• 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?

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

On 1st May, when Alistair Darling answered Ed Davey's question about Crossrail, he insisted that we needed a proposition that is financeable and deliverable. In fact, he said it three times. You said that if we do not get the decision in June, we lose it for the Olympics. If we do not get it in the autumn, presumably it throws the London Plan completely out. Despite the work that Transport for London and the SRA have done in their bids, what is it now that is going to make it financeable and deliverable?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

Much as we do not seem to be involved in the debate, west London does need it for its sustained economic growth and the driving power that it has for London. Finance does not seem to be one of your best areas this morning. You have just said that you could finance Crossrail with an £8 billion bond, backed by the £8 billion expenditure on the GLA. However, not so long ago you were also saying that you needed a congestion charge around Heathrow so that it too contributed to Crossrail. You seem to be financing it from a number...

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

It is still something that can be done much more quickly. All it needs is political will; you could start by infilling some of the bits that will not be the East London and the West London Line.

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

): I take it from that that when you met the Secretary of State on 13th March, as you refer to in your report to us, he gave you no indication that the Government had slipped on its timeframe.

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

You said that Bob Kiley has estimated the Crossrail 1 cost at £7 billion: have you told that to the Secretary of State and does he believe you?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 21 May 2003

Ken, Crossrail is clearly taking up your time and energy and your team's time and energy. Is it worthwhile, when you have a project like Orbirail which could be done fairly cheaply and quickly, as far as railway is concerned? It would also relieve pressure on central London and would give you some part of your London Plan; it would also bring some huge benefits to some deprived communities along that route.

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

You told the Planning and SDS Committee last year that, unless Crossrail was delivered, you might as well rip up the London Plan and start again. You said that, without it, the London Plan would be inoperative. The London Plan runs effectively until 2020, 2016 all the figures; it is clear now from the Secretary of State that there is no prospect of Crossrail being delivered until the very end of the London Plan period. Are you going to rip up your plan and start again, or were you spoofing us all along?