Channel Tunnel (Hansard, 4 December 1989)

§ 22. Mr. Rathbone
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he is discussing to provide rail links from the Channel tunnel to ports in the south and west of Great Britain.

§ Mr. Parkinson
There are already rail links between the site of the Channel tunnel entrance and most ports in the south and west. British rail will be setting out its current proposals for passenger and freight services in the plan which it will shortly be publishing, in compliance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987.

§ 25. Mr. John Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on the high-speed railway line to the Channel tunnel.

§ 48. Ms. Harman
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on the high-speed railway line to the Channel tunnel.

§ Mr. Parkinson
It is now for British Rail and its chosen partner, Eurorail, to take this project forward.

§ 26. Mr. Trotter
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of British Rail over the provision of through passenger and freight services from the north of the country to Europe through the Channel tunnel.

§ 38. Mr. Strang
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail about plans to link the Channel tunnel with routes north of London.
87W

§ 79. Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rail facilities will be provided in Liverpool in preparation for the opening of the Channel tunnel.

§ Mr. Parkinson
It is British Rail's responsibility to set out its proposals in the plan which it will shortly be publishing, in compliance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987. I await with interest the publication of the board's proposals.

§ 62. Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government will now give financial support to British Rail to assist with the environmental costs of the strategic Channel tunnel rail link.

§ Mr. Portillo
It is for the joint venturers to provide in the project for the high standard on environmental protection which they think will satisfy Parliament.

§ 72. Mr. Pike
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received seeking regional passenger and freight rail links to the Channel tunnel.

§ Mr. Portillo
We receive a number of representations from time to time from hon. Members and others.

§ 84. Mr. Moate
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on the construction of the Channel tunnel high-speed rail link.

§ 90. Mr. Dunn
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on British Rail, Eurorail and developments in the Channel tunnel high speed link.

§ Mr. Portillo
My right hon. Friend made an announcement on Friday 3 November.

§ 54. Mr. Riddick
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve the road and rail links between the Channel tunnel and Yorkshire.

§ Mr. Portillo
There are a number of major schemes in the road programme which will improve access between Yorkshire and the Channel tunnel. British Rail is about to publish its plan setting out its proposals for international services to regions outside the south east.

§ 73. Mr. Aitken
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the co-chairmen of Eurotunnel plc; if the financial viability of the project was discussed; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Portillo
My right hon. Friend last met the United Kingdom co-chairman of Eurotunnel at the ceremony to mark the breakthrough of the landward service tunnel on 9 November. Eurotunnel has announced that increasing costs will require additional funding. I understand that it is discussing the figures with its contractors and bankers.

§ Mr. David Porter
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make it his policy to consider alternative routes for the Channel tunnel rail link to London in addition to proposals put forward by British Rail;
(2) if he will make it his policy to study the viability of developing Stratford as the main London transit point of the Channel tunnel rail link in comparison with the existing British Rail proposals.
88W

§ Mr. Portillo
British Rail is statutorily responsible for providing rail services in Great Britain and planning new ones. It also holds the rights to through train paths in the Channel tunnel on which it has contractual agreements with Eurotunnel and French Railways. A Channel tunnel rail link will require the participation of British Rail. Anyone is free to suggest alternatives to British Rail's proposals. However, I accept that now that BR and Eurorail have announced their preferred route through Kent and terminal in London it will not be practicable for them to devote great efforts to examining other proposals. It will be for Parliament to decide whether the route can be accepted.