§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the legal basis for his view that a debate in each House on the Central Railway Group's proposals is required to be on a motion moved by a Minister seeking the House's approval of the proposals, regardless of whether the Government support the motion. [33100]
§ Mr. WattsSection 9(4) of the Transport and Works Act 1992 says that in the case of proposals which in the Secretary of State's opinion are of national significance the Secretary of State may not make an order authorising the proposals unless each House of Parliament has passed a resolution, on a motion moved by a Minister, approving them. A motion seeking such approval is the only certain way of securing a decision one way or the other in a single debate. A motion framed in other terms—for example, to take note of the proposals—would risk an inconclusive result and a need for a second debate.