Ministers Must Show Commitment To Crossrail - hughes

11.28.27am GMT Mon 27th Oct 2003

Simon Hughes MP for Mayor of London

Commenting on news that Treasury officials plans to block the London Crossrail project, Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes MP said: "Crossrail is vital to the future vitality of London and must be completed as soon as is practical. London is one of the few cities in Europe without a coherent transport system that gets passengers from east to west or north to south leaving many people stranded in the capital."

"With congestion increasing on London's underinvested and overstrained train and tube lines, it is critical that the new Crossrail project is completed with a real understanding of London and Londoners needs."

"I expect the project to be funded mainly out of the private sector. However, the more positive the Government can be about innovative ways of raising money, such as collecting money from windfall profits on commercial properties on the route, the more confidence investors will have that Crossrail can become a reality."

ENDS

Notes to editor

Mr Hughes spoke in the Adjournment Debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 21st October 2003, between 9.30am - 11am.

Mr Hughes also met Norman Haste, the Chief Executive of Crossrail last week to discuss the future viability of the project

Details of the debate can be found at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/co031021/hallindx/31021-x.htm

Richard Stokoe

Senior Liberal Democrat Press Officer for Simon Hughes MP Mayoral Campaign tel. 020 7227 1236, mobile 0772 08 38 351, fax 020 7227 1313 and pager 07659 114613.