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• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

Thank you, Simon. I want to give you full opportunity to shine because what emerges from the discussion so far, what we've focused on, is the process by which the office functions and the decisions that are taken. What emerges is a very central role for you as filter of lots of advice, controller of the diary, and so forth. That risks having you in the position of a shadowy figure operating in the background without transparency in the public seeing what you're up to. Could you just tell us what is the thing that you're most proud of having...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

Okay, so you help set the thing up and those teething troubles were sorted out. You're well paid, Londoners would think, out of their money, to do a job. We're trying to see whether you're doing a good job. What difference do you think you're actually making, you personally, that Londoners perhaps would notice?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

Is everything functioning perfectly now? How do you think things should improve in terms of the way the Mayor's office works and your role within it particularly?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

You talk about the huge burden that falls on the Mayor's sole shoulders and that you are important to him because you help him to carry that burden. Isn't the real problem that the Mayor has to do with his non-membership of any of the mainstream political parties? He's here as an independent and he cannot actually rely on any of the political groupings to help him shoulder the burden in the usual accountable, transparent way. He has to rely on people like you precisely because he has no relationship with any of the other political parties here.

• Question by: Toby Harris
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

So you were well aware of his mind. Can I just move on to my final issue which is about your role in terms of managing what goes on in the second floor Papal court, or whatever it is? Could you tell us how many formal management supervision meetings you aim to have with each of the senior policy advisors during the course of a year?

• Question by: Toby Harris
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

And does that then feed into their appraisals?

• Question by: Eric Ollerenshaw
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

Is it true to say that Ken Livingstone believes in a democratic, accountable and transparent system of government? Would that be fair enough?

• Question by: Eric Ollerenshaw
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

I am interested in when the Mayor is away. According to The Telegraph, Ken Livingstone is quoted as saying, "My delegation to Simon Fletcher is a routine process I"ve used a number of times'. Has this happened on a number of times that he's signed over his powers to you, not just when he went to Australia? And could you tell us how many times he's done that?

• Question by: Eric Ollerenshaw
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

Four times you have been in charge in place of the Mayor?

• Question by: Eric Ollerenshaw
• Meeting date: 12 June 2002

But at those times, if you cannot get hold of the Mayor - let's say there was some crisis - you would have to act, and you would be able to act. Let's put it that way. You would be able to act with the full powers of the Mayor and you've been in that position, four times, in the last two years?