§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the estimated overall capital cost of the Jubilee line extension(a) at the time of Royal Assent to the Bill, (b) updated following the indexation of prices adopted by his Department for (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998; and if he will list the estimated deficit against the original estimate at 1997 prices, indicating from what source he expects this sum to be defrayed. [10877]
§ Mr. BowisAt the time of Royal Assent the estimated overall cost of the Jubilee line extension was £2.1 billion in cash terms. The 1996 estimated outturn cost of the project was £2.6 billion in cash. That remains the estimated outturn cost. The difference between the two figures will come from London Transport's total resources, which include substantial amounts of Government grant. Additional grant has been made available specifically in respect of cost overruns related to delays arising from the new Austrian tunnelling method collapse on the Heathrow express project.