§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 76, what is his Department's broad estimate of the revenue forgone; and what are the estimated parameters of the estimated costs.
§ Mr. FreemanSince competition for the services provided by the channel tunnel in 2042 cannot be predicted now, and since the requirements for repair and updating of the tunnel nearly 50 years ahead are equally difficult to predict, I am unable to judge either the revenue or the costs flowing from the concession in that year. It follows that I am equally unable to say with any precision what the net present value of the extension which the British and French Governments have granted might be.