• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 19 December 2001

Yes, we did take evidence from London Underground. Usership on the Tube went up and up and up before you took office, and bus usership has been increasing - again, before you took up your greatly esteemed mayoral office. But the point I am making is that you and the boroughs need to work in concert. You talk about democratic accountability on TfL. In a number of instances of which I am aware as an ordinary Londoner, Transport for London do not talk to the boroughs on simple things like changes of traffic lights. Perhaps democratic accountability should be shown...

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 19 December 2001

For the record, the exchange that members of the Budget Committee had with the ALG was pretty lively. I think it was constructive, and I for one, having chaired that Committee, was very glad that we had that discussion. I did not regard it as a waste of time.

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 19 December 2001

You talked of buses being the Cinderella service. Yet again, may I invite you to join me on the 344 bus at 9.30 in the morning. We will have a cup of coffee on the way. It is jam-packed and uncomfortable. It is an unpleasant journey now, let alone when congestion charging comes in. The Mayor: It is a bit raucous this morning. Samantha Heath: You said that you would have all additional bus services in place before congestion charging, so that we could support it. Are you going to do something about that now, then?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 19 December 2001

You have not answered the question about traffic modelling.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 19 December 2001

The other side of the coin of the World Square is the disruption to traffic, which by all accounts - even with your congestion charge in place, were it to deter a number of people from driving - could be quite big. Some people have suggested that it could have a knock-on effect right down to the Elephant and Castle. Have you finished all your modelling on the various options for re-routing the traffic around the square? When we last talked about this, I think the final route was still up in the air. Secondly, are you prepared to ensure...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 19 December 2001

We are going to debate the Budget at greater length at another date, but I do not think you have really addressed the question about the conflict between that and Londoners facing sizeable council tax increases next year. Something has to give, and is this not an example where, if you were to phase it in over a longer period, or were perhaps less concerned with it being completed before you might seek re-election, the interests of Londoners might be better protected?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 19 December 2001

I think they are related in that they are both talking about landmark environmental schemes in central London, on which we can make a real impact. I welcome your response on Hungerford Bridge, and I hope that your confidence that it will come in within those estimates turns out to be well founded. On Trafalgar Square, we have a trickier question. The draft budget on which you are consulting talks about a gap of about £100 million in TfL's budget. A significant proportion of that is accounted for by the works to Trafalgar Square, and as London representatives we have...

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

The question was raised with me as I have gone around London, so I will leave it to others to say whether they are happy with that answer. Has your adviser told you that the situation in tourism remains very grim? For example, of all the sectors interviewed recently, transport companies are still negatively affected by the continuing downturn in the overseas figures. Clearly that is reflected in declining volumes in business and lower levels. After she had advised you of this and the other grave aspects for the industry, what did you then advise that she should do? How...

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

The job was advertised last May, and was an appointment by the Assembly in which I was able to take part; the appointments panel was chaired by Len. Since that time, she has undertaken many specific tasks. As an issue develops which we have not anticipated - as clearly happened after 11 September - I turn to members of my staff to take on new and additional roles. We are not going to go out and advertise and appoint someone new. Obviously, in taking forward the work on tourism and co-ordinating what other people were doing, other stuff had to...

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

I do not wish these questions to be seen as negative or personal. These issues are being raised with us as Assembly Members, so it is appropriate to bring them to this meeting. It is sad that we have to do it in this way because the response rate for answers from your office is slow - I am sure, because of the busyness of that floor. Can you be a little more specific about her qualifications? How and when was this job advertised? Is she your personal political appointment? How does this fit in? We need to get our...