• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 15 June 2005

Thank you, Commissioner. I have just heard it muttered here that it is a very difficult question. It is also a very important question is it not, because I think increasingly young people are feeling victimised. We have had the attack on the `hoodies', search arches in schools, reference to juvenile crime as a `raging social cancer tearing away at Britain' and other such colourful language. The vast majority of young people are as law abiding as their elders. Antisocial behaviour covers a wide range from real criminal activity to just larking about. How the police engage in trying to...

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 15 June 2005

Basically Graham Tope asked the question in exactly the same form as I would have asked it and I was actually very pleased with your response. I think it is hugely dangerous to demonise younger people, and I think even right down to the things like the curfews, in addition to what Graham Tope said, I think these are a problem issue for the police, are they not, and it is a situation where really it almost has a massive impact on your ability to engage with young people?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

Just to take an example, what was your advice to the board on free travel for under-18s?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

For the record, there has been at least one decision where the board made its decision on a casting vote of the Mayor. That does not indicate a cosy relationship in which the board is appointed, but not to exercise its powers.

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

However, your Chairman loves freebies; that is a big difference, is it not? When we asked him about it he said he could recall that you had opposed it but he could not recall why you had opposed it, which suggests either your reasons were so insignificant he could not remember them, or they were so significant that he was unwilling to share them with us. Could you share them with us now?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

Does that mean the veto does not exist?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

Would it not be true to say that regardless of no one keeping track, the board has never voted against a proposal of yours or the Mayor's to the extent that you have lost?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

I chair the Assembly's Budget Committee and I was quite taken aback by a comment made by the Mayor at the December Budget Committee that an undertaking was given to you when you were appointed that you would have the right of veto over the appointment of board members. My first question is to ask whether or not that statement was accurate. Furthermore, it also strikes me a bit odd to put you in a position as chief executive, where you could turn around to a board member and say, `Well I am pretty tired of this criticism you are...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

That was very interesting, but perhaps we can get back to the matter in hand, which is the board. How many times has the TfL board voted against one of your proposals?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 06 April 2005

Therefore, the Mayor was wholly misleading us?