HC Deb 03 April 1974 vol 871 cc1248-9
17. Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the cancellation of the Maplin project.

Mr. Crosland

I have nothing at present to add to my answer to the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Sir Bernard Braine) on 20th March and the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade on 21st March.—[Vol. 870, c. 107; c. 1334–40.]

Mr. Moate

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that on 16th January he told the House not that there would be a review but that the next Labour Government would in a matter of weeks cancel Maplin? Can he tell us whether the present review is genuine, thereby implying the possibility that the project will continue, or whether his earlier promise was genuine, because one of them cannot be genuine?

Mr. Crosland

There may perhaps be more than one precise interpretation of the phrase "a matter of weeks". I can assure the hon. Gentleman of two things: my views on Maplin have not changed, but the review is a genuine one.

Sir J. Rodgers

Is the right hon Gentleman yet in a position to consider other methods of saving money? For example, what are his views on the Channel Tunnel? Is it to be cancelled or deferred?

Mr. Crosland

I shall be making a statement on the Channel Tunnel at 3.30 p.m.

Mr. Crouch

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what is holding up his decision? Is it because he does not know where the next airport in Britain should be or where the next seaport should be? It would help the House to know what is holding up this decision.

Mr. Crosland

The review of the airport need is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade. He has promised to report the result of the review to the House before the Summer Recess, and I think it not unreasonable that a few weeks should be taken in reviewing the matter. I have no detailed proposals before me for a seaport, so I have no decision to make on that.