• Question by: Toby Harris
• Meeting date: 29 June 2000

Well actually I was not wanting to ask about the £3 million costs because that is no doubt a subject we will have endless discussions about, what I am concerned about is, and I would like your views on, is that one of the lessons that I think was learned from the Millennium celebrations was how close we were to a potential public order disaster. Because of the volume of crowds, because of the problems of managing that, we were extremely lucky on Millennium Eve because everyone was in an extremely happy, jolly mood, there were families there, all ages...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 29 June 2000

Although I could envisage circumstances in which it would be different I believe in that reply you made it clear that not one penny of London taxpayers' money, unless you consider their contributions to the Lottery or whatever to be taxed, would go towards this event

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 29 June 2000

From my constituency interests in fact St Thomas' Hospital was one of the buildings along the South Bank which actually suffered quite a lot during the Millennium event last year. People broke in through the doors, there were people on roofs and the toilets broke down. There was quite a lot of public disorder and vandalism in and around the hospital which I think was probably quite frightening for patients and staff because the people in there are very, very sick. I just hope that for next year there is proper consultation with the hospital about the management of the...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 29 June 2000

The composition of the Transport for London Board does look rather like the GLC " in " exile. How do you intend to maintain inclusiveness in your appointments?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 29 June 2000

I am concerned about the answers you have given us about the members of your Cabinet and the remit they have simply because I do wonder whether the Cabinet has the interests of all Londoners in mind. You tell us that you have 5 advisers that have different types of equality role. Actually looking at the list I think you could interpret 7 or 8 of those people as having equality roles. I just wonder if you could tell us how many you have with a role of improving public transport, how many you have with a role of fighting...

• Question by: David Lammy
• Meeting date: 29 June 2000

What attempts are you making to encourage civic participation amongst London's youth and young people, particularly black people in London? I say this in view of turnouts in recent elections, including the Greater London Assembly elections.

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 29 June 2000

Going back to the consultation exercise, again. During the election and straight afterwards we had all sorts of documents and advice and programs and manifestos from a whole range of business organisations, pressure groups and voluntary bodies, these perspectives for the new Greater London Authority, programmes for the Mayor and all that sort of stuff. Are we actually going to make sure during the consultation exercise that we are not just asking people to start again with a blank sheet of paper and submit new ideas but that we actually systematically analyse a lot of this good policy advice that...

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 29 June 2000

You have on a number of occasions mentioned John McDonnell in his role in consultation and I assume that is related to drawing up the prospectus for London which is forecast in September/October time. Are you going for a prospectus for London because you recognise that your manifesto was quickly thrown together and that you are trying to dump it, and if that prospectus conflicts with your manifesto, should we say with congestion charges, which is going to take precedence?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 29 June 2000

There is a deal of optimism in that one but it seems to us that I don't think you have touched upon the point that in reality are we seeing an expenditure of public money to create for the Mayor an alternative power base so he gets around the fact that he has now power base within the Assembly itself and I would be concerned, not that you should have advice from wherever is appropriate, that is obviously right, but I would be concerned about anything which undermines the constitutional role of this Assembly, as being the issue where London...

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 29 June 2000

It's a classic Livingstonian answer that one, if I may say. Dare I say, it does not really touch upon the concern of the question. Can I make the point, what troubles me, and I think other members of the Assembly, is this: firstly, that the type of Advisory Cabinet you have is certainly not one that had been envisaged in the scheme of the Act; secondly, and more significantly - and you will remember it is the point I made in my letter and the reason why the Conservative Group wouldn't be taking a place - you have described...