• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

I wish I had confidence that the Conservative party nationally had the same openness as our colleagues in London appear to have. I do not want to repeat what others have said, but I very much welcome what you have said, Mr Mayor, particularly since my constituency includes one of the largest numbers of Muslim residents in London. I endorse everything you have said about the aspirations of our Muslim communities of Londoners being no less than those of anyone else. One issue which comes out of this is that of "Islamophobia", which we experienced before the events in New...

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

Does the Mayor accept that the Conservative group on the Authority entirely endorses his statement today, and the sympathy which he expressed at our previous meeting? We entirely join him, first, in condemning what has happened in New York, but also what has happened here in London, and in condemning any form of racism. Will he accept that we say that because we have many friends and colleagues - and fellow members of the Conservative party - in London who are Muslims, including some who hold senior office as the chairmen of some of our constituency associations? We have had...

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

So you do not know whether the subject of air quality will come up or not?

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

I am just saying that there is a particular salient element in the draft which departs from the Act. I was wondering whether you took legal advice on that; and if you did, whether your adviser knew about it.

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

If you have received legal advice, perhaps you could let me know. At the same time, could you find out whether you let your environmental adviser, Darren Johnson, know about the change of wording from "achieving" it to "working towards" it?

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

Could you send us a copy of the legal advice that relates to this?

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

I wanted to raise the elements of the air quality strategy in your report, Ken. A very pertinent part of that is that you have changed the 1999 Act statement that "the London air quality strategy shall contain the Mayor's proposals and policies for the achievement in Greater London of air quality standards". Your draft air quality strategy now uses the phrase "to work towards" those national air quality objectives. Did you take legal advice on whether you could change the wording of the Act?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

On behalf of the Green group, I also very much support and welcome the message of condolence that you sent to New York - and the practical support you have pledged and your condemnation of the racist attacks which have been sparked off in London. We very much welcome your very strong condemnation of that. Will you also join us in urging great caution about how these attacks are dealt with, and remind people that reprisals and bombing attacks on Afghanistan would result in the loss of more innocent lives, which would not right the terrible wrongs we saw in...

• Question by: Eric Ollerenshaw
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

But you were prepared to discuss pay on the Underground a fortnight ago in this very chamber. You actually made a comment about 4% being acceptable, and that was arbitration.

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

: I am sorry, but I have to ask about one of your answers to my question about air quality. My understanding is that you are meeting Michael Meacher next week to discuss this very issue - is that so?