• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 12 November 2003

I agree. Who pays?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

You will be making the case, we will be making the case, Simon Hughes will also be making the case.

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

I have a few concerns. Firstly, that in relation to the bid is the funding package as convincing as it could be? And I presume, since the answer to this question is yes, that you are going to try and ensure that this is the case. The second stage is actually the financing of the Games, and there I do have some concerns. Essentially, if the Games are successful and then move into profit then actually the people who will profit are the private sector, leisure, tourism, airlines, hotels and so forth, and the people who pay through Council Tax...

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Just quickly on the financing aspect. There are so many problems facing London and we have covered some of them today. How can you go about convincing Londoners that this is the best possible use of a Council Tax increase, given that there are so many other priorities facing London? We have only had city-wide Government in London for three years and we are facing so many problem in terms of transport, regeneration, environmental issues and so on. How can you convince people that extra money for the Olympics is the best possible use of Council Tax payers' money?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Given that the masterplan, which will set the locations for the facilities within the area, must be ready by December of this year, how can we possibly have meaningful consultation when the timetable is so tight?

• Question by: Toby Harris
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

That is very encouraging. Clearly, we are keen that there is not only business engagement but community engagement. This needs to be genuinely a people's Olympics as well as everything else we have talked about. Could you say what your plans are in terms of once the technical bid has been submitted and how you intend to involve Londoners of all backgrounds in the planning of the Olympics and how they will be receiving information about it apart from via website?

• Question by: Toby Harris
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

• Question by: Toby Harris
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Thank you for that. Clearly, there is a great deal of private sector support for the Olympic bid. I know the London Business Board is very much behind what is happening. Can you tell us what discussions there have been with the private sector about either PPP arrangements for contributing or helping with the Olympics in general, and, more specifically, in terms of private sector involvement in funding improvements for the general street environment in time for 2012?

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

I mentioned earlier about the IOC questionnaire and the general support locally, but there is an information gap locally. I appreciate what is being done, but out there people are not getting answers to basic questions. The questions they are asking me and other local representatives are things that are in the public domain. Ms Cassani, I appreciate that you have said you are concentrating on winning the bid and I think that it is absolutely right that you do not get too bogged down in the political detail. But it is more than political detail; it is important, if...