§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport which authorities are responsible for determining the charges or tolls for the carriage of freight traffic through the channel tunnel for those portions of the journey(a) on the continent (b) within the United Kingdom and (c) between Frethun and Cheriton; and if 297W the payer of such moneys can be made aware of the components of any combined charge for any class or quantity of traffic attributable to each part of the journey.
§ Mr. FreemanCharging for international rail freight services through the channel tunnel will be a commercial matter for British Rail and SNCF, who have a commercial agreement with Eurotunnel for the use of the tunnel.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assistance is being provided out of public funds, other than that for grants toward the costs of private railway sidings, for the development or equipment of freight terminals for cross-channel rail traffic on the basis of(a) general desirability and (b) reduction in road congestion.
§ Mr. FreemanInvestment in terminals for channel tunnel freight services is a commercial matter for British Rail and, where appropriate, its private sector partners. British Rail is prohibited under section 42 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 from receiving Government grants for international rail services.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is British Rail's target date for signing a contract for building the main fleet of international trains for the channel tunnel route; and if he will make a statement;
(2) when British Rail will order the fleet of 18-coach Euro-express trains; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanBritish Rail, SNCF and SNCB signed the contract for the 30 inter-capital trainsets in December 1989. British Rail are still discussing with the manufacturers the design of and terms for the specially modified trainsets needed for north of London services.