§ Mr. OttawayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he will verify the accuracy of the Eurostar traffic forecasts submitted to him by those organisations bidding to(a) construct the Channel Tunnel rail link and (b) run the Eurostar franchise. [39002]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAny forecasts produced by these parties are done for their own purposes and are not for endorsement by the Government. The Government have however commissioned an independent view based on information provided by the parties.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the timetable for the establishment of a Eurostar service from Birmingham to the Continent; and if he will make a statement. [38619]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe provision of these services is the responsibility of Eurostar (UK) Limited which is a subsidiary of London & Continental Railways Limited (LCR). LCR have assured me that Eurostar (UK) Limited are continuing to work with Rai1track in search of a solution to the continuing technical difficulties of operating Regional Eurostar rolling stock on parts of the existing network. These difficulties have prevented the issue of the safety clearances that are required before passenger services can be operated. LCR say that progress is being made, but regret that it is likely to be some months before the safety issues can be fully resolved. In the meantime LCR tell me that the traffic projections for these services are being considered as part of the forecasts for the business referred to in my answer of today to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Ottaway).
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what expenditure his Department has incurred on the provision of a sleeping car service to run to Europe, via the Channel Tunnel, for the regions of Britain; and if he will make a statement. [38618]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe rolling stock for this service was procured in 1992 by European Night Services Limited (ENS) using a lease purchase facility. ENS is a joint venture company owned by Eurostar (UK) Limited along with the national railways of France, Germany and Holland. Whilst there has been very little actual public financing of this venture, Eurostar (UK) Limited's share 423W of the capital value of the lease was scored as public expenditure when the company was in the public sector. The liabilities of Eurostar (UK) Ltd under the lease purchase facility are the subject of a Government Guarantee which was notified to Parliament under the normal procedures in 1996. If this Guarantee were to be called the Government's actual exposure is likely to be in the order of £105 million.