The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLE:50. To ask the Prime Minister if he proposes to leave the decision on the Channel Tunnel scheme to a free vote of the House.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSI beg to ask this question on behalf of my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. SPEAKERHas the hon. Gentleman been asked to put the question on behalf of his hon. Friend?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMost certainly I have.
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir. I propose that the decision on this question shall be left to a free vote of the House.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAMay I ask whether action, if necessary, will be taken on the decision?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe vote will be a free vote, and the Government will certainly consider the result. If the result is against the Government, I am not going to say that the Government are going to change their mind after a thorough review of the situation.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEAre not the Government already pledged against the scheme, and have they not declared their decision?