§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the currently expected timetable for the construction of the east London river crossing; what studies he is making of alternatives to that earlier proposal under Oxleas Wood and the construction of new cross Thames railway links east of Wapping.
§ Mr. NorrisThe Department will award a commission early next year for a traffic study into a new east London river crossing which will take into account public transport issues. This will be followed later next year by a design commission to work up alternative proposals. The timetable for construction will depend on the form of the proposals and the statutory procedures required. I am considering separately the interaction of this scheme with other road and rail crossings.