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• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 19 November 2008

Just watching the Games you got the impression that it was a very top-down operation. Obviously the authorities in Beijing were able to direct the activities of their population, even down to telling them that they could only protest in one particular park and that type of thing. London, as you know, is very much more complex and rebellious than that. What plans have you got in place to ensure the Games can take place without making it a completely claustrophobic event for the people who have to live and work here?

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 10 October 2006

Can I put in a plea that whatever food is provided will be reasonably priced? I know that this is somewhat subjective and what some people might consider reasonable, others may not. However, clearly where people have a monopoly, there is a huge temptation to charge whatever they like. Another thing: can I put in a plea for water to be provided free of charge because at the Athens Games, if you went in, they actually confiscated your water bottle if you had one with you. I was horrified. I think that is really important that at least plain water...

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 10 October 2006

If you are suddenly confronted with the need for extra security, and so your security bill goes up beyond expectations or perhaps your ticket sales do not live up to expectations and you have a shortfall, so you are left at the end of the day with a budget over-run, who covers it and can you give an absolute assurance that it will not be London council tax payers?

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 10 October 2006

In the negotiations, the IOC would seem to be in the dominant position. They seem to hold the cards, to me.

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 10 October 2006

Yes, it is purely speculative but clearly there is a concern there and it would be quite contrary to the spirit of the Games to have a separation for certain groups within the complex, would it not?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 10 October 2006

Are you planning for the possibility that Crossrail might be being constructed at the same time as the Games or are you effectively leaving that out of the equation, saying, `Well, it is probably going to happen afterwards'?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 10 October 2006

Thank you. The Mayor tells us that he expects one in five Londoners to go away during the Olympics. I am not quite sure whether that is the sort of target you would have in mind. Is that something which you are relying on?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 10 October 2006

I was talking more about construction than completion because a lot of the work for Crossrail at its eastern end would be close to the Olympic Park and if it was taking place at the same time that would provide you with extra challenges that you would need to overcome. Is that something you are planning for?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 10 October 2006

And you are satisfied the bus lanes have the capacity to be able to take this extra traffic and not disrupt the bus service?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 10 October 2006

You told us that you have got 240 kilometres of Olympic Route Network planned. How much of that is based on existing bus lanes and how much of it is going to be new work, effectively?