HC Deb 22 April 1996 vol 276 cc3-4
2. Mr. Simon Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to secure provision of a westward rail link from Heathrow to the London—Swindon line. [24717]

The Minister for Railways and Roads (Mr. John Watts)

A possible westward rail link from Heathrow airport to the Great Western main line is one of number of schemes being examined in the Government's London airports surface access study.

Mr. Coombs

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a great deal of enthusiastic support for the concept of a westward link from Heathrow to the Great Western railway line on environmental grounds? It would make access to the airport from the west—from Wales, and from my constituency in Swindon—a great deal easier, and would encourage people not to travel on the M4, which, as my hon. Friend well knows, is already congested at peak times. Will he use his best endeavours to ensure that, if the access study team comes up with a proposal for such a link, the private sector is given every encouragement to bid for the project at the earliest possible stage?

Mr. Watts

It is encouraging to hear such good, common sense from Swindon. Those who visit Swindon to make speeches do not always utter such sensible ideas. Proposals for improving rail access from Heathrow to the London-Swindon line are among the studies for schemes by BAA and Railtrack. Railtrack-BAA train operating companies and the London borough of Hillingdon are also looking at proposals for a new station north of Heathrow—the so-called Heathrow gateway north station. Either of those projects could be taken forward by the private sector in the new private sector railway.

Mr. Mackinlay

Is it not foolish that, in advance of receiving the surface access study relating to Heathrow, the Government are embarking on widening the M25? They should pause and reflect, and abandon that crackpot scheme until the whole question of surface access to Heathrow can be looked at and the issue of Terminal 5 determined. It is wrong to go ahead with the widening without a public inquiry into air quality and other matters at the same time as contemplating a rail link—

Madam Speaker

Order. I gave the hon. Gentleman a chance, but he has gone wide of the mark.

Mr. Watts

Over a year ago, my right hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) announced our proposed approach to the M25 and access to Heathrow and said that we would be presenting a balanced transport package that would involve modest widening, and an enhancement, of the M25' s capacity, and studies into improving surface access by rail. Both elements of the policy are being taken forward expeditiously.