HC Deb 19 January 1972 vol 829 c450
22. Mr. Sheldon

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

The Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Peter Walker)

Yes, Sir, at the right time.

Mr. Sheldon

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for at least coming to the Box on this matter. It is the first time, to my knowledge, that he has done so. Does he agree that if hon. Members are not given this basic information about the flow level, about which I have put down many Questions to his Department, they will be denied the basic opportunity of following the work on the Channel Tunnel? This is a serious matter. Hon. Members are completely in the dark whether this is a good or a bad scheme, because information provided in 1963 has not been updated.

Mr. Walker

I assure the hon. Gentleman that, before final decisions are taken, I will see that hon. Members have available all the most updated information.

Mr. Deedes

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that our state of uncertainty about the project contrasts oddly with the virtual certainty which is felt in Europe that it will happen and that the sooner he can give a firm assurance about what is planned and when it will happen, the more people will have removed from them the doubts from which they are now suffering?

Mr. Walker

Yes. The view of both the French and ourselves is that, subject to no disclosures being made in the final research stages of the project, it is likely to go ahead. Both the French and ourselves are accelerating in every possible way to the point where we can make a positive decision on this topic.