§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Railtrack's application for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in respect of the Thameslink 2000 Project. [48434]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions announced on 3 June 1998,Official Report, columns 367–84, that agreement had been reached on a statement of principles that will ensure the completion of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The new Thameslink 2000 station is an integral part of work on the CTRL at St. Pancras and in order to take full account of the continuing detailed contractual and financial arrangements the Secretary of State has decided to defer until 29 January 1999 the date by which he must give notice of an intention to hold a public inquiry into the proposed Railtrack (Thameslink 2000) Order. I hope that it will be possible to take a decision before that date and it will not be delayed unnecessarily. London and Continental Railways and Railtrack remain contracted to complete the Thameslink 2000 Project, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.