• Question by: Diana Johnson
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

Is it right that you have arrived at this without any environmental impact assessment being prepared?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

I am very grateful to Darren Johnson for raising this question. I have made a number of written questions on this issue and I have discussed it with the Mayor. I have attended meetings with local residents. The fact is that Labour members and, I think, the majority of Assembly Members, very strongly support Crossrail, but my constituents in Spitalfields have very real and genuine concerns about the effects of it. We are about to move into a Parliamentary Bill, which would be supported by TfL and will be debated in Parliament. I was wondering if I could get a...

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

You have basically said that this is the cheapest option, but do you not agree that this is the worse possible option in terms of the impact on the largest number of dwellings, the impact on listed buildings in the area, the greatest disruption to local residents, the greatest displacement of business and residents? It is simply the worst possible option for people locally.

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

No one is saying that.

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

Local groups have talked about numerous options. Will you speak to them and investigate with them other ways forward and other solutions.

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 15 September 2004

Will you intervene as chair of TfL, a 50% stakeholder in Crossrail, to look at alternative solutions and properly consider the full impact on residential neighbourhoods, and also the impact on the ethnic minorities in the area?

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

They are that good are they?

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

It sounds like Lord Whitty is doing what the Government always does and is starting us off on a project by giving us some money but then leaving yourself, which means Londoners, with a bill for the rest of it. Whilst I accept that this has to be done, I would say that this is a responsibility the Government should continue to pay for. Could you tell us more about the other form of funding that you say you are seeking and how much that would cost Londoners in coming years?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 15 July 2004

Given how essential this is in terms of your LEZ (Low Emissions Zone) plans do you have promises from Ministers that the Energy Savings Trust will get more money in the next two years to make this happen?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 15 July 2004

Does it worry you that the Energy Savings Trust has run out of money for conversions in the last two financial years and that last year they ran short four months before the end of the year?