• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

So it is a short sharp shock for the passengers who have paid for their fares as well, isn't it? Every time there is a short sharp shock being delivered they are on the receiving end as well.

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

Do you think that is your function?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

Mr Mayor, you have given us 18; there are 21 shifts a week and that is less than one office per shift.

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

No, you did not because you were down in the villages and they are not on patrol down there. You did not come into town. Come on!

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

It is seldom that I agree with Jennette Arnold but I am going to agree with her this morning. I find it an absolute disgrace that after 11 years of government they still have not met their targets for reducing child poverty, that the poverty gap has actually increased and that their economic policies are driving people into poverty now with the risk of losing their houses. What has happened over Northern Rock is an absolutely horrendous disgrace. If she wishes to cross the floor and join my party I will happily give her a free pass. The question is...

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

I can only speak for my constituents and I can only say, on the record, that this is one of the single most important measures that you have introduced because Peter again fails to understand that young people do not dip into their own pockets normally when they are looking for bus fares; it is normally the pockets of their parents. What parents have reported back to me is that introducing the pass for their children to be able to move around their city is one of the single most important actions that you have taken. On their behalf, I...

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

When you are a child you do not drive, the only option you have is public transport. The idea is that you take the bus.

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

Lastly, and I do not know if we can put it in the system, colleges have reported back to me how useful this has been as a measure. I was recently at Hackney College and they were saying there that they feel that the young people have stayed in higher education because that has helped them because it is one less thing that has worked as a deterrent against them maintaining their education. I would like some feedback by colleges because I think you will find that that has had a great deal of success in that area.

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

You mentioned that a lot of children are living below the poverty line. Undoubtedly this is useful [information] in that context but here you are dabbling in social engineering are you not?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

Peter raises an important question but I think in his questioning he is demonstrating just how little knowledge is held by people about the dire circumstances of many of the young people in London. Would you agree with me that the work that is coming out of the Child Poverty Strategy, the work coming out of the Health Inequalities Framework and certainly the work that I have been part of, the work of the London Health Commission working with Government Office for London and the local authorities, is essential work and is the sort of work that we are intending...