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• Question by: Stephen Knight
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

Stephen Knight (AM): To pick you up on the point you have just made around the high property values in London, compared, I believe with most other developed countries, we have very few property and wealth taxes in this country; we predominantly focus on income and sales taxes. I just wondered to what extent you think the high cost of housing in London is partly driven by the fact that it is a tax free growth area for people, by which I mean it is a tax free investment and therefore that has partly driven the speculation that has driven...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

Goodness me. I think this is a very worthwhile debate although it may seem a bit arid to some observers and we need to make sure we do not get too academic about it. Would you agree with me that around the world probably the single greatest source of income for city governments tends to be, in one shape or form, from properties? You have said a couple of times now that property taxes are so visible and so potent that virtually all political parties play 'chicken' with each other. Well, the opposite of 'chicken'; they are scared to look...

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

Nicky Gavron (AM): While we are on land and talking about the planning system, currently the Assembly's Planning Committee is looking at the community infrastructure levy (CIL). That is, to a certain extent, a fixed charge, although there are lots of complications because it is set different in different boroughs and there is not necessarily a duty to cooperate and so on. On top of that is the Mayor's own CIL. I was wondering, this CIL is for Crossrail, but is the Commission going to look beyond that to the way CIL might be used by the Mayor in the...

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

In the same spirit, how far are you going to frame for the Mayor any of the mechanisms he might be thinking about for the comprehensive spending review for London?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

I will return to the politics of the situation in a moment. Firstly, can I ask Sir John for his professional take on the situation? Previously you were eloquently talking about the national responsibilities of the Met and our specific grant covering those of £200 million or so, is rising by 2.5%, less than the rate of inflation. I would really welcome your insight as to what you think the Government is up to. Given the stress we are under in London because of our national and international responsibilities why does central Government not seem to be recognising that, from...

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

Graham Tope (AM): I do not think any of us would want to suggest that this was an issue solely for the Met to deal with; I took that as a given. Toby mentioned earlier the issue of bullying. Quite often bullying of young people whether inside or outside school is regarded as something that is part of growing up. Is that the attitude that the Met takes, and if it is not as I hope, how do you work with local authorities and other agencies to address the issue of bullying amongst young people?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

• Question by: Diana Johnson
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

Diana Johnson (AM): It is about the Cadet Corps. As the link member for Havering, Barking and Dagenham I have been very impressed by their Cadet Corps. What do you think is the future for the Cadet Corps?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

Graham Tope (AM): Perhaps I may direct this at Sir John as well. The LSE and South Bank University study on Policing for London found that dissatisfaction with the police was greatest amongst the young. They said that their `focus groups brought out the intensity with which many young people see police activity as biased against them and based on negative stereotypes of youth'. What is being done to address that perception? More particularly, where do children and young people fit into models of community-based policing that we are hoping to move towards?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

I very much welcome the huge change in the Met's attitude to domestic violence over recent years. It is a complete turnaround and very welcome. I also welcome the answers we have had today. The report from the London Domestic Violence Forum stated amongst many other things that `Training for frontline officers in particular remains an urgent priority'. How is that being addressed?