• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

That leaves me a bit more confused. You've defined the process but the problem we have is that you didn't have this as a priority when you were first elected; you then rejected it this year by saying it was unaffordable; you then, in the summer, made a commitment at a public gathering in East London that you were going to extend free travel to all under-18s; and you then, about a week later, reported that, in fact, you only meant half-price travel. We're still rather confused. What's interesting is that you can go to any meeting of young people...

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

I think everyone wants to see it, not least the schools who are not able to take part, because of the location, effectively in this scheme. Can I urge you - and I will urge the train operating companies again - to speed up the negotiations, to be realistic about it, and to stop discrimination against large numbers of young people throughout London, simply on a geographical basis?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

Having just consulted with our parliamentary local government spokesperson, I can say that we will be very happy to move another amendment to allow bond issues in the forthcoming Local Government Finance Bill and I hope the Conservatives will encourage their colleagues in parliament, at this time, to support us. However, that wasn't my question. I want to turn to the School Party Travel Scheme. Quite significant parts of London are not within easy reach of the London Underground system and, therefore, at best inhibited in using the scheme. The train operating companies tell me they are very happy to...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

I seem to recall that in your recent comments about subsidising transport for the under-18s, you were suggesting that that money would be coming, partly at least, from the congestion charge income. We have also heard from you recently that that expectation of revenue is going down and down, so everything is going to be fighting very hard for a small amount of money. Have you explored other ways of raising money in order to put money into some of your transport aspirations and I wonder whether one of the ways might be to raise a bond? I am wondering...

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

Have you had this discussion with the business community? You might think that they're not up for it but until you can tell us that you have had the discussion and explored it using your LBA links "

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

I am surprised you're not putting forward the business case for free transport for under-18s. If you look at other cities there are good examples where the business community has worked with the mayoralty to produce free bus transport for young people in order that you reduce the school run, for instance; in order that you encourage young people to stay in further education. Those are two issues which relate to the business community because they invest in future employees. The other area which you haven't talked about is congestion. We know that if you reduce the school run, or...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

If it were to come back, have you identified what you might use to leverage in that bond?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

Are you committed to thinking again about giving a greater priority to Orbirail when you come to your revised final version of the London Plan?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

I am grateful to Victor Anderson for initiating the discussion on orbital travel in inner or outer London. I am also grateful for the Mayor's straight forwardness on the impact that the Government has had on destroying the private sector's interests in providing support for transport systems in the UK. A lot of criticism has come from South London business people about what is in the Plan and lack of emphasis on public transport, and perhaps the message to go back is that it is the Treasury's fault rather than your fault. Looking at some of the options for Tramlink...

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 16 October 2002

Add my name to the list. On the South London Metro, one of the things we've heard from the ALG and others, is that a lot of the issues around that bit of Orbirail are around signage and maps, which give information to people about how that can be used as a joined-up network. What conversations are you, or Transport for London, having with Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority and others, to try and push that forward, because that seems to be a quick and cheap way of getting some of Orbirail in place before the major infrastructure...