MR. BROMLEY-DAVENPORTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any works in connection with the proposed Channel Tunnel are being still carried on?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINSir, my right hon. Friend the Secretary for War has referred this Question to me. The facts of the case are as follows:—On April 1 last the Board of Trade wrote to the hon. Baronet the Member for Hythe (Sir Edward Watkin), the Chairman of the Submarine Continental Railway Company, calling upon him to discontinue the experimental works while inquiries were pending. On the 9th, the hon. Baronet appealed to me by telegraph to allow the works to proceed a short distance, as the stoppage would endanger life, and I sanctioned such works as might be necessary to prevent this danger, adding that I had appointed an Inspecting Officer to visit the works at once and arrange what works were necessary. This visit was, however, put off by the Company. Again, on May 3, the Company were informed that the Chief Inspecting Officer, accompanied by the Solicitor to the Board of Trade, had been directed to proceed to the spot and make themselves acquainted as to the position and progress of the operations. This visit was also put off by the hon. Baronet, as was one suggested by the Board of Trade for any day not later than the 10th of May. Subsequently, arrangements were made with the Company for the visit of inspection to take place on the 27th of May, and again on the 10th of June and on June 24. These appointments have, however, always been postponed before the day fixed, under one pretext or another; and I am now in consultation with the Law Officers of the Crown as to the steps that 409 should be taken under the circumstances, in order to insure an inspection, without which it is impossible for me to answer the hon. Member's Question.
§ MR. MACFARLANEHave the works been going on during these two months?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI am without any positive information on the subject.