HC Deb 15 March 2002 vol 381 cc1276-7W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with the French Government regarding the SNCF Channel Tunnel restrictions. [42734]

Mr. Jamieson

Ministers across Government are in frequent contact with the French authorities to press for urgent action to tackle the disruption to Channel Tunnel rail freight.

John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what impact the SNCF Channel Tunnel restrictions are having on congestion on United Kingdom roads. [42735]

Mr. Jamieson

In the light of continued disruption to cross channel rail freight operations, more goods may have to be transported by road, so it is likely that road freight movements will marginally increase. There is no evidence to date that this is having any significant impact on congestion on UK roads.

John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what impact the SNCF Channel Tunnel restrictions are having on the United Kingdom economy. [42736]

Mr. Jamieson

The Government recognise that the disruption caused by would-be illegal immigrants is causing severe hardship to many businesses in this country who depend on reliable freight services through the Channel Tunnel.

We are pressing the French Government at the highest levels to ensure that sufficient policing resources are applied to address the problem so that normal freight services can resume as soon as possible.