• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

So can we take it that, should Sport England give the go-ahead for Pickett's Lock at its meeting in a few weeks' time, you will find time - we know you are a very busy man - to ensure that the planning application for the project is handled promptly and efficiently, so that there is no delay?

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

Thank you, Mayor, that was very clarifying. But Dick Caborn, whoever he is, is holding things up because is worried that, after the World Athletic Championships, the venue of Pickett's Lock will not release enough income. Transport links are very poor. Where are we here? It will happen in 2005, and time is short: we have not won the Olympics, but we have won this bid. So where are we?

• Question by: Louise Bloom
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

I am getting in now, on the assumption that we will probably not reach my question. [Interruption.] As you said, the question is whether it is Pickett's Lock or Wembley. At the moment, I think we have to concentrate on getting Pickett's Lock, and if the whole thing was screwed up, or failed, it would be an enormous embarrassment to London, particularly as the event is going to take place two weeks before the decision is taken on the 2012 Olympics, for which we hope London will be a prime contender. Are you going to extract actual promises of pounds...

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

So would you say that the 5% reduction is a reasonable target and will be in your plan?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

Are you saying, Ken, that the congestion charge moneys cannot be spent, or are you not willing to look at that? It is not just a matter of the vehicle: we are talking about the roadside as well. Surely such schemes are part of your remit for spending the money, and they would give some of us who will be paying this charge hope of some benefit beyond you being able to stand on a pile of money.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

We largely support zero tolerance, but that is a different matter. We all know that the only point at which you are really going to make a significant difference to shifting people around London is when you get the improvements on the Underground. This bus business is tinkering at the margins; we know that it is the Tube that will make the difference. We also know that those differences are not likely to happen for three or four years at best. You quoted Mr Kiley at your press launch last week as saying that the public will notice tangible improvements...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

Thank you. The Kensington and Chelsea poll showed that only 17% supported the idea without the improvements in public transport ahead of the introduction of the congestion charge.

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

May I assume the role of Matron, and tell you, Ken, that you must ask Derek Smith to look at the case for district nurses who are giving chemotherapy, insulin and the like, and the case for midwives. These are two groups that must be exempt. Reverting to Assembly mode, I wanted to ask how you are going to spend your pie from the congestion charge. This relates to the vulnerability to London traffic of child pedestrians, especially from ethnic minorities. Since one of the poor outcomes could be increased rat running around the built-up areas immediately surrounding the zone...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

Doesn't your experience teach you that that is naive? In the real world, if you provide a service which no one is prepared to subsidise, the only way you can cover the costs - unless you scrap the service - is by extra charging; and Londoners are going to have to bear the brunt of it.

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

You have already been asked about the £1.75 billion funding gap, and you said you expected to be able to deal with it because you would get extra grant. The truth is that, so long as you are Mayor, the chances of any Government of any colour giving you extra money will be very slim. Certainly the current Government do not mind kicking you in the teeth with the sacking of Mr Kiley. With regard to the £1.75 billion, which, on the face of it, you will be able to fund only by charging Londoners more - either in fares...