• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2003

I just thought that you might have looked into these in terms of these questions. Can we then move on to why I have such trouble extracting any information from TfL? I first phoned them on 04 June to ask them how many vehicles had been clamped or towed away and no response. I sent a formal email on 20 June requesting the information and a follow-up conversation. I was then told that I had to put the enquiry to a different department. Not until 01 July did I get an email message from Public Affairs still not giving the...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2003

I would like to know how that programme is scheduled for payment and if there is any sort of basic. When we first looked at the Congestion Charge, it was agreed that there would be people - recidivists if you like - those who did not pay and might be habitual non-payers. So if crushing and clamping is at such a low level at the moment, do you have figures for the number of people who have actually had three penalty notices?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2003

Crushing the wrong car would not have done the Congestion Charge any good and it is a great system and I want to support that. I am just concerned, as you go into this new phase where you are sure about what you are doing in terms of who is guilty and who is not guilty, that you do stick to what you say and that freeloaders will not be tolerated. It is not fair on the rest of the people who are paying. Compliance is a huge part of this scheme. We are told that there is a multi?million...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2003

So that is not on the cards?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2003

So there are no plans to try and sophisticate the scheme to allow more flexibility in terms of rebates and booking?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2003

And that is a common experience about the bank statements meaning nothing to TfL.

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2003

I think it is totally indicative of Transport for London's desire not to give information to members of this Assembly that they could not give me an answer. I think that as Chair of Transport for London, you should instruct that if I make an enquiry or if any member to this Assembly makes an enquiry they should furnish us with information, without question. I will just move on to a few details. I think that the scheme is working extremely well and I am very much looking forward to the six?month review so that I can scrutinise it. The...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2003

Do you remember that seven days after the Congestion Charge was introduced you sat there and said that the police will be alerted to look for them - those who have failed three times - to seize cars and eventually crush them. My view is that freeloaders are not going to be allowed to get away with it but in a sense they are if you have only done seven so far. Would you not agree, given your last answer to Valerie Shawcross, that if you do not enforce existing laws, then you are soft on crime?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2003

And out of those seven, how many are being crushed or are going to be crushed?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2003

But that is since I asked the question publicly to you. I do not mind if they gave me an answer and you at the same time when I enquired six weeks ago. I do not mind if they give you the same information they have given me but I do mind this. I lay down the question so they provide you with an answer and they do not provide me.