HC Deb 18 March 1985 vol 75 cc616-7
2. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the impact of a Channel tunnel on the traffic between London and Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels; and if he will make a statement.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. David Mitchell)

No assessment has been made of the impact of a fixed link on specific intercity routes. That would vary according to the nature of the fixed link, on which no decision has yet been made.

Mr. Adley

Is my hon. Friend familiar with his Department's estimate that without the TGV or any new British Rail lines, up to 1.7 million air passengers from Heathrow would transfer to a rail tunnel if such a thing were built? With the TGV, the London-Brussels journey time would be reduced to three hours. In the light of my hon. Friend's rather surprising answer, will he give the House an assurance that, as the Government are now reviewing airports policy, full account will be taken of the Channel tunnel so that we do not find ourselves in a position where it takes longer to get from London to Stansted than from London to Paris?

Mr. Mitchell

We shall take my hon. Friend's point into account, but it is only fair to say that Paris is only one of the many hundreds of routes served from Heathrow.

Mr. Simon Hughes

Will positive consideration be given to siting any terminus for the Channel tunnel rail line in London docklands where, as the hon. Gentleman is probably aware, there is considerable interest in that terminus? Is that already on his Department's agenda for positive consideration, and will he encourage that development?

Mr. Mitchell

It is a little premature for us to know that when we do not know exactly what form, if any, the cross-Channel link will take, but I shall certainly keep the hon. Gentleman's point in mind.

Mr. Hill

My hon. Friend will know that there have been many studies on the cost of linking the major cities of Europe once the Channel tunnel is built. May I draw his attention to the fact that I was the author of one called "Bridges and Tunnels of Europe, 1974", in which much valuable information is contained, although, naturally, it will need updating?

Mr. Mitchell

I shall ask my hon. Friend for a copy of that excellent document.

Mr. Snape

I assure the Minister that I have no books on this subject to peddle. Has the hon. Gentleman considered the impact that the Channel tunnel would have on railway freight carriage? Would it not give the railways a much better opportunity to compete on long-distance freight with other modes of transport? Will the Government consider the environmental aspects of the Channel tunnel before coming to a decision on any of the three schemes that they have before them?

Mr. Mitchell

Yes, we shall take that into account. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that substantial environmental considerations will be taken into account in the assessment of the relative options.