§ SIR EDWARD WATKINasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he is aware that His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, prior to the inquiry and report of the Military Committee presided over by Sir Archibald Alison, publicly expressed his disapproval of the proposal to connect France and England by means of a submarine tunnel; whether, if so, the Government intend to rely upon the "careful and voluminous report" of the Duke, announced by the Minister for War as an impartial expression of opinion upon the evidence; and, whether the Government will now announce to the House, categorically, whether they can sanction the construction of such a tunnel, and end further controversy on the subject?
§ MR. CHILDERSIn reply to my hon. Friend, I have to state that the Papers are in an advanced state of printing, and that the decision of the Government will be arrived at before long. My hon. Friend will excuse my saying that I pay no attention to after-dinner speeches on the Channel Tunnel, whether made by military officers or by Chairmen of public Companies, who may endeavour 718 to import political considerations into the question.