• Question by: Eric Ollerenshaw
• Meeting date: 18 September 2002

Yesterday's rejection by the Labour Party has upset you somewhat, you are concerned about old press cuttings proving some kind of conspiracy. What I really want to know is why you have decided to back the millionairess from Highgate as the Labour Candidate before we know which of the other labour candidates are available and whether you may well go further than that and put up Assembly Candidates for Ken Livingstone when it comes to the election?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 18 September 2002

I find that very helpful, because what you are saying is, clearly, that you are not disagreeing that inevitably it would be a matter of public interest, where people's interests may lie. Your concern is very particularly about the use of GLA resources, and you are placing on the record your concern that GLA resources should not be used for partisan or party political factions, particularly if they are used to undermine the GLA within itself.

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 18 September 2002

You have just expressed your satisfaction with the result of the Heron Tower inquiry, and you went on to say that it means that similar developments will be allowed. Will you accept that it is the principle in London, as, indeed, everywhere else in the country, that each separate application is dealt with on its own individual merits, and that you do not see that this decision, in effect, is a blanket acceptance that your Tall Tower policy will be acceptable?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 18 September 2002

Mr Mayor, can I ask you a question about two items in your report? The first is on your report about the Equality of the Black Public Sector Services Conference, on page 10 of your report. This was an excellent conference. I was there myself, and what I do not get from your report is whether this is a one-off event, given that at this conference the expectation of a number of people, including myself, was raised to a point that this would be the start of some programme of activity. So I would like your confirmation as to what...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 18 September 2002

I broadly welcome your points on tall buildings, although I think you are at risk of being - because you do not seem to say enough about heritage issues - accused of being an architectural vandal. I think your mayoralty in the GLA needs to demonstrate, by perhaps over-emphasising on a number of heritage issues, that there is a balance in this. But the question I wanted to ask - and let us be clear, - and this is straight our of our window, that `The Gherkin" is rising behind us, and the Heron Tower will rise just behind that...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 18 September 2002

Is it right that you should simply identify opposition to your Tall Towers policy simply to English Heritage? English Heritage have a statutory responsibility to comment on such matters, and, in effect, by rubbishing them in the way you have continually done so far as this inquiry is concerned, you are trying to block off a way in which ordinary members of the public feel that their views are being expressed by this statutory body.

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

You talked earlier about the problem of the London Underground Board being foisted on Londoners by Government. It crosses my mind that a question we explored at the Assembly, I think, almost two years ago now, which was the possibility of having confirmation hearings for Board members, was one that might raise its head again on this issue. We could then explore with Mr Crowe precisely the role he might play on the TfL Board and we could go face-to-face with him on the problems he might suffer on this. That is, I think, still an issue that is worth...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

If it doesn't?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

My other concern is that, even when you have taken over the Tube, you might not have as much influence as you think and that you will be in a position, with your own Board member, of a strike still being called. Who do you think is going to win, because I think there will be a pitched battle between you and Bob Crowe at some point?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

I take the view it is better to have Bob Crowe in the tent than out of the tent, so long as he does not try and continue his political campaigning against the Chancellor. While I have many criticisms of the Chancellor, the TfL Board is not the place to carry out those campaigns. However, you say - and obviously I do agree with you - that it will be better once the Tube comes over because the lines will be quite clear, but until such time I do not think Londoners should be put to struggling around London. It...