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• 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.

• 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: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

On the point of the strategies and the consistency of approach, I'm not entirely sure that I do agree with Louise there's much inconsistency between the two plans. But it does strike me that, as regards the Economic Development Strategy, that no consideration has to be given as to how balanced it is. Do you feel that, as regards the activities of the LDA, it will be best if we concentrated on three particular areas? Perhaps those areas of greatest social deprivation, those areas where there is a decline and also perhaps dealing with some of the bottlenecks in London's...

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

Thank you. I won't dwell on that -- we've already had a long discussion on this but I think that you might have picked up that perhaps the Assembly doesn't quite share your optimistic view about how open and accountable the LDA is. But we've heard what you have got to say and are pleased that you are keen to move it in what we would see as the right direction. Last, to focus on four quick points really and a chance to pursue a point that was raised earlier. Firstly, two on the budget. If I could just ask...

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

It just seemed odd to me that I discovered that you were doing this internal review when I read the audit report, which was at the same time that you wrote to me, but it wasn't mentioned. I think we've hopefully all learned from this and clearly we will now rush to get to LDA parties, even if they improve " there wasn"t much on offer for £280 a head, I can tell you. Moving on to more substantial part of the budget, the bit that really affects ordinary Londoners - and I think there was a regrettable incident there...

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

I'm sure that many of us round this table would be happy to apply any political pressure that you might feel would be useful on that, because there are extraneous circumstances in this case. I'm heartened by what George Barlow said about robust financial measures in general, because I think this is something that will be of real concern to people out there on the ground who are losing out. Can I move on and pick up a little bit on the same point really, about the split that exists in London between economic development and social regeneration. The LDA...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

The first proposal for a river crossing at Gallions Reach was made somewhere in the 1930s, so we are heading towards the 70th anniversary of this proposal. I don't want to make a speech here but there are three questions. My good colleague Len Duvall, who is one of your deputy chairs is, of course, in a leading role on this. The first is that there is some concern in East London that this is a bit of hot potato and that while people support the principle, we are not too sure whether it is actually going to go ahead...

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

Thanks very much, George. But given that so much of the case for the river crossings has rested on the supposed regeneration benefits there is obviously a leadership role for the LDA in terms of the consultation around that as well, rather than just say it is a transport issue which is in TfL's department. So I would just like a bit more detail as to how you are going to ensure that the economic questions are properly addressed during that consultation stage and also to ensure that real benefits for local people are actually quantified in terms of the...

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

The proposed river crossings and the sites that they serve are in areas that, according to the Environment Agency data, are at risk from flooding. Can you confirm what advice you have taken from the Environment Agency to ensure that new businesses, new homes and whatever are not put on land that is prone to risk of flooding?