§ Mr. LazarowiczTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with(a) the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) Scottish Ministers regarding the re-opening of the Waverley rail route from Edinburgh to Carlisle. [25916]
§ Mr. JamiesonThere have been no recent discussions. Last year Scottish Borders council announced that a detailed application for formal consent to construct the railway is likely to be lodged with the Scottish Parliament by March 2003. If work goes to schedule and plans are approved the railway could be re-opened in 2008.