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• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 12 November 2003

I checked what Nick Raynsford said because we were all exercised about this last year and he said in a letter to the Mayor dated 20 January, `I reiterate the Government's commitment. Our determination to find the resources needed. This commitment stands. I note your concern about the lack of firm announcement, but I do not consider it necessary. We are taking all steps necessary to ensure that all the funding streams needed are put in place." Well that has not happened. As an Assembly, if you recall, we agreed an all-party motion calling on the Government to come up...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 12 November 2003

It is who pays. It is quite clear. The Government has fallen well short.

• Reference: 2003/0002
• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

Will you join me in deploring the Government's delays in agreeing and funding a proper package on London Resilience? .

• Reference: 2003/0005
• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

Given the continuing threat of industrial action, what steps have you taken to explain the benefits (financial and otherwise) which fire fighters stand to gain from a modern and fully effective fire and emergency service? .

• Reference: 2003/0006
• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

Given that HM Inspectorate has criticised the Authority for having one of the highest absenteeism levels in the country, why is it only now that a policy for stress management has been drawn up and when will across-the-board action be taken to reduce overall absence? .

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

It is deplorable that we're still waiting. We're almost 18 months since the 9/11 events. It is frankly a disgrace that nationally there is a lack of progress. And it contrasts very sharply, I think, with what we've been able to do in London through the London Resilience Forum, which I know you sit on, and all the sub-committees at a regional level, all the indications are we're getting our act together. It's, therefore, even more inexplicable as to why the Government -- and I honestly hoped you'd be able to shed some light. We dealt with the money yesterday...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

The country can move a quarter of the British Army halfway round the world to deal with a potential threat there. It can't, it seems, get some couple of hundred gas tight suits and some extra fire rescue units into its capital city. It is quite extraordinary. Can you tell me a little bit about the Radio Communications project, where, as I understand it, we were well down the road to having a regional solution? Post 9/11 the view was taken that we need to have an integrated national set up. That was looked at, announcements were made, press announcements...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

But where is the equipment?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

The final point is the wider political point in terms of who basically runs fire and emergency services. Yesterday we saw the Government intervene essentially to try and nationalise the pay and conditions on the employment side of the situation. It really is time for the Government either to give us the tools at a regional level, to get the job down, and we've shown we can do it well, or to take responsibility. But this continuing muddle, where they intervene and they block and they don't provide the funding, and as I say, we're 18 months nearly since the...