Examination of Witnesses (Questions 10600
- 10619)
10600. Only because you have chosen the Whitechapel
alignment which I am here to plead against.
Mr Berryman: No.
10601. My point, Mr Berryman, is if you had
properly evaluated the cost-benefits of this, you might well have
chosen the southern alignment.
Mr Berryman: Which southern alignment?
10602. Along the River.
Mr Berryman: There was no question
of us proposing a southern alignment.
10603. Mr Galloway: I know there is not,
that is my point.
10604. Mr Elvin: It would be helpful
if Mr Galloway would allow Mr Berryman to finish his answers.
10605. Mr Galloway: I am sorry.
Mr Berryman: I do not think there
is any point in pursuing discussion about the southern alignment.
We do not believe it to be feasible from an engineering point
of view. I have already given evidence on this matter some time
ago.
10606. Mr Galloway: Yes, but Chairman,
I am arguing that you should not choose this alignment and I am
entitled to adduce in that argument—
10607. Chairman: You are certainly allowed
to cross-examine Mr Berryman but it is fair, as Mr Elvin did raise
the fact, that he should be allowed to answer.
10608. Mr Galloway: Yes and I apologise
for that. I am more used to the parliamentary cut and thrust rather
than the quasi legal system that you are operating and I apologise
for that. Let me ask him a direct question. Mr Berryman, you said
the Council leadership was fully in favour of this. Do you know
what happened to the Council leadership at the elections a few
weeks ago?
Mr Berryman: I understand that
their majority was reduced.
10609. No, the Council leadership.
Mr Berryman: You mean Councillor
Keith?
10610. The people who have been doing the negotiating
with you?
Mr Berryman: Are you referring
to Councillor Keith.
10611. I am referring, Chairman, to the Mayor,
the Deputy Mayor, the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader
of the Council, they were all defeated in the elections last month,
were they not?
Mr Berryman: I believe they were,
yes, but I have to say that they are not the only people we have
been negotiating with in the Council. We were negotiating with
the previous leadership before that as well and their approach
has been consistent throughout.
10612. Mr Galloway: I would have hoped,
given that Mr Berryman has accepted that this little vignette
is unsatisfactory, Chairman, that at least in writing he will
provide the kind of answers that he has not been able to give
this evening because it is a trifle amateur for a Committee to
be discussing matters of this weight on phrases like a "a
lot of people", "a significant number of people",
and no cost-benefit analysis.
10613. Chairman: That, Mr Galloway, is
the point I raised earlier on upon which Mr Hopkins has elaborated.
Can I draw this to a conclusion because I am very interested in
what Mr Berryman said in the course of the answer he gave to you
in which he implied that a sort of cost-benefit analysis had been
carried out in relation to this. I would like to see provision
of that for members of this Committee, if we could have a note
on that.
10614. Mr Galloway: May I respond to
that in writing, Chairman?
10615. Chairman: When they supply it
to the members of the Committee we will also supply it to you,
Mr Galloway, and if you evidence given tomorrow, from another
person or Mr Berryman indeed may be recalled again, we will send
to you copies of the minutes of that and you may then respond
again in writing to the Committee.
10616. Mr Galloway: Thank you very much.
Mr Berryman: We can provide the
passenger numbers certainly tomorrow morning. It may be later
in the day or even the next day before we can get the benefit
cost ratio to you.
10617. Chairman: I am less concerned
about whether that is all available tomorrow in a note or anything
else than whether it is correct. I am trying to make is having
received it, it will go to Mr Galloway and Mr Galloway will be
allowed to put in writing his views back to the Committee for
our consideration. Is there anything else, Mr Galloway?
10618. Mr Galloway: Thank you, Chairman.
I realise I am all that stands between everyone and a World Cup
match so I would like to just respond on a few things that Mr
Elvin said, if I may.
10619. Mr Elvin: Mr Berryman can therefore
move out of the hot seat.
The witness withdrew
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