HL Deb 26 May 1965 vol 266 cc833-4

2.33 p.m.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress is being made with the arrangements for the construction of the Channel Tunnel and whether they have any further information to give about the methods to be adopted for financing this project.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, present arrangements on the Channel Tunnel project comprise a geological and geophysical survey of the Strait of Dover to prove the best route for a bored tunnel or an immersed tube, and joint official discussions on the financial and organisational problems involved in constructing and operating the tunnel. The geophysical part of the survey is virtually complete, with high-quality results, and the marine borings, after a bad winter, are now also making progress. It is hoped to finish them before the onset of next winter. It is too early yet to say what conclusions will be reached in the joint official talks on finance.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his reply. I can take it from his reply that the troubles which were met with last winter have now been successfully coped with and are not therefore likely to recur.

LORD BESWICK

Yes, my Lords, we are learning quite a bit about the business of drilling holes in the sea-bed. Two new drilling platforms which are intended eventually for operation in the North Sea will be available during this summer, and a completely new, specially designed drilling ship is coming up from the Mediterranean and also will be available. It is hoped that during the summer a successful completion of the survey will be achieved.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that additional information. I do not want a detailed reply on the finances of the operation, but does he think it will be financed by private enterprise, or State enterprise or by a mixture of the two?

LORD BESWICK

The possibility of private participation in the financing of the project is one of the matters now under discussion in the joint talks to which I referred. No decision has been reached, and when one is reached it will be a matter for a joint declaration by the French and ourselves.