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• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

It is just that you are making comments to us like, `It is good to go to New York because tourists spend a huge amount of money in London'. The implication is if the Mayor did not go to New York the tourists would not come to London. What actual value is that adding?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

You could not have given those assurances on the phone?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

Just to slightly pursue some of the answers that we have had here. When you are planning a Mayoral visit - and, Mr Ross, you are an economist - what value do you place on a Mayoral visit, on average?

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

I can give you two or three reasons why. For example, the old colonial links do mean the Stock Exchanges between London and Hong Kong are quite well established. Dubai; the gold markets are critical there. You would be surprised how much the Asian community uses them out there when they are travelling through. Singapore clearly is the hub of East Asia.

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

This is a question directed at John Ross. You have mentioned BRIC quite a lot; Russia, India and China. What happened to Brazil? I am trying to work out in your international relation strategy for the GLA and the Mayor's Office whether approaches have been made to the Brazilians, given that they are a major exporter of bio fuels and ethanol. They are clearly a big player in some of the things that we want to do. I am not sure for what reasons they were dropped off the four countries that make up BRIC.

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

That was discussed. I am glad to hear that. The other thing, you mentioned a Times article yesterday which I came across as well. Oddly enough, the three cities they mentioned - Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong - were three cities I have seen on my own travels in recent times. We have colonial links with them. Is it not better to have partnership agreements with cities like that, the new emerging cities, rather than friendship agreements with the Dakars and the Delhis of the world?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

Well you have not done it on the environment so far have you? I was using examples from elsewhere to show that you do not do it in this case.

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

OK. I have clearly suggested where I think there is scope, particularly - whatever the stage of development they are at, I certainly think, given they are exporting bio fuels in a big way.