• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

On the same track, what you're saying is that there are emergency plans in existence for possible acts of international terrorism in London and I just wanted to know: are you going to review these plans in the light of what happened in New York and how well are we able to deal with them?

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

Is LFEPA directly represented on the group that I understand Nick Raynsford has now brought together to consider these issues?

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

You mentioned the command structure. Are you satisfied that there is an effective, unified command structure in place in the event of a major emergency? I think one of the things that a lot of us have identified, as a result of what happened in the United States, is that, in such extreme circumstances, people in shock need a figurehead to look to.

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

I'll come back in a moment, if I may, to joint command, but Blackfriars station is on the sub-surface District and Circle line. Is LFEPA prepared for an attack on one of the deep lines or a deep line station?

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

Can I move to the recent exercise which was reported in the press, `Operation Trump Card', at Blackfriars underground station? What I assume that you can tell us is that this was part of a regular process of emergency planning exercises. I think, in this case, an exercise as to what might happen if there had to be an emergency evacuation because of a nerve-gas attack on the Underground.

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

Thank you. LFEPA's formal letter of response talked about the need to design out risks from fire, as well as crime and other safety considerations, so I think you're confirming, are you not, that events in the United States don't alter that view about tall buildings at all, because of the current construction developments and so on representing no more risk and sometimes often, indeed, a lower risk than older premises?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 04 April 2001

In fact, we have it from your own adviser on transport at the GLA, Mr Keith Gardner, that it is the written responses that count, not the others. So I think we need to be clear about that. It is funny that you should mention the District Auditor, because I have a letter here which I will be sending to the Chairman of the Audit Commission, Dame Helena Shovelton. I am going to copy it in to Derek Elliott. I am going to ask them to have a look at the way you have been squandering public money on that...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 04 April 2001

When Wandsworth decided to do its own survey on the same subject, around traffic, transport and the congestion charge, they spent £17,000 and got 10,500 written responses. That shows what can be done rather more cheaply - about £1.60 per response, I think it works out. Isn't it legally the fact that it is only your written responses that will count towards your legally required consultation? You say you have just over 7,000 of those, which makes the cost about £180 per response. Doesn't that put a slightly different complexion on things?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 04 April 2001

: If it seems that you do not think there is any conflict of interest in having Lord Rogers as a member of your Advisory Cabinet on the one hand and a paid contractor of the authority on the other, may I take it that you would not see any conflict of interest in me being a member of the Assembly on the one hand and a paid legal advisor to you on legal proprieties, since it seems to me that you are clearly in need of one? [Laughter.] Isn't it obvious that, while you can consult on policy at...

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 04 April 2001

I was introduced at one of the American meetings in Washington as "Britain's answer to Ralph Nader"; but I pointed out that that at least I had managed to win an election, unlike Ralph Nader. On Sam's point about consultation on the environment, I have always thought that the GLA has an important role to play in promotion and awareness on environmental issues. Are you going to ensure that there are sufficient funds for advertising to promote, say, recycling or traffic reduction campaigns in that sort of way? Who knows: your mugshot on another round of posters may be enough...