§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on his policy towards the Crossrail project; [67973]
(2) when his predecessor asked Railtrack to prepare a report on the Crossrail project; and when he expects to receive this report. [67974]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonIn response to a written Parliamentary Question the then Secretary of State for Transport told the House on 2 April 1996,Official Report, columns 129–30, that he had invited the Chairman of Railtrack to consider the Crossrail project with his Board. Railtrack has not responded to this invitation.
The Government's priority is to upgrade the existing Underground: the Public Private partnership will achieve that. It will be for the Mayor to take decisions on the future of the project as part of his or her integrated transport strategy for London, in the light of his or her priorities and the funds available. Meanwhile, the Crossrail route remains safeguarded.