HC Deb 18 July 1979 vol 970 cc1758-60
7. Mr. Costain

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions he has had with the British Railways Board in regard to its proposals for a single rail Channel tunnel link; and when he will be in a position to announce the Government's policy on this proposal.

Mr. Fowler

I am giving the British Railways Board's proposals careful consideration and hope to make an announcement in due course.

Mr. Costain

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that for one decade all our traffic plans were in limbo because the Channel tunnel was—and then was not—going to be built? Does he appreciate that as soon as it was decided to go on with it the road pattern was cancelled? My right hon. Friend's predecessor forgot that it had been cancelled and kept it as it was. Will my right hon. Friend acquaint himself with the matter so that there may not be another 10 decades of indecision?

Mr. Fowler

I entirely appreciate the consistent position taken by my hon. Friend on this matter and the need for the end of uncertainty, especially in his constituency. We shall seek to reach a conclusion as soon as possible. I give the assurance that either my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary or I will pay a visit to his constituency to look at the position on the ground.

Mr. McNamara

When reaching his decision, will the Minister bear in mind the grave concern felt in the North-East Coast ports about the possibility of the development of a Channel tunnel, the important amount of public investment that has already taken place there, and the jobs that would be at risk if such a step were taken?

Mr. Fowler

Obviously, those are all issues that we must consider in our evaluation of the British Rail scheme. British Rail is pressing this scheme forward very hard.

Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

May I impress on my right hon. Friend the value of a Channel rail link in switching British Rail into Euro-rail? May I draw his attention to the value it might have in the argument about a third London airport, as we could collect passengers from European airports and not take up more valuable land in this country for an airport that most people do not want?

Mr. Fowler

I take on board the last point made by my hon. Friend. Clearly, such a tunnel would be of enormous importance for British Rail. However, it will take some time to evaluate this matter. I shall seek to come to a conclusion as soon as possible.

Mr. Prescott

In reaching his conclusion, will the Minister say whether, as with previous Governments, he considers that this project must be commercially profitable or that it should simply be an important communications investment?

Mr. Fowler

May I first welcome the hon. Gentleman as an Opposition Front Bench speaker on transport? I welcome his intervention. The Government will take firmly on board the need for the commercial viability of the Channel tunnel.