§ 15. Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters he has received(a) in support of and (b) in opposition to the proposed high-speed Channel tunnel rail link.
§ Mr. PortilloWe have received a large number of letters, mainly from people who were opposed to British Rail's original proposals. BR has announced a revised route proposal which takes account of the comments received.
§ 17. Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest information on the proposed level of investment in the north-west region by British Rail intended to maximise the benefits to that region of the Channel tunnel.
§ Mr. PortilloBritish Rail is still working on its proposals for Channel tunnel passenger and freight services and any associated investment. It is required by the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 to publish a plan by the end of this year.
§ 22. Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the north-west regional managers of British Rail to discuss the implications of the Channel tunnel for the north-west.
§ Mr. PortilloI meet regional managers from time to time on regional visits. I look forward to the plans for freight and passenger services from the north-west to the Channel tunnel which British Rail is obliged to publish by the end of the year.
§ 23. Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent his Department has been consulted to date by British Rail in reaching their decision as to the route of the proposed Channel tunnel high-speed rail link.
§ Mr. PortilloBritish Rail has kept us in touch with the progress of its work on the rail link proposal.
§ 24. Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussion he is having with those London borough councils whose areas would be affected by the high-speed train services connected to the Channel tunnel development; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloBritish Rail consulted all those boroughs which would have been affected by its original proposals. It will now enter detailed consultations with those affected by the revised proposal even though its impact would be much less.
§ 27. Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake a research programme into 107W the investment needed by British Rail and other transport operators if the port of Liverpool and the north-west region are to take full advantage of the Channel tunnel.
§ 29. Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will undertake an urgent research programme into the needs of the north-west region with respect to the Channel tunnel.
§ 42. Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that(a) the port of Liverpool and (b) the north-west region are able to take advantage of the Channel tunnel.
§ 34. Mr. LoydenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further assessment he has made of the transportation advantages of the development of the port of Liverpool to coincide with the opening of the Channel tunnel.
§ Mr. PortilloA partnership of public and private sector interests in the north-west, led by chambers of commerce there, is already carrying out a study into the region's requirements arising from the single European market and the Channel tunnel. Government Departments will assist with information and advice as necessary.
The plan that British Rail is required to prepare under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 on international passenger and freight "Services" will cover all regions.
The impact of the Channel tunnel is one of the many factors taken into account in planning the national trunk road programme. There is already a number of schemes in the programme that will improve north-south links. A review of the trunk road programme is in progress, and we expect to make an announcement in the spring.
§ 31. Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the regional impact of the Channel tunnel.
§ 36. Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the regional impact of the Channel tunnel.
§ 56. Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the effects of the Channel tunnel on the north-west.
§ Mr. PortilloThere have been some representations from right hon. and hon. Members, local authorities and other organisations, mainly about improvements to road and rail links between the regions and the Channel tunnel.
On rail, these points are best made to the British Rail working groups which have been set up in each region as part of its planning services.
§ 32. Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received any proposals to improve existing railway lines from Kent, around London, and through the north-west of England, to Glasgow, to create a high-speed rail link from the Channel tunnel to Scotland.
§ Mr. PortilloBritish Rail's proposal for a new rail link between the Channel tunnel and London will make possible improved links from the tunnel to the north of England and Scotland. BR will be setting out its proposals for Channel tunnel rail services to the north of London in the plan which it will publish later this year, in compliance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987.
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§ 40. Mr. StottTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek a meeting with the chairman of British Rail to discuss investment plans for the north-west in the years prior to the opening of the Channel tunnel.
§ Mr. PortilloMy right hon. Friend and I will want first to see the plan that BR is due to publish later this year, in compliance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987.
§ 41. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on plans to protect the environment along the Channel tunnel high-speed rail link route.
§ Mr. PortilloThe revised proposal which British Rail has now announced includes a number of very significant changes designed to protect the environment.
§ 45. Mr. EasthamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with British Rail about the Channel tunnel and related investment in the north-west.
§ Mr. PortilloThe importance of direct freight links from the regions to the Channel tunnel is raised in our discussions from time to time. British Rail is still working on the plan which it will present to Ministers later this year, in compliance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987.
§ 48. Mr. LitherlandTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what level of investment is currently planned to be spent by British Rail in the north-west region to coincide with the opening of the Channel tunnel.
§ 50. Mr. Terry LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that British Rail's investment plans will maximise the benefits to the north-west region of the Channel tunnel.
§ Mr. PortilloBritish Rail is still working on the plan which it will be publishing later this year, in compliance with section 40 or the Channel Tunnel Act 1987.
§ 53. Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussion he has had with his French counterpart regarding transport links to the Channel tunnel.
§ Mr. PortilloMy right hon. Friend and I regularly meet French transport ministers and discuss transport links to the Channel tunnel when necessary.
§ 54. Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the implications for the environment of the proposed rail link for the Channel tunnel.
§ Mr. PortilloThe revised proposal which British Rail has now announced includes a number of very significant changes designed to protect the environment.