§ Mr. AdleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to match the subsidy provided by the French Government to Sociéte Nationale de Chemins de Fer for its Channel tunnel rail plans, by making available to British Rail additional funds to enable it to meet essential environmental costs relevant to a new line of railway from the tunnel to London; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloSection 42 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 prohibits Government subsidies in connection with British Rail's Channel tunnel rail services. But I expect BR's proposals for a new line to take full account of environmental considerations.