• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 13 September 2006

Well, I am interested in the return to the Dave Spart foreign policy of the old GLC that you have finally broken through to. Whatever happened to the Dave Spart fares policy? Are you the same Ken Livingstone that introduced `fare's fair'. Are you still the same Ken Livingstone that promised the 70p flat fare? Are you still the same Ken Livingstone who before the Mayoral elections said that there was no need for bus fares to increase above the level of inflation? Are you the same person, or have you changed?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 13 September 2006

I do not want to press the point, but I just wonder what any sensible observer would make of a situation where an alleged progressive Mayor increases cash fares ' which tend to bear most heavily upon the poorest ' by 33.1%, then says that is all alright, because he has negotiated a deal with his hard left Socialist mate from the other side of the Atlantic who is going to bring us in cheap oil to subsidise these poor souls another way?

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

If it is being sold cheap, there are fewer benefits and the point is he is not maximising their own assets. However, let me ask you finally about the other part of the deal, which I understand is that we are going to be given the pleasure of lots of posters of President Chávez all over London. Quite what that is going to do for votes back at home I do not know, but is that one of the reasons that your advertising has suddenly perked up, because President Chávez is now proposing to take over so many of your...

• 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.