HL Deb 15 December 1998 vol 595 cc139-40WA
Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of Section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (which imposes a duty on the British Railways Board (BRB) to prepare plans to develop cross-channel rail passenger services):

  1. (a) whether the BRB still retains responsibility for discharging the duties contained in this section; and, if not, to whom it was assigned and when;
  2. (b) when the plan was last reviewed or revised and when such reviews or revision were published;
  3. (c) whether in the light of the continuing lack of Channel Tunnel passenger services, the BRB intends to review the plans in the near future; and whether they will publish the result of that review. [HL86]

Lord Whitty

In respect of Section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987:

  1. (a) the British Railways Board (BRB) retains responsibility for discharging the duties contained in that section;
  2. (b) a plan was published in December 1989 and kept under review by the BRB and European Passenger Services Ltd, whilst responsibility for services remained with the board;
  3. (c) it is proposed that the BRB will transfer to the Strategic Rail Authority at the earliest opportunity, subject to legislation. In the meantime, the Government will be commissioning a thorough and independent review of the report Review of Regional Eurostar Services which has been presented to it by the consortium, and of the alternative proposals put forward by the Virgin Group.