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• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 19 July 2006

I think this is a question about transport and the effect on poverty, so it might be appropriate for Mr Ross. We know that part of the nature of poverty in London is the cost of travelling, not only to economic and business opportunities, but also, for those perhaps who are less mobile, to hospitals and health centres. We have the situation in London where those people who travel relatively infrequently find that for the cheapest fares you actually need to purchase up-front an Oyster card. If you do not do this, because you've only have a small amount of...

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 19 July 2006

Given that there is a clear policy to move fully to cashless bus services, which will then have an level playing field, would it not be sensible to explore a campaign to get the last few people over to Oyster cards, including giving out free Oyster cards to people, particularly on the bus routes, where cash is being used a great deal. Brian Coleman (Chairman): I think perhaps, Mr Pope, that this is a specific item of policy which is for the Transport Committee, which you chair, to take up.

• Question by: Peter Hulme Cross
• Meeting date: 19 July 2006

Mr Faulkner and panel, going back to your opening remarks, I very much concur with what you said, because it squares with my own personal experience. The businesses are prepared to invest in training of their staff when things are prosperous; when things are not so prosperous they cut back, and training is one of the first things to go. At the moment we have a situation in London where unemployment is rising, where the closure of small businesses, according to the VAT figures, is actually more than those businesses which are opening, so, we seem to be in a...