---

Crossrail Bill

I shall come in a moment to the interrelationship between the private sector and the state. That is extremely important, and no doubt the hon. Lady’s magnificent Committee will want to look into the matter as well. We need a clearer picture of the structure of revenues and funding. The Montague report identified five main potential sources for funding the construction of Crossrail: net travel-generated revenues, which in plain English means fares; any appropriate European Union subventions—it would be interesting to know what they might be; contributions from London businesses and/or individuals, which might be voluntary or mandatory; property revenues; and direct Exchequer support. That is quite a complex structure of financing, with a large number of elements, all of which are fairly uncertain, unless the Minister is able to reassure us at the end of today’s debate. I hope that a clearer picture of funding can be forthcoming.