Channel Tunnel (Hansard, 8 November 1991)

§ Mr. Rowe
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to ensure that standards in the construction of the channel tunnel rail link meet the requirements for new railway construction laid down by the European Community.

§ Mr. Freeman
There are no such EC requirements.

§ Mr. Rowe
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects to announce details of the arrangements for working up the new route for the new railway to the channel tunnel;
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(2) if he will ensure that the study of the new rail link to be built to the channel tunnel includes full appraisal of the route needed for through running of international passenger and freight trains beyond London;
(3) when the status of Ove Arup will be clarified to enable the company once again to enter into discussions with the citizens of Mid-Kent on the alignment, environmental protection measures and other causes of concern of the channel link.

§ Mr. Freeman
My right hon. and learned Friend has asked British Rail to carry out the next phase of developing the route in close consultation with the Government and the private sector and take the lead in consulting the public. We shall announce more details of the arrangements as soon as we are able to. The work to be done will include examination of the implications of the route for international freight and passenger services to and from both London and beyond.

§ Mr. Rowe
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide additional funds to British Rail to enable it to fulfil its obligation to purchase properties rendered unsaleable by their safeguarded railway corridor between Detling and Cheriton and to act as a buyer of last resort in compassionate cases.

§ Mr. Freeman
British Rail's offer remains open to buy any domestic property within the safeguarded zone between Detling and Cheriton. There are no present plans to broaden the terms of, or area covered by, the voluntary purchase scheme for this route section.

§ Mr. Rowe
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of containers currently being carried on the European railway network could reach(a) London and (b) Liverpool (i) now and (ii) in 10 years' time on tracks currently operated by BR.

§ Mr. Freeman
BR's European container services to London and Liverpool can at present accept all standard ISO containers as well as 2.5m wide pallet containers and 12.2m long swap bodies. When the channel tunnel opens in 1993 BR will be able to accept between 90 and 95 per cent. of all containers in use on other European railways. In the longer term, the percentage will depend on future developments in the global container market.

§ Mr. Rowe
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss his invitation to anyone to take BR's freight operation off his hands; if he has any plans to assist towards that outcome; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Freeman
My right hon. Friend regularly meets the chairman of British Rail to discuss a variety of issues, including progress on his rail freight initiative. The Government intend to seek substantial privatisation of BR in the next Parliament. Meanwhile, my right hon. Friend wrote to the chairman on 9 October asking BR to give positive and sympathetic consideration to reasonable proposals from the private sector to introduce new freight or passenger services. We look forward to BR's response.