• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

As you say, as far as we in west London are concerned the core route from Heathrow is down to Paddington, there is no discussion about that. Earlier you said we have some number of years to discuss the development at Heathrow and the proposed potential third runway, but part of the Government's proposals was multi-modal shifts on the existing runways, which means take-offs and landings at broadly the same time, which will massively increase Heathrow's capacity. It will have a massive impact upon the air quality of people in the west. They have seen no improvement in surface access...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

So will you tell Crossrail, `Crassrail" as it is known locally, that you think they should be withdrawing these letters?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

We have had consultation on Crossrail, we have had a second consultation on Crossrail, we have had a public awareness campaign, we have had the launch of `Young Crossrail', a newsletter for young people on Crossrail, all very useful. What about actually getting the funding together? What about getting the date and the funding? What have you done on that? What have these 200 people done to secure the funding?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

What discussions have you had? How many times have you met the private sector to try to persuade them to lever in some finance into this project?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

Do you know if the Montague Review is considering that scheme?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

They have said they could build the core tunnel for £3.2 billion of private money. What do you see as the arguments against their proposal?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

The Government has been saying it supports the Bill throughout the whole of the year, but on 17 July Alistair Darling (Secretary of State for Transport) made it quite clear that there would not be an immediate go ahead and he could not announce the funding structure. We now have the Montague panel looking at the funding structure, and on 1 November it was revealed that there was a £3 billion funding gap. What progress is that?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

In your talks with the private sector, did you actually get any firm commitment in terms of helping to fund Crossrail?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

Well perhaps when you are back in the Labour Party you will have a word with the two Members who talked the previous Bill out before you start coming up with that sort of nonsense.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 17 December 2003

Forgive me, but we have been close to having it finalised every time you have spoken about Crossrail. Like on 9 March, work was going on to commence by summer of next year. What happened to that?