To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has on the connection between the recent flooding in the Higham and Strood tunnels and the concreting over of nearby drainage channels.

I am advised that British Railways has no knowledge of any concreting over of drainage channels and that it is unlikely that any such action without its knowledge would have significantly contributed to the recent flooding at Higham and Strood tunnels. The flooding occurred at the end of January this year after a period of unusually prolonged and heavy rainfall, which caused a rise in the level of the local water table, up to the level of the bottom of the electric conductor rail, causing the suspension of electric-hauled services. Additional pumping combined with a general lowering of the local water table enabled normal services to be resumed on 23 February. However, high water table levels persist and pumping is continuing.