• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

I am only going from the minutes of the Transport Committee.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

That was obviously nonsense, was it not?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

You told the Transport Committee on 3rd April: "Construction will start in 2005 and hopefully finish in 2007." That was clearly baloney, was it not?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

Then why was it that Bob Kiley told the Transport Committee on 3rd April that the estimated cost was £12-13 billion?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

The question originally related to the Secretary of State's comments on 1st May. Can I take it that the Mayor must have been surprised to hear the Secretary of State say on 1st May that Crossrail would take at least 10 years to build, and whilst it might be needed by 2020, there was no guarantee that it would be built before then? Of course, that is completely contrary to the view that the Mayor has expressed, of his understanding of the Government's position. Were you surprised by that?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

Unlike that of the other parties, the Labour position is one of unequivocal support for your position on Crossrail, regardless of what the Labour Government says. It is essential for London; it is a no?brainer that it needs to be built. It is obvious, given the frailty of the GLA that we have, that we are dependent on Government decision making to fund the thing. I appreciate that we are heading towards an election, and was intrigued by Bob's performance. Is there not a risk that the Tories and perhaps even the Liberals are talking down Crossrail as a consequence...

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

Can you tell me about the chance of Crossrail 2 now? You have always been very supportive of both Crossrail 1 and Crossrail 2. In fact, the only piece of transport infrastructure we will get in the next decade is the East London line. What about the chance of Crossrail 2? What about the Olympics? How on earth are we going to be travelling athletes and spectators all over London without Crossrail and Crossrail 2? Everyone now seems to be backtracking on the need of this transport infrastructure for the Olympics.

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

On 13th May, the Secretary of State also stated that in his opinion it would be foolish and misleading to suggest that a scheme of such magnitude could be done on the cheap. Is it not foolish and misleading to compare Crossrail with your work in Shoreditch or Vauxhall Cross? The magnitude of the schemes is quite different.

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

I am very pleased to see that this scheme is actually going to be built. I hope there is not the continued slippage and problems over financing. It is a matter of concern that you and the Secretary of State disagree so much about the cost of this scheme. On 13th May, the Secretary of State said: "My experience over the past 12 months has been that costs relating to railways, in particular, usually turn out to be rather higher than originally anticipated." He has 12 months" experience of transport: what makes you so certain that you are right and...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

Indeed, but there is no sign that they are going to go down that route though, is there?