• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 20 October 2004

One of the concerns that the Labour Group on this side has had for some time is the poor resourcing of the British Transport Police (BTP) that serve the mainline rail system in London - the BTP that is not funded in any way by us. I gather that it is the case that the SRA (Strategic Rail Authority) ceased the capital grant to the British Transport Police last year, and the Department for Transport is not due to pick up the capital responsibility until next year, which leaves British Transport Police with a year - the current year -...

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 20 October 2004

It is still a rotten borough that is not properly elected.

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 20 October 2004

You do not feel unable to criticise the Government any longer.

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 20 October 2004

Perhaps I may continue after that helpful intervention, and I will be fast upstairs to gaze into my computer screen as soon as we are finished here. But figures revealed by the Department of Transport recently showed that, since 1997, the operating costs on London Underground have gone up from £600 million a year to £1.6 billion - in other words, there has been a £1 billion increase. Tony Travers said today that he feels there is a major public accountability issue here and there are grounds for the National Audit Office or the Audit Commission to investigate whether the...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 20 October 2004

You and I were shoulder to shoulder against the PPP, and you have been remarkably quiet for yourself over the £42 million profits that Tube Lines made, let alone the £100,000 bonus for the Chief Executive. Has the cat got your tongue? Do you no longer think that Tube Lines' failure, with 27 out of 39 targets not met, that you have to take a hard position and a negotiating position, because we are where we are with the PPP contract and we can still negotiate within it. If you do not open your mouth and you do not attack...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 20 October 2004

You seem lukewarm about criticising Tube Lines, but what do you think is worse: a company like Tube Lines that makes a profit of £41 million, or an organisation that makes a loss of £756 million and that you are in charge of?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 20 October 2004

Cynthia Hay (Co-ordinator, Capital Transport Campaign) today, also said about this that commuters have every right to be angry. She says the service continues to break down and, referring back to an earlier question, fares continue to go up. Do you agree that commuters should be angry about your stewardship of this?

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 20 October 2004

): I do think that you ought to sit down with the boroughs and talk to them rather than dictate what they ought to be doing. It ought to be more of a partnership approach. Although I accept that there are officers, I think it would be helpful if you were to sit down with the boroughs on a fairly regular basis and listen to what they think is achievable rather than what you think is achievable. It does seem that you can accept 30% in Stratford, which is one of the biggest housing developments, but you will not accept...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 20 October 2004

I would disagree with you, but would you please answer the question about the threshold being 10 rather than 15?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 20 October 2004

No, that is instead of.