• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

I am always very pleased to hear positive comments about Croydon. I met with the wardens myself when I was out engaging with the good people of New Addington on Saturday afternoon. There was always a danger with mayoral candidates who inevitably have to pay brief visits to areas as to whether or not they get fully briefed.

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

I am surprised then that you did not mention in your question to Ken that the wardens had to be withdrawn owing to poor training and poor liaison with the police service. I wonder whether we can learn lessons from this supposedly exemplary process, as to the quality of training that takes place? This is in the context of the liaison between different policing forces that we now have in Croydon, regarding what can be done to encourage better liaison between the different services when it comes to the stoning of the T31 bus service on Field Way. I had...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

Thank you. So you would be working hard if I take it as read that you will be attempting to extend the congestion charge scheme were you to be re?elected will be working hard to improve the reliability to try and get it up to standards before you consider extending the scheme.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

I would be absolutely delighted to share the information with TfL. I have to say that I was very delighted by the response rate which was actually really rather high for a survey of this sort. However, as you will see from my question, I think the point is that you have outlined all these improvements that you say have been made and yet there is this very high percentage saying that they are not satisfied. I think it is fair to say that almost anybody would say that they think things could be better than they are. However, the...

• Question by: Diana Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

I wonder if I can follow up on the bus route issue, in particular the need for a north to south bus route. Because, as I understand it, there are many people who find it difficult travelling to the hospitals in the south and having to change in High Street Kensington. Are you taking any steps to look at that and introduce a new route?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

It sounds like the Government has had you over, does it not?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

They really palm you off with a load of old rubbish.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

On 7th March, you told Regeneration and Renewal magazine: "We have agreed the route of Crossrail; the Government will next month announce that it is to introduce the hybrid bill to create Crossrail."

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

You told the Transport Committee: "I think we have virtually got to the point where the Government will shortly announce its support for Crossrail. I think we have won the argument in Government." Then, on 13th May, the Minister says, "Well, we are going to see if it is financeable or not." There is no argument won at all.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

I am only going from the minutes of the Transport Committee.