• Question by: Eric Ollerenshaw
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

A commendable change of tone I seem to remember, was there not a reference to aliens at one stage at the Treasury in our early years? I think it included the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown.

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

Just to clarify one issue. Obviously you are consulting on an extension into Kensington and Chelsea and part of Westminster but it has to be the case, does it not, that the consultation includes taking evidence and learning from the operation of the current scheme? So, if people in other parts of London currently affected by the scheme are of the view that it needs to be amended or we need to learn from that, you will be receptive to such comments?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

So, how soon will we know whether or not they have lost their nerve?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

So you did do costings, on Tower Hamlets? How much it would cost to do that and was it just not considered worthwhile?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

I am really pleased that you are doing your best for the good burghers of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster and actually extending the congestion charge, but what about Tower Hamlets? That seems to have dropped off the agenda and it seems a real shame that a poorer borough, an exceptionally poor borough, cannot benefit?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

Then why are you sharing it with us?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

Can I just make the point about Selfridges, quickly? I think that we have to recognise that Selfridges is not like John Lewis. It actually has a sensitive share price and, of course, the Chairman of Selfridges is not going to share with the public the fact that the congestion charge might be damaging their flagship store. This is not the information they would want to put out in the same way that John Lewis which is a partnership feels more able to do because their own staff own the shares. So, it is not quite correct. It is not...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

£200 million.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

It was originally.

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

As you know, Mayor, I have always championed congestion charging and been a strong supporter. However, on the western extension, I am very perturbed by the fact that what we seem to be creating is a free urban clear-way. That route through Edgware Road, Park Lane, Victoria and Vauxhall is what we called in the 1970s the inner ring road. At that stage we were talking about the danger of creating environmental happy zones and environmental hell zones. And, in a sense, we are going to concentrate, if this goes ahead, 25% at least more traffic onto that free route...