• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 15 December 2004

Thus, you quite categorically disagree with the 1990 Trust, which says, and I quote from the November publication, `ID cards are a misguided response to terrorism, traffickers, crime, or fraud.- You are clearly disagreeing with that.

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 15 December 2004

Do you lack confidence that the Government will get it right?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 15 December 2004

That is clear, unequivocal support for the Government's proposed scheme for the introduction of identity cards.

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 15 December 2004

If you arrive at Heathrow, and you have a merchant seaman's ticket, you are waived straight through Immigration with no check. That is a greater danger than the ID cards we are talking about.

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 15 December 2004

I find it extraordinary, that you will support something which is not going to be introduced until the year 2012, and almost implying that we are going to have to live with the Prime Minister's war on terror at least until then, and then the identity cards will help resolve it. At the moment, a ship can sail into London from any foreign port, and it is not until 12 hours after that they have docked that they actually have to produce a crew list to the local police. Do you not think that a gap like that is a...

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 15 December 2004

You just mentioned organised crime in the same breath as identity cards, more or less. At our Plenary Session the other day, Commander (Michael) Messenger (Metropolitan Police Service), when pressed on this subject, found it very difficult to justify the introduction of ID cards, except to identify bodies once they have dropped to the ground.

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 15 December 2004

They have actually refused to do so.

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 15 December 2004

Presumably, you will consult John Ross on whether or not he thinks he is qualified to be your motor racing advisor. Can I ask, because I probably only get one question, how does this square with your concerns about air quality and sustainability, i.e., I cannot pretend to know a lot about motor racing ' practically nothing ' but it strikes me that it is not a very sustainable sport, so bringing this to central London does not, to me, obviously seem consistent with your plans.

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 15 December 2004

Can we just confirm the view that you previously had, given that you seem to change your mind on some of these things, that actually the Lottery tax should come to fund the Olympic Games, rather than just reside in the Treasury.

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 15 December 2004

The issue is going to be, if any cost overruns take place, Londoners pick up 50% of the tab. Now, the issue here is one of a direct contribution that, not only Londoners, but everyone can make towards the Lottery funding, that would then lead to a possible contribution towards developing the venues. Now, it only seems fair and right and reasonable to everyone ' including yourself, originally ' that all of that money should go towards funding the Games, rather than a position of the Treasury taking 12% and then using it for whatever purposes they wish. Now, you...