§ Mr. AdleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislative steps he envisages, to enable SNCF to run trains on British Rail tracks after the opening of the channel tunnel.
§ Mr. FreemanNo new legislation is needed to enable SNCF to run rail services jointly with BR on BR tracks. The Government propose to make regulations under the European Communities Act 1972 in order to implement EC directive 91/440 "On the Development of the Community's Railways".
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on raising finance from the private sector for the channel tunnel rail link; if public moneys will be made available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanWe have appointed Samuel Montagu to advise on private sector involvement, and it has had preliminary discussions with a number of organisations with a potential interest in funding and developing the link. But substantive consideration of funding issues is unlikely before the route has been refined.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans are being made for an international station at Stratford to serve the channel tunnel rail link; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanBritish Rail is undertaking detailed studies on the options for an international station a t Stratford, and there will be consultation with the local authorities concerned before any plans are finalised.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the London Channel Tunnel Group is to be represented on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Forum; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe local authorities directly affected by the proposed route of the channel tunnel rail link are represented on the forum individually, rather than through bodies such as the London Channel Tunnel Group.