§ Mr. Bagierasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received the British Railways Board report on its studies for a single track railway under the English Channel; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RodgersYes. The Board has sent me a copy of its report on the preliminary studies which it has been undertaking in conjunction with the French Railways. It has asked for an indication in the near future of the Government's attitude to the project.
The Government will give careful consideration to the report in the light of the process of consultation that the Board now proposes to begin. Meanwhile, however, the Government's position on the previous Channel Tunnel project which was abandoned in 1975 remains unchanged. There can be no question of entering into new public spending commitments at the present time.
A copy of the Board's report which is being published today has been placed in the Library of the House.