HL Deb 29 June 1966 vol 275 cc660-1

2.20 p.m.

VISCOUNT HALL

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 whether the Joint Committee of Surveillance of the English Channel Tunnel has recently been consulted; and, if so, what decisions have been taken towards speeding the urgency of this work.]

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, the Commission of Surveillance is an Anglo-French committee of experts set up by the two Governments to advise on the recent geological survey for the Channel Tunnel. They are at present assessing the first results of the survey, and although final conclusions cannot yet be drawn, it seems that the technical feasibility of the project has been confirmed. British and French officials are also drafting a report to both Governments on the problem of organisation and finance, and this should be available soon. The next step is further discussions with the French Government, which we hope will begin shortly. The Channel Tunnel is a joint project, and I cannot anticipate the results of those discussions.

VISCOUNT HALL

My Lords, while I thank my noble friend for his reply, I remain a little concerned about the second half of my Question. Would my noble friend advise me whether the Government are aware of the increasing urgency of reaching a decision in this matter, and also when we might expect a joint statement on the present state of the project?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, the answer to the first part of my noble friend's supplementary is that the Government are aware of the need for planning and investment decisions in the light of a clear decision one way or the other on the Tunnel. On the second part, this depends on the progress of further discussions with the French Government, but we hope that such a joint statement will be possible shortly.

LORD PEDDIE

My Lords, might I ask my noble friend whether the development of hovercraft is likely to have any influence on the implementation of the plans for the Tunnel?

LORD CHAMPION

The latest studies confirm the 1963 conclusion that the Tunnel would be a sound investment. Cross-Channel traffic has been growing, and is likely to continue to grow, much faster than was expected in 1963; and a Tunnel, a fixed link, will bring a great potential of a new quality of cheap and regular through services, and we do not think that the recent development of the craft to which my noble friend referred will materially alter our consideration in this matter.