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• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Still, even in what you have just described, you have not mentioned any interaction with the people on the ground ' the businesses ' at this stage. You are talking about consulting the boroughs and consulting other stakeholders. I would have thought that at this stage, you need the information from the people who are going to be looking for the contracts, and who are going to be producing it. I find it quite difficult to get information. If I could, I will address the next bit to Tony (Winterbottom, Executive Director, Regeneration & Development, LDA), rather than you. Tony...

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

I know. I am not saying that you are not going to write wonderful strategy papers saying how marvellously the whole thing will work. What I am actually looking for is for you to talk to people, talk to London companies, and engage in debate with them. It is the same thing; it is the blue-sky thinking, the strategies, but where is the action?

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

I am terribly sorry to interrupt you, but the problem is you are probably not aware that the longer you speak, the less time I have.

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

I know, but you said in a radio interview recently, `We are the Mayor's agency for businesses and jobs in London, and for the first couple of years, we will be doing most of the work in respect of the Olympic Games.' Now, you cannot make a statement like that on the radio in a national radio programme, and then not expect local companies to think that they can ring up us or ring up the LDA and say, `What is the position? How can we get some of these jobs?'

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

I know he did.

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

.... I would just draw your attention, if you have not already seen it, to the evidence we received from the London Sustainable Development Commission. That is in a letter dated 20 September, where they basically draw attention to the very positive work that is going on, but they do make the point that in relation to legacy aspects, where the full sustainability, as it were, comes to be seen, that further work needs to be done on that. It particularly says, `Should the bid be successful, there needs to be a greater understanding of the sustainability aspects of the...

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Well, they may choose to take their holidays at home, indeed. I think that it is something that, supporting the Games as we do, we would like to keep an eye on the calculations for. Can I also ask about the Paralympics? We are also enthusiastic about those, and I was glad to hear you mention them earlier, but they have problems with attendance, as well. Presumably this is marketing that needs to go on from now about what a good event the Paralympics is. Is there anything you can say about that?

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

My question is whether marketing the parallel Olympics is something that goes into the bid as starting very early indeed.

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Thank you. Can I first of all say that we are very enthusiastic supporters of the bid. I think it will be absolutely brilliant, not just for London, but for the UK, and we will do everything we can to help secure the bid. You mentioned quite a few issues there. You have covered transport, legacy, security, and finance. Could I ask you about access? One of the things that are very important is that the Games are accessible for all sections of the community, and we know from the Mayor's recent report that one in five households in London...

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Thank you, Chair. I have one further question. I would also like, if possible, for you to deal with the question of volunteers. Could you tell me how you plan to engage the large army of volunteers that will be necessary to run the Games, so that they are more than just `meeters and greeters', and that they get totally immersed in all aspects of the Games, in the run-up to, during, and after the Games?