§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1998,Official Report, column 135, if he has commissioned an independent review of alternative proposals for regional Eurostar services; and if he will make a statement. [68573]
§ Mr. PrescottI have today announced a competition to seek a consultant to undertake a review of alternative proposals for regional Eurostar services. In addition to addressing itself in particular to the study completed by 341W Inter-Capital and Regional Rail Ltd., and the alternative proposals put forward by the Virgin Group, the review will include a thorough examination of a broad range of key elements including the points to be served, infrastructure requirements in terms of both rolling stock and track, wider social and economic benefits to the regions of having such services, and the case for carrying domestic passengers. These terms of reference have been informed by the recent report of the Transport Sub-Committee, for which I am grateful. I have asked for a thorough report to be presented to Government as soon as practicable. It is likely to take some months.