• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 13 December 2006

We have had an interesting debate on this subject over the last few days, mostly online on Comment is Free, Conservative Home, even on LibDem Voice. One of the things which has come out of the debate is that there was a lot of criticism of this scheme from people who were not saying that they wanted it abolished, but who were saying they wanted to see it improved and they wanted to see it run better. So, for example, how much of a deterrent is withdrawing the cards? You have withdrawn over 2,000 cards from travellers for anti-social behaviour...

• Question by: Joanne McCartney
• Meeting date: 13 December 2006

I have raised this before, about educating school children as to how they should behave and what they should do on buses. Certainly the picture you have described of a small increase and then back to normal levels is the picture that I have been in my local boroughs as well. I know TfL do a lot of work on the transition from primary to secondary school, but they do less work in secondary school when children are getting their free bus passes. Could you review what is taking place? One thing young people tell me is they do not...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 13 December 2006

So that is an assurance that will be dealt with. The other problem that has been raised about this by bus drivers, who feel perhaps they are not adequately represented by their Union, is that people do not show their cards as they get on to the bus. Val Shawcross demonstrated this quite clearly in her question earlier. I will quote one driver who has written to me. He says: `These people are supposed to have their Oyster Cards but most of them just get on. They walk past the driver, including me, as if they own the bus. Ask...

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 13 December 2006

The point I was trying to make was I am quite concerned that there is maybe some underestimation of the bus use because kids quite often do not swipe on their cards. I don't think they appreciate that it is important that they do. On the anti-social behaviour issue, over 61% of the respondents that I had contact with said they thought they would be willing to pay a few pence more -10 pence a week maybe - to see more Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) on the buses and the trams, and there was a very strong view that...

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 13 December 2006

Can I just come back to the point you made about this round of the London Plan, saying that it is now too late to change? It is surely not too late for there to be a positive response to the responses to consultation and the points made to the Examination in Public (EIP) which undoubtedly will be very strong on this issue?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 13 December 2006

Do you share my concern that Rod Eddington's remarks about Heathrow may well stem from the fact that he was Chairman of British Airways and it would seem that he is somewhat favouring the strengthening of the main location from which British Airways operates?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 13 December 2006

As you know, you will have the unequivocal support of the Labour Members in opposing a third runway at Heathrow, and a sixth terminal. In assembling the case for that you will have to respond to the concerns of the Corporation of London and the City financial services. You say London's that position is enhanced and not threatened by the number of destinations that can be achieved. You will also have to answer the many Londoners with overseas connections who see cheap and accessible travel to other parts of the world as part of the deal they have in living...

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 13 December 2006

Would you back a campaign to support and encourage modal shift from short haul air travel to high speed rail?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 13 December 2006

In which case will you build on that commitment and confirm that we cannot possibly meet the carbon reduction targets that are in your various plans that we have to meet, if there is continued growth in aviation, over and above the question of the third runway and a sixth terminal?

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 13 December 2006

Network Rail has told me that there is a pay back on investing in such a rail link to Scotland and linking into Eurostar. What positive action will you take with the Government to press for this?