The Minister might be about to come on to this point, but does he have any clear view yet as to how the benefits to business from having a station at Woolwich will be quantified in terms of trying to get private finance providers to make the contribution that we...

The Minister might be about to come on to this point, but does he have any clear view yet as to how the benefits to business from having a station at Woolwich will be quantified in terms of trying to get private finance providers to make the contribution that we...

Those are absolutely key points. In addition, in 2009, the docklands light railway will arrive, so Woolwich will become a major strategic hub, even for people living beyond the immediate area, for all the transport networks being developed in the eastern corridor and around the Thames Gateway area. With regard...

Those are absolutely key points. In addition, in 2009, the docklands light railway will arrive, so Woolwich will become a major strategic hub, even for people living beyond the immediate area, for all the transport networks being developed in the eastern corridor and around the Thames Gateway area. With regard...

I hope that London Members will forgive me if I begin with an admission. When I was elected two years ago, I had not given a great deal of thought to Crossrail. I have to say that it is not a subject that comes up often on the doorsteps in...

I hope that London Members will forgive me if I begin with an admission. When I was elected two years ago, I had not given a great deal of thought to Crossrail. I have to say that it is not a subject that comes up often on the doorsteps in...

The contingency at 35 per cent. remains a static figure as a percentage of the core costs. The savings have been made in a number of ways, such as by a review of the tunnelling strategy, and by a review of selective door opening so that existing surface-level stations might...

The contingency at 35 per cent. remains a static figure as a percentage of the core costs. The savings have been made in a number of ways, such as by a review of the tunnelling strategy, and by a review of selective door opening so that existing surface-level stations might...

I congratulate the right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford), who has played a central role in ensuring that the Woolwich station has remained on the agenda and has finally been delivered. I echo the comments of the Minister and the spokesman for the official Opposition about the...

I congratulate the right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford), who has played a central role in ensuring that the Woolwich station has remained on the agenda and has finally been delivered. I echo the comments of the Minister and the spokesman for the official Opposition about the...

May I draw the attention of the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Interests, notably my chairmanship of the Construction Industry Council? I welcome today’s debate and the new instruction to the Select Committee in respect of Woolwich. Before I talk about Woolwich, however, I would like...

May I draw the attention of the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Interests, notably my chairmanship of the Construction Industry Council? I welcome today’s debate and the new instruction to the Select Committee in respect of Woolwich. Before I talk about Woolwich, however, I would like...

This afternoon is a time for congratulations, and I add my appreciation of the work done by the Select Committee, not least its Chairman, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale). From day one when he received the evidence, it has been clear to me that he appreciated the need...

This afternoon is a time for congratulations, and I add my appreciation of the work done by the Select Committee, not least its Chairman, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale). From day one when he received the evidence, it has been clear to me that he appreciated the need...

I want to put on record my thanks for all the kind remarks that hon. Members have made about the Crossrail Committee. First, I thank my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for introducing the instruction to allow my Committee to examine and report more fully on the need for the Crossrail...

I want to put on record my thanks for all the kind remarks that hon. Members have made about the Crossrail Committee. First, I thank my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for introducing the instruction to allow my Committee to examine and report more fully on the need for the Crossrail...

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for bringing me back to the subject on which I was about to focus. I want to ask one question about the overall cost of the project. There was an announcement in yesterday’s papers that it had decreased from £7.8 billion to £6.2 billion. I...

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for bringing me back to the subject on which I was about to focus. I want to ask one question about the overall cost of the project. There was an announcement in yesterday’s papers that it had decreased from £7.8 billion to £6.2 billion. I...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments. I would also like to add my thanks to the officials in the Department for Transport and at Cross London Rail Links Ltd for their tremendous efforts. Today, we are debating a motion to allow the Committee to consider petitions...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments. I would also like to add my thanks to the officials in the Department for Transport and at Cross London Rail Links Ltd for their tremendous efforts. Today, we are debating a motion to allow the Committee to consider petitions...

