• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 20 November 2002

Mr Mayor, have you or your Deputy had any meetings with the Fire Brigades Union to discuss this or other matters recently?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 20 November 2002

You are saying that the reason staff on the Underground and, presumably, passengers on the Underground, should feel possibly a little less safe than they do on the Docklands Railway is because of the management on the Underground?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 20 November 2002

You have stated a very clear policy position, which is that you believe another employer should not consider employees to be in any way acting in an unacceptable fashion if they unilaterally withdraw their labour without using the safety machinery through their trade union and with the knowledge that their management and the Health and Safety people, whatever their value or otherwise, have taken. That position is totally acceptable, in your view, for them to absent themselves but on the Docklands Railway, which you are responsible for, you are fudging the issue and you are saying that it is not...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 20 November 2002

I note that you are refusing to answer that question.

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 20 November 2002

That's not what we are asking.

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 20 November 2002

I am not asking the Mayor to denounce anybody. I'm just asking him to firmly support the Chair of LFEPA, who has been quite clear and straightforward in her position, that there is no need for a strike at this time in London or anywhere else because of the Bain Enquiry. Will the Mayor support that view, expressed by his Chairman of LFEPA, or not?

• Question by: Trevor Phillips
• Meeting date: 20 November 2002

The Chair invited the Mayor to comment.

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 20 November 2002

Can I ask you what advice the Health and Safety Executive has given about the continued operation of the London Underground?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 20 November 2002

Mr Mayor, you said, in your view, only a few Underground drivers will take the view that it's not safe to drive and implied from that you believe the vast majority of drivers do believe the Underground system is safe to operate during a fire-fighters' strike. Is that your view and, more particularly, is that the advice you have received from those who know better than any of us? Because I am concerned that you should give reassurance, not so much to the drivers, but to the Underground users that use of the Underground during a fire-fighters strike is safe...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 20 November 2002

Okay, so let's translate this then to Docklands Light Railway staff. Has Bob Kiley advised you that Docklands Light Railway staff who absent themselves for that reason should not be considered in breach of their contract?