§ Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will direct the attention of his Department's inquiry into the potential uses of tracked hovercraft to the comparative merits of the advanced passenger train currently under development by British Rail at Derby; and what estimates the Department has made of the cost of introducing hovercraft track between London and 350W Manchester, compared to the estimated cost of introducing the advanced passenger train over the same run.
§ Sir J. EdenI am aware of the merits of the advanced passenger train currently being developed by British Rail. There is a continuing assessment of possible future high-speed transport systems for both home and overseas markets.