§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received regarding transport links to the Channel tunnel from the north-west.
§ Mr. PortilloThere have been some representations, mainly about improvements to road and rail networks between the north west and other regions and the tunnel. Our national roads planning takes account of requirements of road traffic to and from the tunnel. British Rail is responsible for rail links to the Tunnel, and following the recent completion of its regional consultations, we are now awaiting the plan which the railways board has to produce by the end of this year under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act setting out its proposals for international services to the regions.