• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

): It does not seem very long since you announced the last package of fare increases at a press conference. I recall on that occasion that you defended that decision by saying that you wanted to get the increases out of the way before the election so that people could vote for you on the basis of the prices that you were putting forward then. Why did you not tell people about the next set of increases at the election?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

You have also said on previous occasions that you would have pressed ahead with the congestion charge even if it were revenue neutral, and you have said that it is not intended to be a tax upon motorists. It was about changing behaviour and freeing up the city. Since, on your own account and TfL's propaganda, the charge has reduced the amount of traffic in the city, what possible justification is there for any increase, other than to use it as a revenue raiser?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

Mr Mayor, you have made it clear that within four years you face a deficit on your bus subsidy of £1 billion. You seem to be in a financial hole, where increasing bus fares and tube fares above inflation will begin to get you out " and I say only 'begin'. However, you could stop digging this hole if you abandoned the West London Tram, which will add £30 million a year to your actual costs, and that is just the fare subsidies that you require. Why do you not make your painful decisions less painful and recognise that there...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

You have admitted that only 50% of the £1.3 billion is forthcoming from the Government, and that is going to cost nearly £100 out of every Londoner's pocket. Do you not think that was actually a huge dishonesty before the election when you simply promised that fares would be in line with inflation and now you are going to have to go to people for nearly £100 " £95.07 I believe.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

So it is a revenue raiser now?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

The painful decisions might be about your wish list, you very long wish list, which we might all very well wish for London transport projects, and your ability to budget within reality, rather than simply going into Londoners' pockets when you are in crisis. It seems that you are in crisis because you have called an emergency crisis budget meeting next Wednesday. Are you prepared to tell Assembly Members what that is about?

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

The Mayor is quite right. We should be building upon the major investments that the Government is putting through the GLA and TfL. Could you outline to me what the proposed cuts of £20 million that the Liberal Democrats suggested last year to the TfL budget would have meant to fares on the bus, tube and Docklands Light Railway (DLR)? Also, what would Oliver Letwin's proposal of £279 million cuts to the GLA budget have meant to fares in our public transport system?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

Answer by * Andrew PellingAngie BrayBob BlackmanBob NeillBrian ColemanDamian HockneyDarren JohnsonDavid LammyDee DooceyDiana JohnsonElizabeth HowlettEric OllerenshawGraham TopeJennette ArnoldJenny JonesJoanne McCartneyJohn BiggsKen LivingstoneLen DuvallIt is not that. It is just that every time there is a funding shortfall you turn to Londoners to stump up in one way or another. Do you not think that it makes a nonsense of John Biggs's question later on, which says that 'Given the Liberal Democrats' repeated predictions of massive bus fare crises''? He has accused us of scare?mongering. Would you not agree that it was not scare?mongering in light of what you are about...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

It is all great, except that it does question your ability to budget.

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

): Could I just go back to the fares for a moment? Are you likely to double the fares to £2, do you think?