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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: 2010/0105-1
• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 20 October 2010

What barriers prevent a greater proportion of affordable homes being delivered for rent, given the planned changes to housing benefit?

• Reference: 2010/0106-1
• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 20 October 2010

Is there adequate strategic leadership of housing policy and its implementation in London?

• Reference: 2010/0107-1
• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 20 October 2010

What are the risks and opportunities of the proposal for a new Housing and Regeneration department within the GLA?

• Reference: 2010/0108-1
• Question by: Steve O'Connell
• Meeting date: 20 October 2010

How have the prospects for families in housing need improved since the current Mayoralty began?

• Question by: Andrew Boff
• Meeting date: 20 October 2010

Could you, Mr Blakeway, promise me not to carry anything over from the last administration with regard to housing? Could you promise three things really: first of all, could you promise not to disappoint Londoners with oversold targets that are unachievable? Could you promise me not to raise the aspirations of Londoners and then dash those hopes and blame someone else? Could you also promise not to build a home for somebody in housing need but actually deliver a rabbit hutch? So in short, can you assure me that the strategies will be realistic, achievable and honest, which would be...

• Question by: Steve O'Connell
• Meeting date: 20 October 2010

Richard, a question for you. Would you not agree, following on from that debate you just had, that inflexible percentage targets are indeed a tired and lazy analysis of the needs of our residents?