§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the merits of the Central Railway project on its current proposed routing around the south-west quadrant of the M25. [133141]
§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will meet a delegation of elected representatives from Surrey to discuss the problem of blight created by the proposed Central Railway scheme; [133142]
770W(2) what steps he plans to take to avoid long-term blight of properties located on or close to the route of the Central Railway proposed freight line through Surrey. [133143]
§ Mr. HillIn answer to a Parliamentary Question today, my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford), has announced the publication of the report of the Compulsory Purchase Policy Review Advisory Group which, among other things, considers the issue of blight. In his reply, my hon. Friend has invited comments on all the recommendations in the report, and these will then be taken into account in preparing the Government's response setting out our future policy intentions with regard to compulsory purchase issues including blight.
In the meantime, little could be achieved by meeting a delegation to discuss the specific blight problems caused by the proposed Central Railway scheme in Surrey as there are no statutory powers under which any remedy could be provided at this stage in the development of the Company's scheme.
§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the financial strength of the promoters of the proposed Central Railway scheme and of the likelihood of the project reaching fruition. [133157]
§ Mr. HillNone. I understand that Central Railways plc may intend to submit an application under the Transport and Works Act but no such application has yet been received.