HC Deb 28 February 1991 vol 186 cc548-9W
Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what undertakings about funding he has given to the Cleveland light rail transit system; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

We have given no undertakings. If the promoters put a full case to us for resources for their project, we will consider this on its merits. No final decision could however be taken before the necessary statutory powers have been obtained.

Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the proposed cost of the Cleveland light rail transit.

Mr. Freeman

Cleveland county council has given us an estimate for the first phase of between £55 million and £85million, depending on which route is chosen.

Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the Cleveland light rail transit; and what replies have been given.

Mr. Freeman

Cleveland county council sent preliminary work on the project to the Department in 1989, and was told in June 1990 that on the evidence then available it looked unlikely to qualify for the central Government support. The council has since informed us that it is pursuing the project but has not yet put forward a case for resources.

We have also received expressions of concern from the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Hartlepool and from Shildon town council about the effect of the proposal on the Bishop Auckland—Teesside railway service. Both were informed that it was for the county council to decide what scheme to promote.