• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

They really palm you off with a load of old rubbish.

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

On 7th March, you told Regeneration and Renewal magazine: "We have agreed the route of Crossrail; the Government will next month announce that it is to introduce the hybrid bill to create Crossrail."

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

You told the Transport Committee: "I think we have virtually got to the point where the Government will shortly announce its support for Crossrail. I think we have won the argument in Government." Then, on 13th May, the Minister says, "Well, we are going to see if it is financeable or not." There is no argument won at all.

• 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.