, and pay their mortgage going to be expected to wade through all these committee meetings, board meetings, sustainable-development-checking processes? Mayor, you will have to ask them to put off the Olympics until 2016 at this rate.

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

I know, but you said in a radio interview recently, `We are the Mayor's agency for businesses and jobs in London, and for the first couple of years, we will be doing most of the work in respect of the Olympic Games.' Now, you cannot make a statement like that on the radio in a national radio programme, and then not expect local companies to think that they can ring up us or ring up the LDA and say, `What is the position? How can we get some of these jobs?'

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

I am sure you could.