LONDON HAS WAITED FRUSTRATED FOR CROSSRAIL REPORT

11.45.48am GMT Wed 31st Mar 2004

Simon is urging Ministers to get building Crossrail for London

Liberal Democrat London Spokesman, Simon Hughes MP, has today tabled a House of Commons motion urging the Government to publish the delayed Montague Report on whether the Government is to support Crossrail.

The motion, backed by Liberal Democrat London MPs and the Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, highlights that the report is now more than two months overdue and that without the report, any consultation or building of Crossrail cannot get underway.

Simon Hughes said:-

"This Blair government and Blair's Mayor have talked endlessly about Crossrail but have failed to deliver. Time and again London has been told that it will be built, but like a typical New Labour transport project it has been endlessly delayed.

"For forty years Crossrail has been a dream that has never happened. The public have waited frustrated at the failure of national government to publish the report into the viability of Crossrail.

"The case for Crossrail has been made many times over. It is time to get the Montague report published, hear the thoughts of the public and get a railway built that links east and west London together before the delays jeopardise the Thames Gateway regeneration project."

ENDS

The Early Day Motion in the House of Commons was tabled today.

EDM 949

CROSSRAIL

Hughes/Simon

That this House is concerned with the failure of Ministers to publish the Montague Report on Crossrail due at the end of January; notes that reports coming from the Treasury about the financing of Crossrail have been lukewarm; further notes that the longer it takes to make a firm commitment to Crossrail the less likely it will be that the £20 billion of value added to GDP and consequent additional tax take of £7.6 billion will be generated, throwing into doubt the whole future of the Thames Gateway regeneration; and calls upon Ministers to publish the report, hold consultations with the public and get on with building a rail link between East and West London.

John Thurso

Vincent Cable

Edward Davey

Paul Burstow