§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority to publish its second annual report.
§ Mr. FreemanI understand that the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority published its second annual report on 15 March. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on direct access from Manchester to the channel tunnel.
§ Mr. FreemanThere will be road access via the M6, M1 or M40, M25 and M20. British Rail plans to operate direct daytime rail passenger services from 1994 and is looking into the possibility of running some services from north of London to connect with the inter-capital trains at Waterloo from the opening of the tunnel. It hopes to announce the location of the international freight terminal in the Manchester area later this year.
§ Mr. AdleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the statutory limit laid down on the amount British Rail may borrow under the terms of the Transport (Finance) Act 1982; by how much this has increased since then; what the original limit is, uprated for inflation ; and if he will now bring forward proposals to amend the Act both in line with inflation and the special circumstances of the channel tunnel.
§ Mr. FreemanBritish Rail's borrowing limit remains as set out in the Transport (Finance) Act 1982, at £1,100 million, extendable by order to £1,300 million. These figures have not been increased to take account of inflation. At 31 March 1990 BR's capital liabilities to the Secretary of State were £202.8 million. The need for increased borrowing limits for BR is kept under regular review.