HC Deb 16 June 1971 vol 819 cc425-7
11. Mr. Sheldon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the Channel Tunnel.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

I have nothing at present to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 19th May.—[Vol. 817, c. 1225.]

Mr. Sheldon

Will the international private group, with its bogus risk capital, be examining the possibility of a road tunnel?

Mr. Griffiths

No, Sir. I reject entirely the slur which the hon. Gentleman has seen fit to throw across the Floor of the House. The group will be examining a rail tunnel. This is the only practical scheme that it can at present examine, because bridges are out, for navigational reasons, and road tunnels are out, not only because of ventilation difficulties, but because the economics do not add up.

Mr. Deedes

I accept the need for a thorough examination of this questionable project, but will my hon. Friend bear in mind that while all this is going on a large area of the county suffers from blight? Those who want to know what to do next in the way of development are held up, and this looks like continuing indefinitely.

Mr. Griffiths

I am aware of the problem to which my hon. Friend refers. I assure him that my right hon. Friend is making progress as rapidly as possible on this matter, that full information will be given to the House as soon as it can be, and that a decision will be reached as soon as all the factors are brought together and that Government can consider them.

Mr. Sheldon

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that "bogus risk capital" are the words to use in this connection? If the group decides not to go ahead with this project, it will be reimbursed by the Government. What kind of risk capital is that? Is the hon. Gentleman also aware that this channel tunnel scheme has not been reinvestigated from the point of view of the possibility of a road tunnel since that out-of-date survey nine years ago? Engineering science has moved forward since then by comparison with the Department, which does not seem to have moved forward at all.

Mr. Griffiths

The answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is that the private companies concerned are at risk.

Mr. Griffiths

On the second part of the supplementary question, I assure the

Mr. Sheldon

What is the risk? hon. Gentleman that my Department is taking into account all the technical considerations that are relevant to this great and ambitious project.

Mr. Adley

Is my hon. Friend aware of the tremendous implications which any Channel Tunnel could have, and not only for South-East England? Many people feel that the terms of reference will be vital, and they have in mind that in the case of Roskill and the Severnside Study they were not entirely satisfactory. Is my hon. Friend aware that if a Channel Tunnel comes about it will make the Avonmouth Docks the nearest overland docks in Europe to North America? Will he make sure that in any studies that are undertaken real care is taken of the national implications?

Mr. Griffiths

I appreciate the dexterity with which my hon. Friend has managed to get a constituency question into matters relating to the Channel Tunnel. I wish to assure him that the Channel under which we are contemplating the construction of a tunnel is not the Bristol Channel but the English Channel.

Mr. Palmer

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this tunnel has been talked about for more than 100 years? Is there any possibility of any action being taken in the next 100 years?

Mr. Griffiths

Yes, Sir. I think that the House will have an opportunity to debate this question as soon as all the information is to hand.