§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the cost advantage of the use of a through rail freight service for the journey across the channel compared to the costs of using(a) the conventional roll-on, roll-off ferry and (b) the road-rail ferry service; and to what extent there are likely to be differences in cost for transporting goods from, rather than into, the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. FreemanIt is for industry to decide which mode of transport to use. Distribution costs are a matter for commercial negotiation and will depend upon individual circumstances, such as volumes carried and frequency of service.