§ Lord Clinton-Davisasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of Railtrack's decision to spend £100 million more than was originally estimated to adapt the rail network north and west of London to allow the passage of Channel Tunnel trains, they have any plans to reduce government investment in other parts of the railway infrastructure.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)It is not the case that the cost of adapting the rail network north and west of London is more than estimated when financial provision for the railway was announced in the Unified Budget last November. The external finance limit will allow Railtrack to invest £625 million in 1995/96, which is sufficient to meet the needs of both 63WA international and domestic services. Investment in domestic services is expected to increase next year in real terms.