CROSSRAIL

Early day motion 314, tabled 13 June 2005 by Mike Gapes (Labour). Signed by 54 members.

That this House welcomes the Crossrail project as an opportunity to deliver crucial economic and transport benefits to the nation that must not be missed; notes that Crossrail's business case is a strong one and that Crossrail enjoys overwhelming support from business, the unions and the public; further notes that in addition to many transport and regeneration bodies, recent research by the Centre for Economic and Business Research has indicated that Crossrail will add £23.7 billion to the UK's Gross Domestic Product by 2023 and support thousands of jobs in manufacturing and services in every region that would not otherwise exist; calls for the Crossrail Bill, without which the scheme cannot be built, to be considered as a top priority; looks forward to a constructive debate on the issue of funding; celebrates the hard work and expertise of those responsible for developing the scheme; pledges to scrutinise the effect of the construction on the different communities along the line; and calls on the Government to bring forward the Second Reading of the Crossrail Bill and do all it can to make the Crossrail scheme and its benefits a reality to the public at the earliest opportunity.

Signatures by party: Labour 34, Conservative 12, Liberal Democrat 8.