To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that more freight is transferred from road to rail and that the freight passes round rather than through London.

We are actively supporting BR's participation in joint ventures with the private sector; paving the way for liberalisation of access to the rail network to widen customer choice; backing investment for BR's new channel tunnel services; and encouraging companies to take advantage of freight facilities grants. The routeing of freight services is a matter for British Rail.