Cross-Channel Link (Hansard, 18 June 1984)

§ 3. Dr. Marek
asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to meet the French Minister of Transport to discuss the report on finance for a fixed cross-Channel link.

§ Mr. Ridley
I am in regular contact with the French Minister of Transport, and I will have further discussions with him once we have both had time to consider the report and assess reactions to it.

§ Dr. Marek
Although one accepts the Government's general policy on investment, does the Secretary of State realise that such a project needs Government encouragement and commitment? Will he do all that he can to ensure that, if agreement with the various parties is achieved, construction of the Channel tunnel link will be started as soon as possible?

§ Mr. Ridley
We must give the interested groups a little time in which to come forward with proposals. However, if any group has proposals which do not involve either Government funding or guarantees of an economic or commercial nature, we shall certainly consider them sympathetically and try to assist. Nevertheless, the Government have made their position clear throughout, and are prepared to give only political guarantees and to assist with such things as treaties with the French and the maritime and other risks that might be involved in construction.

§ Mr. Crouch
Before my right hon. Friend gives any thought to so much as one penny of taxpayers' money being spent on that cross-Channel fixed link, will he give a little thought to the negligence of the Department and Kent county council over the delay of no less than 18 months in building a proper flyover at the Barham crossroads on the A2?

§ Mr. Ridley
I shall certainly look into that matter, although it does not arise from the original question, because, as I have said, the Government are not contemplating giving one penny of taxpayers' money to the construction of the fixed Channel link.

§ Mr. Wilson
As one effect of the Channel link would be to create jobs in northern France and the south-east of England, would it not be right to give priority to the improvement of transport communications generally and the provision of a common transport subsidy? That would enable firms in Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland to take their goods to market in the EEC without facing the crippling cost of transport. Unless a transport subsidy is given, areas in the south will be aided, to our disadvantage.

§ Mr. Ridley
The hon. Gentleman cannot have too much to complain about, as there is already a cross-Firth link in the Tay bridge which serves his part of Scotland. I am not at all sure that it would be right to give advantages in the form of money or guarantees to those who wish to provide a fixed Channel link as opposed to those who wish to provide ships and ferries to carry our trade across the Channel to Europe.

§ Mr. Moate
Does my right hon. Friend realise that it is generally accepted that any Channel tunnel should be a genuine private sector project? However, at some point the decision whether or not to proceed must be political, and I am sure that at an early stage the Government will want to settle all the speculation and uncertainty that have continued for so long. Can my right hon. Friend give us any idea of the time scale involved in the political decision-making?

§ Mr. Ridley
My hon. Friend is absolutely right in saying that it must be a private sector venture, and the Government will need to give it statutory treaty and access facilitation on this side of the Channel.

§ Mr. Robert Hughes
What does that mean?

§ Mr. Ridley
It means building the roads or railways that lead to the mouth of the tunnel. We have to do that. If any group suggests a project which is viable against Government criteria, we will assist. The private sector must come forward with fully developed plans before we can work out a time scale.

§ Mr. Anderson
Can the Secretary of State spell out what he means by "we will assist"? Does he mean that in no case will the Government give financial assistance and that they intend to stand aloof from the project, even at the risk of its foundering yet again?

§ Mr. Ridley
It means that it will be necessary to build either roads or railways to provide access to the English side of the link. It will be necessary to agree a treaty with the French and to examine the maritime and navigational risks to ensure that they are acceptable. It will probably be necessary to give a guarantee that the project will not be interrupted by political actions beyond the control of the promoters. Beyond that the Government are not prepared to go.