HC Deb 10 March 1994 vol 239 cc315-6W
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to undertake a study of combined transport links with Ireland; whether local authorities are to be consulted; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

The Irish and United Kingdom Governments have jointly appointed Mercer Management Consulting Ltd., in association with Indecon International Economic Consultants, to examine the potential for commercially viable combined transport services between Ireland, the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, as part of the EC Commission's PACT—pilot actions for combined transport—initiative.

A number of local authorities have expressed an interest in the study and the consultants will be approaching them in due course.