Channel Tunnel Services To The Regions

EDM number 344 in 1992-93, proposed by Hugh Bayley on 25/06/1992.

That this House notes the statement of Department of Transport witnesses to the Transport Select Committee that section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 'places a statutory obligation upon British Rail to bring forward plans for the development of services from the regions to convey passengers and freight to the Continent'; recognises that East Anglia, the Midlands, Wales, Yorkshire and Humberside, the North West, North East and Scotland will not get the services they need until the King's Cross Channel Terminal is provided; expresses great concern at the report in The Times on 24th June that the Government may not approve British Rail's bid for ú250 million towards the cost of the King's Cross Terminal; recognises that this investment would generate ú1.76 billion in social benefits for London commuters in terms of reduced traffic congestion and fewer road accidents; and calls upon the Government to approve British Rail's bid without delay to ensure that the North will benefit from the Channel Tunnel as well as the South.

This motion has been signed by a total of 50 MPs.