• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

So you still have a commitment to a fully funded grant-based system in which the state not the student covers the full cost of higher education?

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

Do you think that the approach of fantasy financing and heads in the sand that the Tories have been talking about on higher education funding would actually leave us in a situation where there would be a reduction of higher education places in London? Given their track record when there was nearly a 36% cut in higher education funding over the last 10 years, the Conservatives have been very unrealistic and hypocritical on this issue. Also, would you recognise that the Liberal Democrats, who claim to be interested in the problems that pensioners have paying Council Tax, are ignoring the...

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

As we all agree Mr Mayor, education is very important. Would you not also agree that for many of our communities in the capital their own schools will be very important? I am thinking particularly of the Kenyan community and their desire to have a Kenyan school in London. Would you support that campaign bearing in mind, while you are finding the answer, that Kenya of course has just celebrated the 40th anniversary of its independence last weekend and we have an active and vibrant Kenyan community playing a full role in the life of London? (Question 2333 / 2003)...

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

So when you have your loyalty interview next month you do not expect to be asked to give any commitments and even if asked you do not intend to give any commitments?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

Yes, once the money has been spent. The irony of this is that the Assembly has always been very supportive of having a good series of events around the New Year and holiday period to celebrate that period and to promote London. Eric Ollerenshaw chaired a committee back in March 2001 which did a very good (and I can say that because I was not here and party to it) an excellent report on how to prepare for this, and yet here we are a matter of days before Christmas and you are not able to give us the assurance...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

On 22 October my colleague Graham Tope asked for a breakdown of how the £1 million (£800,000, as we then thought it was) on the fireworks was being spent and you said that you would give us the answer through the normal scrutiny function. We asked for it on 13 November, 20 November, again on 28 November, again on 9 December. At the Culture Committee on 10 December we asked the officer there for the breakdown and she was either unable or unwilling to give it to us. We had to pass a formal resolution asking for it again on...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

If you are so pleased about how it is going, what are you trying to cover up?

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

What a laugh if you take it as a funny joke, but actually it is really quite important constitutionally. We are here to scrutinise the work of the Mayor and the money you are spending, Londoners' money, and yet you are refusing to give us this information. Can you have an avowed support for open Government when this flies in the face of that? Mike has asked what you are trying to hide. When you say you are still in detailed discussion about safety on the night and finessing the finances that does worry me. You talk about the action...

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

It is amazing that we have a Mayor who says he is in favour of open Government and yet he is hiding behind the lawyers here. We know the GLA Act causes us all some pain at times. Mayoral advice should not be decided within the Mayor's office. You have made a decision to let this contract. That is a decision we are scrutinising and we want to see those figures. You have not answered the point about what should constitute Mayoral advice. It should be decided by an independent officer, not from the heart of your own office, because...

• Question by: Noel Lynch
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

Has there been consultation with local people?