• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 18 June 2003

So you tear up a very clear and unambiguous commitment you gave and, obviously, you are now seeking re?election. Can I try and move us on? The reason that the Assembly unanimously, and all the parties in the Assembly's Budget Committee endorsed the report at our last meeting without any comment or equivocation, is that we are all united in expressing very serious concerns about certain aspects of the procurement policies. This is about protecting you from yourself. It is about having a robust system so that nobody can lay accusations of the sort of corruption in America. Why will...

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 18 June 2003

Chair, that is ridiculous and offensive.

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 18 June 2003

No, you cannot say because we did not say something that is evidence that there was no alternative. We are not an executive authority here. We are not tendering for these contracts; that is your role. If you had tendered there may have been organisations out there who would have been interested, there may not have been. The point is that it would have given that event and others where you have not tendered a more authoritative base. One of the concerns that I have and would be interested in your comments, is that people out there constantly approach me...

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 18 June 2003

Ken, it is not our job to come up with alternative organisations. We are not talking about the quality of the event; we are talking about the principle of tendering and the probity of public office. It is important that the office of Mayor is seen to be straightforward and honest, both now in terms of you and in the future. Whatever this Mayoralty sets up sets the tone for the future Mayors of London, and also gives other Mayors, if it is not done properly, the opportunity to undermine some of the work that you and others, including me...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 18 June 2003

Fine, it is a question of trust. In America, according to the Washington Post, there are some 50 former Mayors behind bars as we speak for fraud and corruption. So the question is whether Londoners can trust their Mayor. Well one test is whether he does what he says he is going to do. So can I quote you something in your response to the Government's White Paper on the Mayor and Assembly for London by Ken Livingstone, August 1998. You said then, speaking about recent experience in Paris and America: `Corruption tends to flourish the longer an incumbent is...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 18 June 2003

): I contrast that cavalier lack of concern with comments made by someone speaking in the House of Commons in 1997 during a Governance of London debate. That person, talking about the proposals for the GLA, said: `My first worry is that City Mayors in America are the main focus of corruption in American public life because a single individual has all the powers to award contracts and appoint to jobs." And that person went on to say, speaking about the relationship between the Mayor and a small elected authority: `I am not sure that such an authority would be...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 18 June 2003

That reflects the rather dismissive attitude you have taken to the unanimous Assembly report so far.

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 18 June 2003

It is worth reiterating that this is about protecting the Office of Mayor and some of the events we are organising. We just heard about St Patrick's Day again. We have criticised you for not doing things on New Year's Eve for instance. I would like to see more events but my concern is that if events are to be long?standing and to work they need to be copper?bottom as Mike said; they need to be something that has a long?term future, and it is about making sure those procedures are in place. Are you not concerned that the approach...

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 18 June 2003

I just want to clarify. Earlier I spoke about the perception of this organisation among a number of organisations who have either tendered or would like to tender for contract work. If I had, and if I have in the future, any material factual information about improper processes, of course I would have and I would still in future refer that to the Monitoring Officer. I have never been privy to that information; I was referring to a perception. I want to make it clear that I have acted properly at all times.

• Question by: Len Duvall OBE
• Meeting date: 18 June 2003

No, I am talking about what led officers to come to the conclusion that they could go for a single?tender process. Let me just remind you that in terms of our report no?one minded you going for a single?tender procurement, and if you read the transcripts of the Committee scrutiny, that is not in question because you are entitled to do that. However, officers are not entitled to do that without the back?up and the proper paper work that justifies you doing that. Your own Mayoral Adviser, the Monitoring Officer and the Finance Officer, could not find that paperwork when...