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• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

Right. Are there instances of officers then seeking foreign trips which have been declined by yourself or the Mayor or through the machinery?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

So they are always accepted?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

I would like to say right up front I am not trying to score any points here, I would just like some progress. I am well aware that my name is on this list of people who have flown on behalf of the Mayor. What weight is given in the planning for whether or not to take trains rather than planes? It is clear that, for example, two people at least have gone to MIPIM [international property event] in Cannes this week, and the LDA automatically booked a flight because apparently you have to book a long way ahead. So...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

Slightly harder question then. Can you tell us about a trip which was declined, having been requested through the machinery?

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

I can give you two or three reasons why. For example, the old colonial links do mean the Stock Exchanges between London and Hong Kong are quite well established. Dubai; the gold markets are critical there. You would be surprised how much the Asian community uses them out there when they are travelling through. Singapore clearly is the hub of East Asia.

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

This is a question directed at John Ross. You have mentioned BRIC quite a lot; Russia, India and China. What happened to Brazil? I am trying to work out in your international relation strategy for the GLA and the Mayor's Office whether approaches have been made to the Brazilians, given that they are a major exporter of bio fuels and ethanol. They are clearly a big player in some of the things that we want to do. I am not sure for what reasons they were dropped off the four countries that make up BRIC.

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

That was discussed. I am glad to hear that. The other thing, you mentioned a Times article yesterday which I came across as well. Oddly enough, the three cities they mentioned - Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong - were three cities I have seen on my own travels in recent times. We have colonial links with them. Is it not better to have partnership agreements with cities like that, the new emerging cities, rather than friendship agreements with the Dakars and the Delhis of the world?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

I have one more question if you do not mind. I suppose what I would like to see is some really positive and clear climate change advantage from each trip; if you are going to fly, then get some real advantage from it. That is the sort of offsetting that I could accept. Are you concerned at the fact that flights by GLA people have increased more than threefold since 2001, because this does not fit with the Climate Change Action Plan? Are you going to reconsider this policy?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

I do understand the rationale for what you are doing. However, if you have this cheaper oil it takes the pressure off in a way from looking for other alternatives, whether it is LPG or bio fuels, and this could actually slow down real progress on climate change adaptation.

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 14 March 2007

Are you aware that the Green view of carbon offsetting is that it is actually just like a system of medieval indulgences? You pay the money and you actually still commit the sin.