§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning his policy for funding extensions of the Docklands light railway.
§ Mr. David MitchellExpenditure contemplated by London Regional Transport on extensions of the Docklands light railway would have to meet the Government's criteria for public sector investment.
§ Mr. SpearingThat does not answer the question. Who will fund the extension? Will the funds come from public or private, sources, or a mixture of both, or has the Minister not decided yet? Has he noticed the mutually incompatible statements by the director of the London Docklands Development Corporation and from his office as published in the press?
§ Mr. MitchellI hope that I can reassure the hon. Gentleman. He will be aware that the Bill has been deposited. The Government have been assured by the London Docklands Development Corporation that, in its view, the project could go ahead without any expectation of Government contribution to capital or running costs. Before the Bill proceeds to Second Reading the Government will wish to examine the specific arrangements to be made by the LDDC to ensure that there is no significant risk that any of the cost would fall as a burden on LRT. We shall also want to see a full financial and economic appraisal of the railway project from LRT.