I beg to move,"That it be a further Instruction to the Select Committee to which the Crossrail Bill is committed–""(1) that it have power to consider–""(a) the provision of a station at Woolwich, in the London Borough of Greenwich;""(b) realignment of the running tunnels at or in the vicinity of...

I beg to move,"That it be a further Instruction to the Select Committee to which the Crossrail Bill is committed–""(1) that it have power to consider–""(a) the provision of a station at Woolwich, in the London Borough of Greenwich;""(b) realignment of the running tunnels at or in the vicinity of...

I am very grateful for that stricture, Mr. Deputy Speaker—considering that I was nowhere near my peroration. However, I will now cut to the chase. The Crossrail project will be enhanced by a station at Woolwich, provided that this can be achieved without adding to the public funding required. Developments...

I am very grateful for that stricture, Mr. Deputy Speaker—considering that I was nowhere near my peroration. However, I will now cut to the chase. The Crossrail project will be enhanced by a station at Woolwich, provided that this can be achieved without adding to the public funding required. Developments...

That is a valid question, but I am not able at this early stage of the negotiation to give any details in respect of what mechanism might be used to identify those particular benefits. I say again, however, that I have confidence that the various partners will be able to...

That is a valid question, but I am not able at this early stage of the negotiation to give any details in respect of what mechanism might be used to identify those particular benefits. I say again, however, that I have confidence that the various partners will be able to...

I am grateful to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for bringing me back on to the route in question. When we have such developments, however, we need to ensure that the benefits reach as wide a community as possible. For my community to benefit most, those bus links need to be...

I am grateful to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for bringing me back on to the route in question. When we have such developments, however, we need to ensure that the benefits reach as wide a community as possible. For my community to benefit most, those bus links need to be...

With the leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker. This has been a well-informed and good-natured debate, and I am grateful to Members for what they have said. Support for Crossrail clearly remains strong and spans the House. Given that my right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich...

With the leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker. This has been a well-informed and good-natured debate, and I am grateful to Members for what they have said. Support for Crossrail clearly remains strong and spans the House. Given that my right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich...

Can the Minister confirm whether that reduction in cost has come simply from reducing the contingency, or are other factors involved?

Can the Minister confirm whether that reduction in cost has come simply from reducing the contingency, or are other factors involved?

I thank my hon. Friend for underlining the fact that not only Woolwich and Greenwich residents will benefit from the station, but people from further afield. Today’s debate focuses on Woolwich and Woolwich station. However, I hope that with your leave, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I will be able to make...

I thank my hon. Friend for underlining the fact that not only Woolwich and Greenwich residents will benefit from the station, but people from further afield. Today’s debate focuses on Woolwich and Woolwich station. However, I hope that with your leave, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I will be able to make...

Not only does Crossrail have all-party support, but the proposal to bring Woolwich station on to the line is hugely supported not only in Woolwich but in south-east London generally. It will give many of us our closest access to Crossrail, and will be well used not only by people...

Not only does Crossrail have all-party support, but the proposal to bring Woolwich station on to the line is hugely supported not only in Woolwich but in south-east London generally. It will give many of us our closest access to Crossrail, and will be well used not only by people...

As the Minister pointed out earlier, the House is considering a motion to issue to the Select Committee an instruction to hear petitions against the construction of the station at Woolwich. This is the third such motion in the past 18 months, as the mammoth Crossrail Bill proceeds through lengthy,...

As the Minister pointed out earlier, the House is considering a motion to issue to the Select Committee an instruction to hear petitions against the construction of the station at Woolwich. This is the third such motion in the past 18 months, as the mammoth Crossrail Bill proceeds through lengthy,...

Will my hon. Friend confirm to the House the importance of such a stop, given that about 100 buses go into Woolwich every hour, and by 2030, I am told, more than 100,000 people will live within a 20-minute journey of it?

Will my hon. Friend confirm to the House the importance of such a stop, given that about 100 buses go into Woolwich every hour, and by 2030, I am told, more than 100,000 people will live within a 20-minute journey of it?