§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he estimates that the former railway from692W Shotton Steelworks to Chester will be converted into a dedicated bus route; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [63941]
§ Mr. HainI understand that Flintshire County Council are developing proposals to convert into a guided busway the disused railway line which runs from Chester into the Deeside Development Zone. The authority has bid for Transport Grant support for preliminary design work on the project, which has an estimated total cost of £7.5 million. I will shortly be announcing my decisions on Transport Grant support for 1999–2000, and I will be writing to my hon. Friend at that time.