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• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 04 November 2015

Valerie Shawcross CBE AM: Given the comments you made earlier about the importance of major events and sporting events, do you not think that the last‑minute withdrawal from the Tour de France Grand Depart, a decision that was taken at the end of September, damaged not just our relationship with France and our good reputation as an events host but also was a rather big loss of tourist promotion opportunities? Do you not think that was a very un-coordinated and badly made decision?

• Reference: 2015/2495
• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 08 September 2015

Is it possible to expand Heathrow Airport without having a negative effect on London's environment and the health of Londoners?

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 08 September 2015

Valerie Shawcross CBE AM: Thank you, Sir Howard. I am just looking at the table on NPV and social benefits on page 147 [of the Airports Commission’s final report]. Without being economists, we are trying to grapple with the issue of calculating the benefits and costs and the negative and positive aspects of the proposal. While you say Gatwick is a feasible proposal, you are saying the economic benefits would be considerably smaller than Heathrow. If you look at the bottom line of the calculations you have done - and I accept there are a lot of variables in here...

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 08 September 2015

Valerie Shawcross CBE AM: I just wanted to come in, if I may, Sir Howard, with a quick reaction to that comment. You have encapsulated a problem but you have it the wrong way around. You have said the problem is that TfL is trying to talk about growth that is not attributable to Heathrow. The problem is the other way around. Your projections are not taking account of the fact that all of those schemes that you have referred to there and that you are taking for granted will happen, like Crossrail 2, are actually being driven by the...