• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 13 September 2000

Would you agree that that is a wholly unsatisfactory way for any Secretary of State to treat the nation's capital? Would you agree too, as I think you have observed to the press, that the resulting index is seriously flawed and likely to do serious harm to London and Londoners? Bearing that in mind, in addition to the steps you are already taking, will you consider whether the process of consultation was so flawed as to be susceptible of judicial review; and will you join us in condemning the high-handed attitude of the Secretary of State in ignoring well argued...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 13 September 2000

What level of response will you be looking for in order to ensure that the consultation is valid?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 13 September 2000

That sounds not a very healthy response - shall we say, about 5%. Looking at a transport strategy steering group progress report that happened to find its way into my hands, I see that one of the issues flagged up to you says: "To date, very few of the questionnaires on congestion charging or the general transport strategy have been returned - 3% of the questionnaires to the strategy. Although we were anticipating late returns, a very low response rate invalidates the analysis. Even though we are chasing responses, there may be a need for urgent advertising to raise profile."...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 13 September 2000

Does this not demonstrate that you do not value London's heritage?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 13 September 2000

Your oft-repeated obsession with tall buildings - leaving aside the possible psychological connotations - is in danger of unbalancing the debate about planning and building in London. I know that one committee I am on has requested this, but will you be making a formal statement, which would not need to fetter your discretion, on the sorts of priorities that will guide you in planning decisions in future? If London is seen as a free-fire zone for tall buildings, although they may have their place in certain areas, in others they will be a serious blot and a serious problem...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 13 September 2000

So you are not happy to be held to ransom by oil companies, but you are happy to be held to ransom by banks?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 13 September 2000

Can you give a guarantee to the local people that you see no role whatever for Biggin Hill as London's fourth airport?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 13 September 2000

Were you also aware that there is particular public concern in this area because the majority of the existing hangars at Biggin Hill are used by Formula One Limited as the base of their operations? Would you agree that, against that background and the connections of Formula One, any prudent Secretary of State should be particularly careful to seek independent assessment before giving any go-ahead to such a proposal?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 13 September 2000

I am grateful for both those replies, and this may be an occasion on which we are at one. Are you aware that previous applications in 1988 for a substantial building were turned down by the then Secretary of State because of the significant impact that buildings of that structure would have on the environment in a sensitive area? Secondly, are you alert to the real concerns of people in the locality that this hangar is part of a creeping proposal by the proprietors of Biggin Hill Airport, who now choose to term it "Biggin Hill London Airport" to seek...

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 13 September 2000

Thank you for that. One of the items which concerned the Assembly when you told us of it - perhaps at the first Mayor's Question Time - was the likely cost of policing the New Year's Eve event. Do you have plans particularly to address that in this review - both learning what is required by way of policing at large public gatherings, and then perhaps taking forward a discussion of that with those who are concerned in the police? My colleague, Graham Tope, who is Chair of the MPA Finance Committee, is not aware of any further work on...