§ Mr. DowdTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the reduction in number of passengers travelling by air from London regional airports as a result of the channel tunnel rail link(a) when the tunnel opens and (b) when a high-speed rail link is completed.
§ Mr. NorrisThe Department's 1991 air traffic forecasts project a reduction of 5.3 to 6.6 million passengers per annum travelling through London airports in 2000 as a result of the channel tunnel. These forecasts assume a high speed rail link. Estimates of the reduction in air passengers when the tunnel opens are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.