• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 17 October 2001

John Biggs: Clearly, if the consensus - The Chair: You should not have said that, Ken: he was going to stop. John Biggs: I am about to stop. We need to have a lengthy debate about the budget later in the year, but if the consensus includes options which have an effect on the council tax that Londoners pay, that is another factor, isn't it? I want to be clear about whether you are prioritising, if you like, the backbone of sustainable transport in London, or if you are trying to erect monuments to yourself or to London government funded...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 17 October 2001

You are saying, then, that the budget is inaccurate on that

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 17 October 2001

What are the objectives of Car Free Day - in your opinion?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 17 October 2001

To come back briefly to Tower Bridge, did you notice the enthusiastic applause you got during your speech when you mentioned your plans for the congestion charge? Is that the sort of enthusiastic response you expect from Londoners when the scheme is finally announced?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 17 October 2001

Jenny Jones: This was a much simpler system. The Mayor: Well, let's have it. Jenny Jones: I am concerned that TfL will be much more concerned about big-budget projects than small-scale ones. I know that, on the North Circular, you opted for smaller schemes, which I very much support, but TfL may not be following this through. Are you keeping on at them about that?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 17 October 2001

Thinking about funding for ways of reducing traffic, have you heard about the project developed in Perth in Australia, for quite a small amount of money? Households were asked about their travel plans and how they wanted to do it, and it resulted in a 14% drop in traffic because people were made aware of alternatives and other options. Had you heard about that?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 17 October 2001

We talked earlier about leadership, and this is an example. The Mayor and some Members of the GLA gave some leadership to Car Free Day, and it was incredibly successful. It is an example of how communities can respond when they have some political and financial leadership. Are you aware that the Government are pressing for Car Free Day to be moved to the nearest weekend, rather than to be on 22 September as it is in the rest of Europe?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 17 October 2001

I am glad about that. How big is that TfL fund?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 17 October 2001

One suggestion, which happened to be in the Labour manifesto, was that we should tie this in some way to greater access to museums and make it into a day when people would enjoy travelling in to London - certainly it would be at a weekend - and get free access to places that ordinarily they might have to pay for. It could be a good way of investing to change people's habits. My other question is about Jenny's question rather than just Tower Bridge. The draft business plan for Transport for London suggests that you are going to cease...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 17 October 2001

John Biggs: That was a rather sad attempt at a soundbite. I went there as the representative of the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, who was unavailable that day. It was quite a pleasant affair, but I was alarmed to read that £100,000 had been budgeted for this. Brian Coleman: What? John Biggs: I would like your undertaking, Mr Mayor, that you will publish the accounts of Car Free Day. I agree with many people around this table that the principle of encouraging people to think of alternatives to their cars is very sound, but something which, as you have conceded...