• 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.'

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

And you are spending a large amount of Londoners' money supporting candidates?

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

Good morning, Mayor. Well, talking about fares going up, let us talk about possible fares coming down. If you read the front page of The Guardian this morning, I see you have plans for ways of reducing fares for at least some people, or perhaps your latest round of calibrated fare increases takes into account the possibility of subsidised oil from Venezuela? Does it?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 13 September 2006

I've got three questions I would like to put to the Mayor. Can I just start off Mayor, by saying to you, in the words of one of my constituents, Roger Gillam, well done to you and TfL and all the staff. He talks about the fact that we in North East London are absolutely delighted that you have brought forward some of the planned work from phase two into phase one; that's excellent.

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

Good morning. You have tried to explain the reason behind these huge hikes in fares and you did say just now that you regret the short-term pain, and you say it is paying for the investment. You said it was short-term, so is there some hope that you are going to reduce the fares after the short-term?

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

I do not want to give any false promises.

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

Well, I think it is characteristic of Gordon Brown's generosity that he allows you to borrow the money and allows Londoners to pay it back; Perhaps that is something that we can expect more of in future. Certainly, if Londoners enjoyed the benefits that people who live in New York and Paris do, then you would be forced to consult on fares with them before imposing a fare increase like this. Do you not think that this would be a better thing to do?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 13 September 2006

Not everybody shares your perception of Venezuela as an open, liberal democracy; what safeguards will there be in your negotiations about the transfer of ID technology to the Venezuelans to ensure that they are not abused, or there is an abuse of human rights in Venezuela?