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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?

• Reference: 2005/0117-1
• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

1)How much will it cost to implement your planned mobile phone use on a. Tube stations b. Tube trains? 2)Do you expect this scheme to be a cost burden on London Underground or a revenue raiser? How much do you expect it will cost - or will raise in revenue? 3)Do you propose charging mobile phone companies for access to mobile phone reception on the Tube or are you proposing another form of market mechanism or another form of mechanism altogether? If so, could you explain what it is. 4)Could there be health implications linked to reception provided for mobile...

• Reference: 2005/0022-1
• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

What is your assessment of the current state of the PPP?

• Reference: 2005/0042-1
• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

Can you outline your plans for improvements to the North London Line?

• Reference: 2005/0062-1
• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

Further to my previous question asked in 2003 (1032/2003), please can you advise what progress has been made to tackle the epidemic of vandalism on buses in South East London, and whether offences have decreased as a result.

• 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?