The Crossrail Bill was carried over to the new Parliament on April 7.

Given the lengthy timescales associated with Hybrid Bills, they can be carried over from one session of Parliament to another, and from one Parliament to another, so that the Bill is not lost.

Carry Over enables a Bill to continue in the next session or in a new Parliament at the same stage that it was at when it was carried over.

Carry Over of the Crossrail Bill was secured through the passing of Carry Over Motions in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

A Hybrid Bill is a Public Bill promoted by the Government which is treated like a Private Bill for part of its passage through Parliament, in addition to being considered in the same way as any other Public Bill.

A copy of the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Notes can be found on the UK Parliament's website at www.parliament.uk.

A copy of the Plans and Sections, Environmental Statement (ES) and ES Non-Technical Summary are available on the Department for Transport's website at www.dft.gov.uk and on Cross London Rail Links' (CLRL) website at www.crossrail.co.uk.

Comments on the Environmental Statement should be sent to the Consultation Manager, Major Projects Division 3, Zone 2/08, 76 Marsham Street, London, SWIP 4DR (e-mail: crossrail@dft.gsi.gov.uk).

Ends

For further information see Department for Transport News Release 2005/0045 of 7 April, or contact the 24 hour seven day a week helpline on 0845 602 3813.

Issued 4 May 2005