• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 24 June 2004

Thank you Mr Mayor for exposing the incompetence of Liberal Democrat administrations in London. I hope you do it at every meeting. However, this statement which is quoted about `crushing borough planning authorities', if I recall related to the levels of affordable housing, and it is almost on a par with the inflammatory statement made by Mr Prescott (Deputy Prime Minister) which says that back gardens are now developable land. Will you not accept that the boroughs do actually know what is good for their own environment and they really do not need your intervention? If boroughs believe they need...

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 24 June 2004

I would say to Mike Tuffrey (AM) that we are not talking about the slow decisions on conservatories here. We are actually talking about London losing major housing opportunities and probably inward investment opportunities. If I can step back from the partisan approach that Mike Tuffrey entered into on this point, we can say that one of the features of Southwark and Lambeth Councils is that they are very inexperienced and they have made some very bad mistakes. There are some major projects in Lambeth and Southwark which I think are at risk and it is not just because the...

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 24 June 2004

You have often emphasised the importance of recognising the diversity and multiculturalism of London. If we are to celebrate the anniversary of VJ Day can we bear in mind that there is a great deal of bitterness from that conflict and the importance of encouraging those bodies that encourage reconciliation from that conflict all that time ago. Furthermore, we should bear in mind the importance of involving the Japanese community in any such anniversary.

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 24 June 2004

You said earlier that the Government has agreed funding for the LEZ. Has it indicated the level of financial commitment it will give? Are you now saying there are no financial obstacles to the introduction of the LEZ in this term?

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 24 June 2004

Part of the consensus is also getting the six boroughs that are outside the Capital Standards to join the rest of London to tackle the neighbourhood environmental issues. How will you go about doing that?

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 24 June 2004

One of the proposals you made during the election was to have a Single Waste Authority for London. How do you plan to take that forward?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 24 June 2004

In your first answer you mentioned you had a tax emission strategy. What are the objectives of that strategy and how do you intend to pay for it?

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 24 June 2004

I am glad you have picked up things during the campaign. I also picked up the idea of the buffer zone, which is an issue amongst the residents of North Westminster. Will TfL look into the feasibility of that? It sounds as though there is some consideration of that on the Earl's Court boundary.

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 24 June 2004

I am becoming really concerned that you will go wobbly on all this, and not be as tough as you have been. There are many people out there who support the Congestion Charge, including 90% of MPs, so please do not go soft and cave in to pressure from virtually all the way around the table. It strikes me that with the present boundary, or even with the extended zone, you could offer the Government the option of using London as a pilot project for their satellite experiment and this would bring it closer for London, and also create a...

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 24 June 2004

Can I congratulate you on achieving an almost unique event, namely bringing a consensus on Brent Council opposing the westward expansion of the Congestion Charge Zone. I note that what you have said today is about the Kensal Green Cemetery, which as you know is a very controversial local aspect of the whole proposed scheme. You mentioned in your remarks in answering the earlier question that there would potentially be two or three options that might come out, particularly for the area which affects the constituents I represent. I would be interested to hear you outline today the early stages...