• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 28 February 2001

Darren mentioned the priorities given to tram services. The transport strategy is rather lukewarm, isn't it, on extra money being invested in working out new schemes - particularly the Croydon Tramlink? Don't you think that higher priority should be given to investment in extending the tram system?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 28 February 2001

Far be it from me to attack cyclists. They are a great group, per se. Bernard Jenkin is a great cyclist, as I am sure you know, as is his wife. But I have a serious problem with the behaviour of many cyclists in London. Talk about road rage: they cycle around as if they are God's gift, and nobody is angrier than cyclists about any movement by any other vehicle in any direction. Most particularly, they cycle on pavements, knocking down old ladies. It is a lethal habit, and there is absolutely no excuse, given that a section of...

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 28 February 2001

There are problems with this strategy consultation form. Certainly the cyclists are not happy. When the cyclists are happy with what you are proposing, we get to hear about it, because they ring our office straight away. When they are unhappy, we get to hear about it as well. There are two issues. Cycling is not given a box of its own in this section, and it was supposed to be a clear, distinct part of your overall transport approach. Also, there is a problem with things that have been lumped together which are often completely contradictory. You have one...

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 28 February 2001

Not this woman.

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 28 February 2001

Ken, do you not understand that it is not a question of whether any of us as individuals want to contribute to the work that this authority is doing, but of the job offers that come out of the blue?

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 28 February 2001

Thank you for that answer. It is with some disappointment that we hear it. I speak as the Chair of a cross-party committee. About the time of the launch, the committee asked me to put this question in, because we felt very strongly that Nolan principles of openness and accountability should be applied to the post of Chair. It seems that an agreement has been reached that does not preclude the appointment of a Chair through open advertisement. Since putting down the question, I have become aware of the discussions with the Association of London Government; but I feel sure...

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 28 February 2001

Well, it isn't - that is not what she said at all. Let us hear what you have to say about how you are going to ensure diversity and representation of ethnic minorities and women on this new quango. Are we going to put that to the side for the first year, while you and the chaps get on with it? Let us hear what you have to say about that.

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 28 February 2001

Can I get a serious answer from you?

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 28 February 2001

It is heartening to know that you are not ruling it out, but I feel that what you are describing is an officer working group rather than something with political accountability. I stress that I am not angling for the Affordable Housing Committee, or any of its Members, to have particular ongoing roles in this area; but I feel that the Association of London Government and other political structures - for example, within the London Housing Federation - need to be properly represented. It is at the political strategic level that some of the issues that we and the Housing...

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 28 February 2001

When you answered an earlier question, you said that it was important that somebody - "namely, myself", in your words - was acting as an arbiter between these different interests. One of the accusations that is made against you, and perhaps against the position of the mayoralty, is that you are left very exposed to the views of a coterie of advisers that will lead to just your personal taste adversely transforming the building landscape of London. What can you say to assure us that you will not be swayed by a coterie, and that we do not end up...