HC Deb 14 July 1995 vol 263 cc807-8W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many tenderers for the CTRL put forward variant bids; [34277]

(2) how many tenderers for the CTRL produced additional bids which identify essential changes in the reference design as set out in the competition overview. [34273]

Mr. Watts

All details of all the bids are commercially confidential.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what year the Government commitment as set out in the draft development agreement for the channel tunnel rail link not to upgrade existing railway lines between London and the channel tunnel to the extent they could be used as high-speed lines lapses. [34275]

Mr. Watts

I refer the hon. Member to section 8.6.1 of the "Competition Overview". The second indented paragraph statesany subsidy or financial assistance provided by the Government in relation to the existing routes between London and the Channel Tunnel would be limited to their repair and refurbishment, and would not encompass any improvement to allow them to be used as high speed lines".

No termination date has been set for that commitment, which will be enshrined in the development agreement.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent the initial bid for the channel tunnel rail link put forward by Eurorail failed to conform with the requirements of the tender document. [34539]

Mr. Watts

All details of all the bids are commercially confidential.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the range of public subsidy likely to be required for the construction of the channel tunnel rail link. [34540]

Mr. Watts

I have nothing to add to my earlier reply to the hon. Member on this point on 6 June 1995,Official Report column 41.