• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 17 October 2007

Earlier, people were talking about the fares structure. It has also been said the fare structure should be compared to the Heathrow Express. The Heathrow Express was developed, built and charged for on the fare box so that people getting off British Airways' flights in business class should experience no loss in service, and indeed they were paying for it. It was at a high level that that fare was set. Can we assume that the fares on Crossrail will be set at the average `economy rate', shall we say?

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 17 October 2007

Previously you have been very confident about your transport plans. Are they now not running into the buffers because you cannot get the money to fund them, so you are going back to the London commuter?

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 17 October 2007

With the additional transport projects, is there any risk that the Government will not cough up enough which will mean you will have to come back to us for increased fares?

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 17 October 2007

As I am sure you are aware, the London Assembly has passed a motion condemning the services of First Great Western and I just hope the Government responds positively to that.

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 17 October 2007

You have to accept there is a risk. For example, what happened with Ruth Kelly [Secretary of State for Transport]? When the £16 billion was calculated, it was suddenly decided we did not have enough money so we had the bizarre spectacle of Ruth Kelly going to the City and saying, 'Can you find another billion or so?' If that was the case, this 33%/33%/33% split meant that the City had to pay more; surely it meant that the contribution from fares has gone up recently and therefore the risk of the fare increases being caused by Crossrail is that...

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 17 October 2007

As you are probably aware, there are plans in there for a large tower block to be built on the Arcadia Centre which will also feed into the rebuilding of Ealing Broadway Station. The two are almost intimately inter-connected. Can you assure us that the one will not be delayed by the other, that the plans are already in for the Arcadia Centre and the interface with Ealing Broadway have to happen?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 17 October 2007

After showing so much determination on this as an absolutely essential part of reducing traffic in the area, most people will conclude that you have simply just wimped out of the argument in the face of political opposition.

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 17 October 2007

Mr Mayor, we will clearly be becoming parochial over Crossrail now that the broad policy has been determined and the project is being funded. Can you assure us, as I believe you stated earlier, that it will be built as a whole as against in sections?

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 17 October 2007

This levy of 3% on the business rate, is it going to be limited to the time it takes to construct Crossrail?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 17 October 2007

You have just been boasting about your skills in getting money from the Government. Surely showing the determination that you have previously shown you should be putting the case for funding for the West London Tram and a case for funding the Cross River Tram; a northern part as well as the southern part. Most people, I think, would conclude that you are wimping out in the face of political battles with the Conservatives.