LORD FORBESasked Her Majesty's Government, Whether the works in connection with the Channel Tunnel scheme have been stopped by authority; and if the Government will pledge themselves that the works shall not be proceeded with until the Report of the Committee and any other Papers connected with the scheme be laid on the Table of the House and the opinion of Parliament taken on the whole subject? He approached the question on national grounds, and thought it most desirable that the views of the House should be expressed upon it. In his opinion, it was most undesirable that this Tunnel should be made; and he thought Her Majesty's Government should give a promise that nothing further should be done in respect to it until the Papers had been laid on the Table. He was opposed to anything which would destroy 17 the insularity that had been the safety of England, and, in some respects, the cause of her glory.
VISCOUNT POWERSCOURTsaid, he could not understand the extraordinary opposition that had been evinced with regard to this matter. Nothing could be more calculated to cement amicable relations between England and France and the rest of the world than the completion of this scheme; and he hoped Her Majesty's Government would not commit themselves to a permanent opposition to it.
§ LORD SUDELEYThe works have been stopped by an order of the Court of Chancery, granted on the application of the Board of Trade. As has been already stated in "another place," the Report of the Committee, together with a Memorandum by the military authorities, will be laid before Parliament in a few days, and ample opportunity will be afforded to Parliament to express an opinion on the subject.
THE EARL OF CARNARVONasked, if the noble Lord referred to the Report of the Channel Tunnel Committee?
§ LORD SUDELEYYes.
LORD FORBESinquired whether anything further would be done until the Reports had been laid on the Table?
§ LORD SUDELEYNothing whatever, without leave.