HC Deb 18 July 1979 vol 970 cc1767-9
16. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects next to meet the French Minister of Transport.

Mr. Fowler

I look forward to seeing him at the meeting of the Council of European Transport Ministers later this year.

Mr. Whitehead

When the Minister meets his French counterpart, will he—despite what was said in the House earlier this afternoon—congratulate him on authorising the final planning stage of the Channel tunnel? Does the Minister agree that there should be British Government support for this project, which, particularly at a time of energy crisis, has a major contribution to make in terms of international communication and will stop the ceaseless proliferation of European juggernauts on our roads?

Mr. Fowler

I know of the hon. Gentleman's interest in this matter and I think that he has made an important point. I can only repeat that we shall come to a conclusion, as indeed the last Administration were also pledged to do, as soon as we possibly can but preferably before the end of the year, the target date set by the former Secretary of State.

Mr. Warren

Will my right hon. Friend take action in collaboration with the French Minister of Transport to achieve a reduction in the cost of air and sea transportation across the Channel, which is becoming an inhibition to trade between the two countries? In those consultations, will he take prompt action to reduce the growing bureaucracy of the Customs and Excise affecting passengers and trade transportation between Britain and France?

Mr. Fowler

I shall look at both those points. The first certainly comes within my jurisdiction. I will talk about these matters with the French Minister.

Mr. Cook

If it is the Minister's intention to judge the Channel tunnel by reference to commercial profitability, will he inform the House what other major communication links he judges by that criterion?

Mr. Fowler

All roads have exactly the same inbuilt economic return. However, as I was pressed by the hon. Gentleman's Front Bench spokesman to judge by that criterion, I assumed that he was in agreement.

Mr. David Price

Will my right hon. Friend, in considering once again the possibility of a Channel tunnel, bear in mind the fact that it would be necessary to reorganise our own rail system so that we could run vehicles right through Europe and into the heart of Britain, not ending in London as originally proposed? In order to obtain the benefit that many of us seek from a Channel tunnel, it will be necessary to spend a lot of money on British Rail.

Mr. Fowler

The low-cost option, which is what the British Railways Board is putting forward, meets many objections that people have to the former scheme.

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