§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of British Rail to discuss rail links to the north of England and Scotland from the Channel tunnel.
§ Mr. PortilloNeither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor my predecessor as Minister of State have discussed this specific subject with the chairman recently, but they have discussed the pattern of Channel tunnel rail services in general terms with him from time to time. Under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act, British Rail is required to publish by the end of 1989 a plan setting out its proposals for services through the Channel tunnel. It is are currently consulting interested parties.