• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

Given the state of the railways which we all have strong views about, have you taken a view on the Government's proposal to remove the cap on commuter fares and allow prices to rise by up to 10% in London? What representations have you made?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

I think Labour members do share some of that frustration at the delay in issuing advice and guidance, although we would recognise it was not entirely in your control as the national rail industry is now emerging from its five or six?year nervous breakdown. While I would be fascinated to see your proposals for an increase in the precept next year, do you accept the principle that a Mayor of London should only really be spending money on things that the SRA will not spend it on? Obviously, that may mean delays, but we do not want to spend taxpayers'...

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

Can I ask you about the costs?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

So you have not actually secured it.

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

You have just told us that they have apparently agreed to come into the school travel arrangements. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

I agree with you about the desirability of bringing it back into public ownership, but it is not going to happen under this Government or probably any future Government. I accept that sadly you have no power in this respect, but the Mayor of London should have very considerable influence. You told us at considerable length that you work with the SRA and the other rail authorities. Can you and do you use your considerable influence as Mayor of London to put pressure on the rail authorities quite literally to clean up their act, which is a disgrace to London...

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

Ken, how often do you actually travel on the South London overground suburban rail? And if you ever do, and I am sure you do, you must notice the appalling state of the track?side, the graffiti, the litter and so on, which frankly makes a mockery of the Capital Standards and is an appalling advertisement to visitors to London travelling from Gatwick for instance. What pressure can you put on the rail authorities to actually tidy up the track?side, clear up the graffiti and to improve the appearance of their stations?

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

We have 324 overground Stations in London and only 42 of them have `secure station" status. Three of them are in my patch: London Bridge, Waterloo and Waterloo East. In fact, Ken, I have spent the last year meeting the rail operators, visiting the stations, collecting data, talking to Network Rail and British Transport Police. I have to say that the rail department you created within Transport for London has been hugely useful in all of that process. I think they are an important organisation to do with partnership working. The South London Metro is one of the first fruits...

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

Can I hope then for a swift reply to the letters that I wrote asking for your support in the representations I made in the Minutes to the SRA on those two points?

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

I think the residents in my constituency of Bexley and Bromley will think that they have waited rather a long time for these things to be on their way. Because since they are wholly dependent upon the overground for their significant transport services, they are concerned that it took two and half years before the directions and guidance were issued, and that any significant proposals are going to be right the way through the first term of the Mayoralty. Can you understand from that there is a very strong perception that you have very little interest in the commuters coming...