§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to alter the route of the channel tunnel rail link as announced by his predecessor last October; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorNo. The Government remain committed to their preferred route corridor announced last October, approaching London from the east along the lines proposed by Ove Arup, with a terminus at King's Cross. We have no intention of reconsidering other options rejected at that time. We have asked British Rail to define a route along our preferred corridor and expect firm proposals from them by the end of the year. Once we have considered the British Rail proposals, we will announce a detailed route for public consultation, and a full environmental impact assessment will be undertaken.