§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral statement of 15 January,Official Report, column 403, what plans he has to ensure that, in the event of a proposal from Central Railways plc to re-develop the central railway being deemed of national significance, Parliament will be adequately informed of the relevant national issues. [10048]
§ Mr. WattsThe documents to be deposited with Parliament in this event include a briefing note by the Department. We would expect to deal with relevant national issues in that note and in opening the debate.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that before any application from Central Railways plc to re-develop the central railway under the Transport and Works Act 1992 is submitted to Parliament(a) the application fully complies with the Act in relation to the funding of blight and (b) that Central Railways plc produces conclusive and irrefutable evidence that it can fully fund the inquiry process. [10049]
§ Mr. WattsThe Transport and Works Act rules require applicants to provide concise details of their proposals for funding the cost of acquiring blighted land within the meaning of section 149 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. If Central Railway plc were unable to meet its statutory obligations to acquire such land, the application would fail. Similarly, if it were unable to finance the inquiry it would be forced to withdraw the application.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that any application made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in regard to the central railway submitted by Central Railways plc complies with all the requirements of the Act with particular reference to the submission of adequate information including maps of the proposed route at a scale of not less than 1:2500 before the application may be placed before Parliament and that local authorities affected will be consulted in this process. [10046]
§ Mr. WattsMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering applications by Central Railway plc for partial, conditional or absolute waivers from compliance with certain application requirements under the Transport and Works Act rules. If we judge that local authorities should be consulted before reaching a decision, we will do so.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from local authorities along the route of the proposed central railway about the likely compliance of the proposals to be made by Central Railways plc with the requirements of the Transport and Works Act 1992. [10045]
§ Mr. WattsWe have received a number of representations. These will be taken into account in considering the applications by Central Railway plc for waivers from compliance with certain requirements of the Transport and Works Act rules.