Channel Fixed Link (Hansard, 29 January 1986)

§ Mrs. Clwyd
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications of the decision on the fixed Channel link for the future of container ports in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
The potential diversion of containers from lift-on, lift-off shipping services to rail 517W services using a fixed link was taken into consideration when assessing the proposals for a fixed link. As I made clear in my reply on 20 December at column 345 to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Sir R. Eyre), the Government will not seek to influence banks and other institutions by publishing information about the Government's assessments of the traffic that will use the link.

§ Mrs. Dunwoody
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to increase from 50 per cent. to 80 per cent. the allowance given to private industries to create new railway sidings in preparation for the completion of the fixed Channel link.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
No.

§ Mrs. Dunwoody
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the chairman of British Rail with a view to developing throughout the United Kingdom an electrification programme in preparation for the completion of a fixed Channel link.

Revenue support Concessionary fares Public transport investment

Estimated 1985–86 £ million Planned 1986–87 £ million Estimated 1985–87 £ million Planned 1986–87 £ million Estimated 1985–86 £ million Planned 1986–87 £ million

London Regional Transport ^*109 ^*79 ^¶n/a ^¶n/a 230 261

Metropolitan areas (passenger transport authorities) ^†259 ^[...]273 ^†116 ^[...]234 ^‡65 ^‡40

Other local authorities ^¶97 ^¶137 ^‡10 ^‡10

Notes:
^* Revenue deficit.
^† Budgets: a further £40 million spending being financed from reserves.
^‡ 1986–87 provision, not strictly comparable with 1985–86 estimated outturn because it excludes internally financed expenditure by public transport undertakings.
^[...] PE provision, local authority budgets not yet available.
^¶ Excluding expenditure in metropolitan areas, but concessionary fares includes expenditure of £72 million by London local authorities.
Information on public transport administration is not separately identifiable.

	Revenue support	Concessionary fares	Public transport investment
	Estimated 1985–86 £ million	Planned 1986–87 £ million	Estimated 1985–87 £ million	Planned 1986–87 £ million	Estimated 1985–86 £ million	Planned 1986–87 £ million
London Regional Transport	^*109	^*79	^¶n/a	^¶n/a	230	261
Metropolitan areas (passenger transport authorities)	^†259	^[...]273	^†116	^[...]234	^‡65	^‡40
Other local authorities	^¶97		^¶137		^‡10	^‡10