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• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

I just wanted to move on to some of the lessons learnt with the Paralympics and the Olympic Games themselves, because it became a bit, in Athens, of shall we say "after the Lord Mayor's show." That was very unfortunate, I think, given the high levels of competitors and the great interest there is in the UK in the Paralympics. Therefore, has any thought been given either to moving the Paralympics to be held before the main Olympic Games, or to go back to where we were and to integrate the two sets of Games, so that they are part...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

I was simply going to ask you about your track record of delivering on time and on budget. You make great play - and, indeed, you have already made great play - over the wonderful contractors that you are going to get in, who are going to deliver on time and on budget. I would like to learn from you what guarantees there are going to be from these contractors. Are you absolutely certain that they are not going to be contractors who perhaps will go belly up, so that we will have to pick up the tab? I wonder...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

World class contractors have gone bust. Londoners will expect there to be bonds equivalent to the total bill that we are going to be expected to pay. I would, however, like to ask you some questions about this total bill. Today you have told us that you expect Band D London ratepayers to pay for 10 years at £20 a head, plus another two years at a further £20 per head. What makes you think that is going to be the end of the bill, given, as Angie Bray has already said, that we as Londoners are going to have...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Well, let us talk about Olympic grandstands, Mr Chairman.

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

We will part on that issue, because I think most people in London, especially in the suburbs, do not regard themselves as being necessarily Londoners. They would regard themselves as living in particular parts, a network of villages. To move on to another issue, which I think is significant in this whole thing, there are a substantial number of businesses in the area that is supposedly to be regenerated that are going to be displaced and that are basically going to go out of business, with a great loss of business at the time and, potentially, loss of jobs in...

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Yes, thank you. I think it is interesting that there is deep suspicion outside the parts of east London, and we have already heard that there is deep suspicion in parts of east London, as well. Actually, all this is an attempt by you as Mayor to regenerate the east part of London, and it is a very complex way of doing it. Therefore, the issue is all the new build and all the redevelopment is going to take place in east London, and the question then should be why should not those people that are going to benefit from...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

These Games uniquely seem to be public sector Games. How do you account for the fact that the only financially successful Games were run by the private sector? Also, given that the principal venues from the Games are on the edge of the city, why is the city not stumping up to pay for these Games?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

What proportion is that of the estimated total cost?

• Reference: 2004/0319-1
• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

What proportion of the costs of the London Olympics are budgeted to be met by the private sector?

• Reference: 2004/0330-1
• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 13 October 2004

Considering Londoners are bearing the majority of the costs what tangible benefits can those living beyond East London expect in return?