§ 2.38 p.m.
THE MARQUESS OF ABERDEEN AND TEMAIRMy 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 has been made in discussion between the Ministry of Transport and the two County Councils of Essex and Kent for the urgently needed second and parallel Dartford Tunnel, the Private Act authorising it having received the Royal Assent in July, 1967.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, a number of exchanges have taken place at official level between the Ministry of Transport and the two County Councils, and my honourable friend, the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, is meeting members of 1031 both Councils to-morrow to hear their views and explain the Ministry's position.
THE MARQUESS OF ABERDEEN AND TEMAIRMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for giving the information that this matter is to be discussed further to-morrow. I do not know whether it is right for me to put any further question, in addition to my main one, but I would just ask whether it is not the case that this tunnel dealt with in the Act has been described as of prime importance; and that all that is awaited is authority to the County Councils to have the right to issue loans for the work to be carried out? May I also ask whether it is realised that this tunnel is not merely part of the orbit around London but is of prime importance for export work? Is it not important for contact between the factories in East London and Birmingham and for delivering their important export goods to the Channel ports?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Marquess is quite right in regard to the importance of this tunnel for exports through the South Coast ports. The noble Marquess, however, will be aware that the tunnel reaches saturation point in terms of traffic one week in the year. Therefore, this great problem exists at this pressure only for a very short period in the year, although we well recognise that the tunnel may need these extensions later on. But we have to bear in mind the general resources that are available, and this will be a factor that has to be borne in mind before approval can be given to the two County Councils to raise loans for this development.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, could the noble Lord tell us which is the week in the year when the traffic reaches saturation point?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, of all the supplementary answers I have, the answer to that question is not included. But I will write to the noble Lord.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, since the tunnel goes under the Thames, is not the threat of saturation rather unfortunate?