Examination of Witnesses (Questions 3020
- 3038)
3020. I am not trying to suggest in any way
that they are the author of their own misfortune.
(Dr Safir) But they are.
3021. With someone of your knowledge I am trying
to build up a better picture of what the area is like.
(Dr Safir) Our population as a whole,
and obviously this is a generalisation, have poor lungs and poor
hearts. As I say, we have the highest admission rates for asthma
and chronic lung disease with acute admission into hospitals for
emergency treatment. No matter how much screaming we do at these
people it is impossible to make their lungs better, they will
only get worse.
3022. I think they are lucky to have you as
their champion.
(Dr Safir) Thank you.
3023. CHAIRMAN: Dr Safir, I know that
obviously you have not got a great deal of time, no busy GP has,
but have you made any inquiries with the environmental health
people of Tower Hamlets about what they are up to? They are in
contact with Crossrail about this.
(Dr Safir) I have not because
I hoped Crossrail would have come back to me. I have spoken to
one or two chest experts, chest physicians, who feel that it needs
to be looked at very carefully, let us put it that way. At this
stage I have not contacted environmental health, I have not had
any health update from Crossrail at all of what they have done.
I had assumed from the Commons Select Committee that they would
be putting into place a local health assessment of the needs.
That is how I understood Crossrail were supposed to be acting,
but maybe I am mistaken.
3024. CHAIRMAN: They did not raise it
with us, that is the trouble. Very well. Thank you very much indeed,
Dr Safir, for coming. I think we have now run out of time with
our shorthand writers. Ms Cove, thank you.
The witness withdrew
3025. MS COVE: Can I just confirm that
if I come back tomorrow afternoon at 2.30, the chances of—
3026. CHAIRMAN: If you come back tomorrow
afternoon you will have to take potluck about how far we have
got. I do not think I can interpose you in the middle of somebody
else's presentation.
3027. MS COVE: I appreciate that, but
supposing I do not get heard tomorrow afternoon. Is there any
way that we could perhaps agree a time that I might definitely
be able to finish giving my evidence because I really do not want
to come tomorrow afternoon if the chances are that I will not
get heard.
3028. CHAIRMAN: I quite understand that,
but the difficulty is between you all you have made arrangements
to deal with various aspects of this, very sensible it is too,
I just do not know how long Selina Misfud, Rupert Wheeler and
company are going to be tomorrow because we have not been told.
I do not know how long they are going to take, but you could ask
them.
3029. MS COVE: This afternoon I had assumed
that I was going to be on at 2.30 and we would have been finished
by then but, of course, you dealt with issues with Mr Carpenter
which obviously took up quite a lot of time.
3030. CHAIRMAN: These were programming
matters.
3031. MS COVE: Mr Elvin's introduction
took up a considerable amount of time as well. I would be really
pleased if we could negotiate a definite time that I could be
heard. I appreciate your difficulties but I also have other commitments.
3032. CHAIRMAN: Ms Price says she can
ring you up at lunchtime tomorrow and tell you how it is going.
Would that be helpful?
3033. MS COVE: Perhaps I could have a
word with her outside the Committee.
3034. CHAIRMAN: Have a word with her
outside. We look forward to seeing you back anyway.
3035. MR MOULD: My Lord, I just rise
to say that I am sure your Lordship is working on the assumption
as regards tomorrow that once we have heard from tomorrow's petitioners,
that is to say from Ms Misfud and Mr Morse, you will be going
straight back to Ms Cove. I certainly would not wish to call any
evidence before that.
3036. CHAIRMAN: I quite agree, but the
thing is I cannot tell how long they are going to take; I wish
I knew. On the other hand, I suspect Ms Cove could ask them how
long they are going to take. We will ring you up at lunchtime
and tell you how it is getting on.
3037. MS COVE: It is about how long is
a piece of string at the moment, I am afraid.
3038. CHAIRMAN: I think that is the best
we can do. We will come back at ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
Could I remind petitioners that we need copies of documents if
they are going to be referred to, preferably 24 hours in advance,
although that will not work for tomorrow morning. It is 16 hard
copies if you are going to refer to documents because a lot of
people have to have them, including the shorthand writers and
the people who work the screens. You will not have time to do
that for tomorrow. We will come back at ten o'clock tomorrow.
Thank you.
| 
