asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the chairman of British Rail improving the frequency of direct passenger and freight trains between Scotland and the continent, to achieve optimum benefits for Scotland from the Channel tunnel link.

British Rail are already fully alive to the commercial opportunities opened up by the Channel tunnel to expand through rail services to the Continent from all areas of Great Britain. A new clause requiring BR to plan for the dispersal of tunnel rail services to various parts of the country has now been added to the Channel Tunnel Bill in another place.