§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what evaluations his Department has(a)commissioned and (b)reviewed into the operation of Central Railway. [3640]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 16 July 2001]: My Department has not commissioned any evaluation of Central Railway's proposals. The Strategic Rail Authority's Freight Strategy outlines a programme of infrastructure and freight-specific investment, and discusses the concept of a new strategic route between the Channel Tunnel, the West Midlands and the north. It is in this context that the SRA initiated a high-level review of Central Railway's proposals. The SRA's consultants have now delivered their report and the SRA will advise the Government of its findings in due course. We will respond to Central Railway taking the SRA's conclusions into account.