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

Regarding Crystal Palace, the Act was set up, the whole thing was precisely set up with you in mind, a recreation of the Greater London Council (GLC). They deliberately did not give the GLA powers to run things directly. So I am intrigued that you think there are the legal powers, because if we can run Crystal Palace why not bring back the Royal Festival Hall and South Bank Centre? Why not bring back Hampstead Heath indeed? Why not bring back all of those things that are actually London-wide assets back into London-wide Government, and is this Government policy?

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

The point is that people see the light and then join us. In your case, you yo-yo about trying to rejoin them extraordinarily in terms of political strategy just at the point when they are on the way out. I can see why this lot want you back in because they are hoping your threadbare coat tails will save their seats, but why you think that will help you...

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

You indicated you have started your update on tax credit. I just want to give you fair warning that we will have to add that to the long list of topics where we will need to examine what you have said and what the Government is saying in your new-found role, this `marriage of convenience" coming to Tony Blair"s electoral rescue, apparently; the first case, I might say, of a rat re-rejoining a sinking ship. We will need to look at what you have said on tax credit and what you will now need to be saying on tax credit...

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

Yes, yes, yes. £1.451 billion is the increase that you reported on over the four-year period.

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

On the budget you just said £1.5 billion extra per year. Last time you were here it was £1.5 billion over the four years.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

It may be that there is more unanimity between you and me on Crystal Palace than on issues of trust. The only other matter that I wanted to raise with you on Crystal Palace is this! Do you accept that it is inevitable if we are going to get the best result at Crystal Palace that we look at a comprehensive package for the whole of the scheme? That is to say the replacement of the National Sports Centre, making sure that the running track and the indoor facilities are there, and making sure that that is linked to a...

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

I will leave it at this point on the budget. It is interesting that with all that leverage in and extra money that we still manage to have such an enormous deficit. In the spirit of being full of goodwill at Christmas and so on, can I say that as far as Crystal Palace is concerned you know that I welcome the initiative that is taking place there and I know it is welcomed by people in Bromley. I am sorry that my flu made it impossible for me to be at the meeting arranged by Richard Caborn (Sports Minister)...

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

Perhaps then it was the Government that was either naïve or disingenuous. I imagine you will be taking it up with the now Minister for London and see what extra grant he gives us to reduce the Council Tax burden.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

It is more than £0.03 though.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

How is it possible to reconcile the effect of your budget this year, that is to say the cumulative increase of 103%, with the pledge given by the then Minister for London at the time of the Referendum that the additional costs of having the Mayor and the GLA would not be more than £0.03 per week? Now that you are rejoining the Labour Party one of you must be wrong.