• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

Is it not extremely bad practice to accept an engagement and then drop out at the last minute?

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

If you were declining something for the Mayor, would you put it in the Deputy Mayor's diary, or do you consider her diary too busy?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

Are you subject to a formal appraisal scheme, at all?

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

I think that is very helpful. We will pursue all of that. Finally, you mentioned the fact that you are politically restricted and you can't work for a political party. Presumably, while the Mayor is an independent, you can campaign for him. If he rejoins the Labour party, should we assume that you then can't campaign for him, or do you need to take advice on that?

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

Thank you. Can I move on to mayoral approvals? You've mentioned the Budget Committee. How should the Budget Committee find out whether you have signed a form, and indeed whether you've discussed it with the Mayor?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

So presumably it's been revised and updated?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

The job has certainly developed since then, as has the salary, of course.

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

Has the Mayor ever publicly disagreed with a decision you've taken in his name?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

My final question is about the quality of advice that the Mayor gets. I know this has been probed a little bit earlier, but I think we all know that, yourself excluded, the Mayor's advisors include a range of people who have political baggage behind them. How do you ensure that the Mayor gets good advice, notwithstanding thatadvisors may carry with them prejudices that help to inform their advice?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

The Mayor, we know, is an elected politician, and we know where he comes from politically. The Deputy Mayor is elected; we know where she comes from politically. Some of the Mayoral Advisors are described as having political links with various pressure groups, for example Socialist International and Socialist Action. Do you have any links with that?