HC Deb 22 October 1968 vol 770 c1078
16. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to convene a British Commonwealth conference to discuss the international consequences to Great Britain, financial and otherwise, of the proposed Channel Bridge and Tunnel.

Mr. Whitlock

No, Sir. The Channel Tunnel project can always be discussed with any Commonwealth Government which may express an interest but none has done so far.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Minister agree that the financial and other consequences to Britain of the Commonwealth would be much more satisfactory if the time, effort and money which are being spent on this project were devoted to improving communications between North-East Scotland and the Continent of Europe?

Mr. Whitlock

In so far as the project, if it goes forward, will contributed to the economic strength of the United Kingdom, it will benefit Scotland and North Aberdeen and will therefore also benefit the Commonwealth as a whole.