§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what discussions took place at the Essen summit on the Trans-European road network, with particular reference to the M2, M25 and M4;
(2) what submissions were made by the British Government to the Christophersen commission prior to the Essen summit on the trans-European road network in the British Isles; and if he will list those routes that were proposed;
1010W(3) pursuant to his oral statement of 12 November, Official Report, columns 613–15, if the TERN proposals discussed at the Essen summit included a trans-European network from the south-east of Ireland to the eastern English channel ports;
(4) pursuant to his oral statement of 12 December, Official Report, columns 613–15, what other TERN routes the British Isles discussed at the European Council meeting at Essen.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Essen European Council welcomed the report of the Christopherson group of personal representatives and endorsed its main recommendations. It confirmed that the 11 priority projects agreed at the Corfu Council and the three further projects now added to the list had either already been started or could be started shortly. Four United Kingdom projects are included among the 14 endorsed by the Essen Council: the channel tunnel rail link; the Cork-Dublin-Belfast-Lame rail link; the Ireland-United Kingdom-Benelux road link; and the upgrading of the west coast main line. In addition to the 14 projects on the Christophersen group list, discussions are continuing in Brussels on the Commission's wider proposals for a trans-European transport network. These proposals include a strategic route linking the south-east of Ireland with the eastern channel ports via south Wales.