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

Simply to tidy up, I understand what you are saying about low income Londoners, but the Budget Committee is about to produce a report on fares and low income Londoners - which Mr (Geoff) Pope (AM) has very selectively quoted from. Would you at least accept that there is an issue about some particularly disengaged Londoners perhaps needing to be dragged kicking and screaming towards the use of Oyster cards because they are just so far out of the loop that maybe subsidies, maybe selective targeting of areas where there is a very poor take-up of areas, would be a...

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

That will not be many then. I am sure that those buses will have lots of seats spare. Can I ask you first though, how much consideration has been given to the poor people of Venezuela? After all, they have a very poor population: 35% below the poverty line, 10% extremely so, as identified by all sorts of international reports. Do you not think that their way of being helped would actually be to allow their oil to be sold for the maximum amount so that they can repatriate profits to alleviate the poverty at home? I cannot believe it...

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 13 September 2006

Ten minutes ago you made the case for higher, environmental taxes, then, about five minutes ago, you made the case for subsidised oil for London buses. Is the statement you made at 10.25am compatible with the statement you then made at 10.30am this morning?

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

So they will be higher while you are still here?

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

Well, we will try and help you out, if that happens. When that happens.

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 13 September 2006

But, at the end of the day, it is supporting cheap oil and is supporting a cheap oil economy, and is that a good thing for the environment, or a bad thing?

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

Yes it was.

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

What is important is the impact on the low paid and the people who have no pay, the socio economic group D and E. You are saying that really this is not a major impact, but 7% of Tube users ' which is millions every year ' are from that socio-economic group, and even more, 9%, actually pay by cash. Are they not going to be hit higher than the other socio-economic groups, and is that not inequality?

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

Now, if you are concerned, as you claim to be, about the impact of people not switching to Oyster, why do you not actually go out to the areas where people are paying tax and distribute Oyster Cards, rather than them having to pay this ridiculous £3 deposit, which is a real deterrent for people on low pay.

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

Here is another question for you: Who said, 'There are a lot of very low paid people who still have to pay higher fares.'