• Question by: Joanne McCartney
• Meeting date: 15 July 2004

Given what you said about the work that goes on in lobbying in Europe for London's interests, do you think we should be further supporting the GLA and its partners in that work in Europe?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 15 July 2004

I am very interested to hear the comments from the UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) member. Can I take it you now assume that despite the indications given to you last week, UKIP will not now be supporting the idea of Brussels House being ring-fenced and protected in your budget?

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

You mentioned London House's involvement in the decision-making process in Brussels. Surely this cannot be, as bodies outside of the EU institutions are not admitted to the decision-making process. Can you name a specific instance in which London House's involvement has prevented or altered a new law being imposed upon London or Britain by the un-elected EU through directives and can you point to a source where such a claim can be substantiated?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 15 July 2004

Certainly, councils like Lambeth and this one in Southwark want to achieve those targets. What will the effect of that be on the totals? Currently, completions in affordable units are running at about 6-7% per year in London and the London Plan says up to 15,000 per year, even though estimates of need are well in excess of 20,000. How will the increased subsidy help and what is your assessment of whether we are going to reach 15,000, which in itself is not enough?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 15 July 2004

One of the sad facts of the delay is that 300 new housing units, of which 102 (40%) are affordable, have therefore also been delayed. Clearly, we would like that figure to be higher than 40%. The key aspect there is the element of public subsidy that goes in. Can you tell us your analysis of John Prescott's (Deputy Prime Minister) 4% increase in funding that he announced yesterday? He says this will mean an extra 10,000 affordable homes nationally by 2008. What will be the effect on London, and will it flow through into schemes such as this one?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 15 July 2004

Certainly, councils like Lambeth and this one in Southwark want to achieve those targets. What will the effect of that be on the totals? Currently, completions in affordable units are running at about 6-7% per year in London and the London Plan says up to 15,000 per year, even though estimates of need are well in excess of 20,000. How will the increased subsidy help and what is your assessment of whether we are going to reach 15,000, which in itself is not enough?

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 15 July 2004

I hope all that discussion does not mean there is any sense in which the goalposts for the Streatham Hub Project have been moved and I think you need to confirm that. The criteria you are applying this time are the same as those you applied last year. Would you share with me in saying there is some slight Liberal Democrat hypocrisy around in all this? Quite frankly, if Lambeth had been competent enough to submit a credible financial package last year for this project, it would have been agreed then and would not have had to wait 15 months.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 15 July 2004

The Spending Review indicates that by 2007/08 transport spending will be £2.4 billion higher than in 2004/05. However, if you look at the breakdown of the uplift in spending it actually totals £3.8 billion, which indicates either double-counting or that there are efficiencies to be gained, or cuts in funding in some programmes. In fact, there is a section in the document headed `Implementation Plans for Efficiency Gains' containing the following quote: `Deliver £125 million of efficiencies as a result of Transport for London's own efficiency plans." Would that not suggest firstly that Government is looking to count £125 million...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 15 July 2004

In response to Graham Tope's (Assembly Member) questioning about Crossrail you stated that £2 billion from Government would not be enough. I think we can all accept that regardless of what the Government announces about Crossrail, you will probably welcome it now you have been welcomed back into the fold. How much money are you expecting to get from Government?

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

That was spoken like a good `New Labour" Mayor, unfortunately without much expression and with a big grin on your face at the end, but I expect it will read well. We have not yet had the announcement on Crossrail, which I hope is imminent, but what will you wish to hear in that statement which will enable you to be as enthusiastic as you have just been in judging its success?