§ 80 and 81. Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Minister of Transport 1084 (1) whether he can state what progress has been made with the proposal to construct a tunnel under the River Thames between Dartford and Purfleet; and whether he is now in a position to supply, as promised by the former Minister of Transport, the Committee which is advocating a tunnel in the Lower Thames with a copy of the engineers' plans and reports on the whole subject of these Lower Thames tunnels;
(2) whether he is in a position to give approximately the number of men that would be employed in constructing a tunnel in the Lower Thames, and the time it would take to complete the work; and whether, in view of the transport congestion in London and the large increase in the number of unemployed, he can obtain Cabinet approval forthwith for the construction of this work, review the financial aspect of the proposal with the authorities concerned, and commence the construction of this tunnel at the earliest possible date?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MOORE-BRABAZONThe matter has been under consideration by the London Traffic Advisory Committee, who have made an inspection of the site proposed for the tunnel. I am informed that the Committee, whilst they consider the scheme a desirable one, take the view that on traffic grounds other important schemes which they now have under consideration should take priority. Detailed consideration of the financial aspects of the proposal have therefore been postponed, and I am not in a position to give the information asked for in the questions. I may point out that in any case it would be necessary to obtain a special Act of Parliament before the proposal could be proceeded with.