§ Mr. DunnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects rolling stock for channel tunnel night passenger services to be ordered.
§ Mr. FreemanBritish Rail and its continental partner railways have now confirmed with Metro Cammell their order for rolling stock. Night services are expected to begin in 1995.
§ Mr. AdleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on discussions, within the Council of Ministers, about the intervention by the Commissioner for Competition Policy in the decision by British Rail, together with the national railways of France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, to operate through sleeper services via the channel tunnel; and if he will resist any attempt to prevent the provision of such services.
§ Mr. FreemanThere has been no discussion of the channel tunnel night trains within the Council of Ministers. The question of exempting from European Community competition rules the joint venture agreement between the participating railways covering the purchase and operation of the night trains is a matter between the railways and the European Commission.