§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give further details of the Government's contribution to the disaster fund set up by the London borough of Wandsworth for the victims of the Clapham junction railway accident and their families.
§ Mr. ChannonAs my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House yesterday, the Government will be making a contribution of £250,000 to the Clapham junction disaster fund. I very much hope that the Government's example will encourage others to join in helping the bereaved and those who suffered in the accident. Neither the fund nor the Government's donation to it will affect claims for compensation.
Parliamentary approval for this payment will be sought in a supplementary Supply Estimate for the administration and transport services vote. Pending that approval, the 741W £250,000 donation will be met by a repayable advance from the contingencies fund. As savings have occurred in class VIII, 2, there will be no increase in the public expenditure planning total.