HL Deb 19 December 1995 vol 567 cc1512-3

3.2 p.m.

The Earl of Kinnoull asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the period of blight damage caused to properties by the CrossRail scheme, a decision on its future can now be announced.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)

My Lords, a decision on the future of CrossRail will be announced in due course following full consideration, of the recent review.

The Earl of Kinnoull

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. In the spirit of Christmas, is he able to be rather more precise as to whether the announcement will be made in a matter of weeks or months in order to lessen uncertainty? Also, what does he expect to be the level of private funding in that important project if it proceeds?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the Government realise the disadvantages which come from any period of uncertainty or blight. That is why it is always our policy to take forward as quickly as possible those decisions. However, I regret that I cannot be more specific on the timing of that announcement. It is very clear that if the CrossRail scheme goes forward, it will require considerable private finance input.

Lord Clinton-Davis

My Lords, as regards the question of blight, the Government eventually capitulated to the view of the Parliamentary Commissioner and the Select Committee in another place by agreeing to pay compensation in relation to the cross-Channel route. Why did that take so long and is there to be a repetition of that?

Secondly, do the Government still support in principle CrossRail, bearing in mind that they gave considerable support to the idea not so long ago? Do they still think that it is critical to the Heathrow Express and the Channel Tunnel link or not?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, as regards government support for the project, we certainly recognise that the scheme has the potential to bring significant benefits to those who travel in and out of London and, indeed, through London. The question is what is the best way to produce those benefits.

The Channel Tunnel rail link and the PCA Select Committee report are matters for another question and they have been discussed in some length in this House. On the general issue of blight, it is a regrettable consequence of major projects such as this that blight occurs, but we aim to minimise it.

Lord Clinton-Davis

My Lords, arising out of the latter part of that answer, is it not a fact that the precedent created by the Government on that occasion was extremely unfortunate and created considerable difficulty and anxiety for some people? The House will be interested to know whether the Government will refrain from engaging again in such a policy which, as I say, caused a great deal of unnecessary anxiety to people in that instance?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the two situations are totally different. Many of the difficulties which arose in connection with the CTRL issue concerned the fact that a number of different routes were put forward and considered. That is not the case with CrossRail. That is a scheme which has much less variation in it. The parallels which the noble Lord seeks to draw between the CTRL blight issue and that concerning CrossRail exist.

Lord Ashbourne

My Lords, will the Minister tell the House the terms of reference of the Montagu Report? Is that report to he published and, if so, when?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the report to which my noble friend referred looked at the structure and ownership of CrossRail in the light of the rail privatisation arrangements; at possible private sector financial contributions; at London travel patterns and employment forecasts; and at the possibility of small-scale alternatives providing some cross-rail benefits at less cost. The review looked at that. The issue of publication is still being considered.