• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 21 November 2001

I see them quite regularly, not least because one parks around the back of my house while the guys go off to breakfast in the canteen in the morning; and it is out every day. Are you saying that this is just a matter of cleaning out the sewers rather than any design changes?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 21 November 2001

Do you feel that the emergency services are adequately prepared to deal with flooding incidents?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 21 November 2001

You do not visit outer London very often, but I can tell you that a lot of east London is outside the Thames barrier. Do you feel that the flood defences for that part of London are satisfactory, and is that something that you plan to address in your strategies?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 November 2001

You will be pleased to know that Michael Ward actually gave that guarantee on behalf of the LDA a few weeks ago in answer to a similar question.

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 November 2001

On the Thames Gateway, we have already heard about the Environment Agency's concerns about draft SDS proposals. Although we all want to see regeneration in the Thames Gateway, are you going to give a guarantee that you will follow Environment Agency advice in both the spirit and the letter in your SDS?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 November 2001

Will you ensure that flood defences in the Thames Gateway are adequate before we allow development to take place there?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 21 November 2001

You raise an important point from this morning's discussion. Do you feel that that flooding is because of inadequate clearance or inadequate design? If it is the latter, is there anything that you feel you as Mayor can do to improve the situation?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 21 November 2001

Thank you for your detailed response, Mr Mayor. I can see that plans are well in hand to have things sorted out by 2100, but there are some problems during your present term of office rather than your second or final term. Over the last year, the Thames Barrier was closed 24 times. It has only been closed 62 times in its whole history, so one third of the times we have had to use the barrier have been in the last year. Given that, do you feel that the current flood defences provide London with adequate protection?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 21 November 2001

You heard a conversation not long ago when someone told you that the congestion charge would improve air quality in central London, and despite scientific evidence otherwise, you seem to have used that as a reason to make policy. I just hope that you are not going to do the same here. The Mayor: It depends how I feel at the time. Roger Evans: I hope that you give more serious thought to this, and that you will welcome the Assembly's proposals to have a scrutiny of flood defences and response to flooding in London; and that you will respond...

• Question by: Victor Anderson
• Meeting date: 21 November 2001

The LDA is certainly considering coming to you with proposals for compulsory purchase orders, and it is important that you consult before reaching decisions about them. If you give your approval, you are doing so as Mayor of London, and it would bring you into a number of controversial situations with communities in London. So you need some sort of consultation process yourself.