• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

On John's [Biggs] point about extending it, another area where it could be extended, potentially, is, whilst we are hooked on oil, to secure energy supplies. Is that envisaged in the future, given that seems to be the dominant concern in foreign policy now? From the neo-Conservatives it would be quite useful! A theme, possibly, to develop. You have extended the hand of friendship to Caracas and international development, which is very welcomed. I just want to be sure that the cities that we have friendship agreements with; Delhi, Dakar, Dublin, Kingston and Johannesburg will get similar assistance in their...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

Obviously I welcome further steps towards making public transport more affordable for many of my constituents on low incomes. My question is that while the Venezuelan angle of this is probably the most eye catching part of it, longer term - just as London blazed a trail with travel cards, with the Freedom Pass, with I think under 18 free travel on buses, which may well be something other authorities want to copy in the country - the value of this initiative may well be in the way in which it pioneers other ways of subsidising transport for people on...

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

Buying cheap oil would suggest that you think the price of oil is too high. Is that true?

• Question by: Joanne McCartney
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

I wish to ask about the discounted travel that will come from this deal. On Monday I visited a local scheme for lone parents, run by Reed Partnership, and one of the advisers told me that one of the barriers for lone parents, especially to get back into work, is the cost of travel, especially as working tax credits often do not come for about three to four months, depending on the length of time that government takes. I was wondering, if there is some slack in this system, whether the scheme could look at those groups who are returning...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

Has the Department for Work and Pensions specifically cleared this scheme and said that there is no threat to anybody losing their benefit as a result of getting this additional benefit?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

Mr Mayor, 38% of the people of Venezuela live below the poverty line. Do you think they have got a good aspect of this deal, or have they really got the sticky end of the wicket, paying £15 million a year for Peter Hendy to go on visits?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

You talked about the GLA/TfL group doing it. Will the documentation be available to us for scrutiny? What is the timeline of this agreement? Can it all be circulated with full copies of all papers, because it is being done in our name as well?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

I just quoted you a figure: 48,000 out of my constituency covering the three boroughs of Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest. Two of those are certainly in the top ten of the most deprived London boroughs. What are we going to do if the figures reach over 250,000?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

I am sure the significant numbers of income support claimants in London will welcome the agreement that you have signed with the Venezuelan oil company. I think I have about 48,000 of those people in my constituency and they will be the first to benefit. You talk about the 250,000 people who would receive the half fare. How are we going to manage that? Have you thought through the hows yet?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 21 February 2007

Your TfL colleague, Professor Stephen Glaister, an expert in Congestion Charging, albeit on the pro side of the argument, has been giving his opinion in the Guardian yesterday - no doubt you read what he had to say - when he stated that, in his opinion, `The majority of road congestion is caused by locally resident people and businesses. So if you give out discounts it will devalue the whole point of the exercise.' Is there a move at Transport for London to remove the discount?