§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has decided to hold a public inquiry into Railtrack's application for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in respect of the Thameslink 2000 project. [27355]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonIn the light of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions statement to the House on Wednesday 28 January 1998,Official Report, columns 466–74, about the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), the Secretary of State has decided to defer until 25 March the date by which he must reach a decision on whether to hold a public inquiry into Thameslink 2000. The reason for this is that powers for works which form important components of the Thameslink 2000 project are contained in the CTRL Act 1996 and cannot be used other than as part of the CTRL.