• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 05 September 2001

So I take your answer as meaning, then, that -- I can read this out, if you'd like me to, it's very brief: 'We're asking for details of TfL's preparation for taking responsibility for managing the Underground' and the reply is that 'the Commissioner for Transport believes, like the Mayor, that the PPP represents an inherently unworkable management scheme'. I've cut out the middle bit. It goes on to say 'TfL will therefore continue to oppose the government's PPP and advocate an alternative plan' It says nothing about the work that's taking place.

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 05 September 2001

I'm delighted that you say that you're keen to cooperate with the government to make the best of a bad job, although I'm a little alarmed that you qualified that by saying that it's possible you might, if you see the opportunity, take further legal challenges to the PPP and my alarm is added to by the fact that the committee that I chair, will next week have a reply from TfL where we've asked them what preparations they're carrying out to take on the management of the Underground, and they basically say that their policy is purely to oppose...

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

I'm sure we would all like to know if you intend activating these powers and whether, in fact, these properties are in habitation at the present time and why you would consider using compulsory purchase orders for the greater gain of what? Because local authorities very rarely now use them. It's usually only for road building. But I would be interested to know in which area you would consider using it.

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

Have you ear-marked any sites for which you have considered the possibility of using this method?

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

My information is quite wrong then and I apologise about that but I was informed that you had in fact used some compulsory purchase orders.

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

It would be very useful if you could provide me with the details about how many were sold, but I wonder how many compulsory purchase orders you have issued and why you have done that?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

Michael, rumours are flying around about the large amount of jobs that have been lost to date. Can you not give us an assurance and tell us are we talking thousands of jobs to date or what have you got that you can share with us today?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

My question demonstrates just how pressing it is that the LDA gets its act together in terms of how it communicates with the public and to members of the Assembly. If I can just ask, George, since the terrible events of 11 September, you must have had discussions about the impact that that terrible event has had on the tourism of London, the industry of London, and then, by association, the link with the UK tourist industry. Well, this is your opportunity to come out and tell us what have you done, what discussions you have had and how are...

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

I was going to ask on behalf of the Assembly whether, understanding that these things are organic and so on, you can put a date on when we might expect to hear from you on this. I think it would be very helpful to get it into our own timetable.