§ 48 and 49. Mr. MILLSasked the Minister of Transport (1) the present state of negotiations regarding the proposed Dartford-Purfleet tunnel; how many county councils are subscribing towards the cost; the proportions of their contributions compared with the national quota; and whether any county councils are making it a condition of contribution that a proportion of their unemployed shall be employed on the constructional work of the tunnel or its approaches;
(2) how many approach roads have been planned in the counties of Kent and Essex in connection with the proposed Dartford-Purfleet tunnel; and whether it is proposed that any part of the foreshore of Dartford Creek can be dredged, deepened and embanked during the process of construction?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONAs the answer contains a number of figures I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The draft agreement between the Kent and Essex County Councils and the Minister is in the final stage of consideration. Tenders submitted for the construction of the pilot tunnel are being examined. Up to the present time four county councils have agreed to contribute to the scheme, namely, Kent, Essex, Middlesex and London. Based on an estimate of £3,500,000 the following table represents the allocation of the cost:
| £ | Approximate Proportion. Per cent. | |
| Road Fund | 2,625,000 | 75 |
| Kent | 250,000 | 7.2 |
| Essex | 250,000 | 7.2 |
| London County | ||
| Council | 150,000 | 4.2 |
| Middlesex | 25,000 | .7 |
| To be provided from tolls or other sources | 200,000 | 5.7 |
§ The London County Council ask that approximately one-third of the unskilled men to be employed be drawn from the administrative county of London. Agreement has been reached with the Kent and Essex County Councils that one quarter of the labour shall be drawn from each of these counties. With regard to the approach roads, I have nothing to add to the information given in my reply to a similar question addressed to me by my hon. Friend on the 15th April last. No provision is made in the tunnel scheme for the improvement of Dartford Creek.