§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the European Commissioner for transport concerning the designation of key international road and rail routes by the Commission; and if he will make a statement on the implications of such designation on road and rail infrastructure funding in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. FreemanDepartment of Transport officials take part in Commission working groups developing guidelines for road and rail networks of Community interest. In the light of this work the Commission is putting a number of proposals to the Council of Ministers for eventual decision. Projects contributing to the networks may be eligible for EC funding under the current transport infrastructure programme or a future trans-European networks programme under the Maastricht treaty.
Under Maastricht it is in any event agreed that it will be for each member state to approve the guidelines and projects of common interest relating to its own territory.