• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

Nothing in writing?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

My other question is slightly more political. I am very pleased with your comments about housing targets and achievements in London and I wonder whether you would be interested in reflecting on the statement in October 2004 from the Liberal Democrat Group who said at that time: `Thanks to the Mayor's broken promises and lack of leadership, there will be thousands of people right across the capital who will not be able to get their first step on the property ladder.' Do you agree with me that that is a prime example of the sanctimonious, holier-than-thou Liberal Democrat campaigning style...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

A quite worrying constituency matter in relation to Crossrail, which is that there are many vociferous interests campaigning and lobbying on the way in which they might be affected by Crossrail, but one group which has been very silent up until now is the travellers in Tower Hamlets. They are threatened with an evacuation shaft through the middle of their site. Can I take the opportunity to ask you to give a public assurance that you will use your officers to force the various parties including the local council, including Crossrail, Transport for London (TfL) and others to take account...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

As you know, I first worked on the feasibility of Crossrail 25 years ago. I get a sense of déjà vu about Crossrail, and of course totally welcome the fact that the Bill is finally in Parliament. I wanted to test out - because we have been here before - the funding that needs to follow. Could you just clarify and quantify how much the Government have told you they are going to give, and have you got it in writing? I am sorry, but I am cynical.

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

Mr Mayor, I want to return to your remarks about Crossrail. I have brought up the subject of Spitalfields before and the Hanbury Street shaft which is, as you know, in a very densely populated area. Your answer has always been that it cannot be avoided to sink the shaft there. To my knowledge, there has been no serious attempt to meet with the local people and to address their concerns and to look at the possibility of alternative routes. My information is that there are possibilities to route the line either slightly further to the north or slightly further...

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

Can I endorse the observations that have been made about Crossrail and the avian flu. Do you have anything else to report to us over developments in the last few weeks?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

Would you agree that other governments across Europe have acted far more speedily and that you would have liked it as we all would have done if our own Labour Government had acted a little faster?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

The news about Crossrail is welcome, but there are some constituents of mine who are concerned about the proposal for a depot at Romford. They submitted a petition on this subject to you some time ago. Could you update us on the progress that has been made on responding to that?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

Can I go on in reference to the Mayor's statement about his purchase of the Tamiflu tablets? Can I welcome you for your foresight, because in public health one tends to see government reacting after the event more often than before in a preventative way, so you are to be congratulated on that. I was not clear when you said you were working with the NHS. That would be NHS London, so would you be able to feedback and share with us? Certainly for those of us who have constituencies, though I am not excluding London-wide Members in any way...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

Mr Biggs and I were at a meeting with the Minister responsible yesterday and he told us they are currently working on an assumption that Crossrail will cost between £12-14 billion to build. Do you agree with that assumption?