• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

To be honest you seem a bit hazy on it as if it hasn't really grabbed hold of you yet as an idea. So when are you going to come back with that as a proposal to the chair of the Environment Committee?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

Concentrating on financial incentives, which is something you mention in the strategy, is probably not what I think would be the best way forward. It seems to me that it would be helpful if the use of community and voluntary groups were encouraged. For example, I know in Suffolk they've started a composting scheme, a very little group who do very useful things and form part of what you're saying is the alternative. If there were enough little groups doing enough alternatives then the incineration or the presumption against might be presumed a bit quicker. What I'm saying is, what...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

It seems to me that public participation is fundamental to achieving, for example, recycling targets and we'll go into that figure in a minute. So how are you going to work with the boroughs and other groups to publicise the benefits of recycling and motivate the public to participate?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 05 September 2001

Given that the Marylebone Road is in fact going to be the border for congestion charging, are you suggesting that Mr Wogan is completely wrong in believing that when congestion charging is introduced, it will not have a negative effect on car users using that road?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 05 September 2001

(Bus lanes in Marylebone and Euston Roads) You've told us many times that your mayoralty stands or falls by the successful introduction of congestion charging. I wonder, in the light of your comments about the Marylebone Road and Terry Wogan this morning, if you might care to invite him to take a seat on TfL because clearly he's very sagacious on these matters. He's listened to by not just the population of London on these matters, but the nation itself. Sometimes, you're listened to by people outside London as well. One of the sagacious things that Terry Wogan has said...

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 05 September 2001

Fare levels on the express link were a product of Bob Ayling. He wanted it to be an extension of the first class lounge on a 747. Crazy thinking.

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 05 September 2001

In October of this year, the decision is expected on Terminal 5. Current projected expectations are that that decision will be positive. The bit of CrossRail which can be relatively easily built and can go ahead is the Paddington-Heathrow link and that is essential if Terminal 5 is going to happen. Can we be assured, out west, that there will be no delay to the western link of CrossRail, even if this eastern link goes to a public inquiry, which I pray to God doesn't take as long as the Terminal 5 inquiry?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 05 September 2001

So there we are, totally unreportable and unquotable, because I'm broadly agreeing with you, but I think it is excellent stuff, if we can deliver it and I imagine the Labour members will be very keen to work with you to help to achieve that potential. You may also, by the way, find people south of the river feel a bit left out by this, but let's leave that until it emerges.

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 05 September 2001

One of the tragedies in life is I generally get reported as being a critic of yours. Now, on this issue, obviously both as a constituency member and as a person with a great interest in East London and probably as a Labour group member as well, we don't have a formal policy on this, this is an excellent proposal, although there are a few questions that clearly need to be answered and I think there would obviously have to be some sort of public inquiry before the thing goes ahead. With public inquiries, you don't only have to deal...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 05 September 2001

Excellent. Shovel underground? How long do you estimate until the first shovel underground?