HL Deb 19 February 1987 vol 484 cc1208-9

3.22 p.m.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

I do not propose to detain the House by explaining all the provisions of the Motion, which is mainly routine; but it is appropriate that I comment on the fifth and sixth paragraphs which are unusual. Many of your Lordships will know that during the earlier stages of the Bill there was a great deal of discussion about the access arrangements to the Folkestone terminal site. The Select Committee in another place decided against amending the Bill in that respect, since the amendments proposed at that time would have had operational disadvantages and were strongly opposed by Eurotunnel.

There is now an alternative proposal called "joint southern access" which is acceptable both to the local authorities and to Eurotunnel which involves some, but not all, of the scheduled works in the earlier alternative proposals. The Government have said in Standing Committee in another place that they will give the proposals a fair wind in your Lordships' Select Committee and this provision follows through that commitment. It is also obviously sensible to establish a deadline for petitions against such authorisations which is later than the closing date set for petitions against the Bill, including those calling for alterations.

Moved, That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the Lords following be named of the Select Committee on the Channel Tunnel Bill:

That four be the quorum of the Committee;

That, notwithstanding the practice of the House that appearances on Petitions shall be entered at the first meeting of the Committee, appearances on Petitions against the Bill shall be required to be entered as and when the Committee direct;

That the evidence taken before the Committee shall be printed and delivered out from day to day;

That it be an Instruction to the Committee that they have power to consider and, if they think fit, to make any amendment to the Bill with respect to the access to or egress from the terminal area by road which was included among the amendments proposed before the Select Committee on the Bill in the House of Commons in connection with which plans, sections and a book of reference were deposited in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments on 31st July last year;

That any Petitions against any such amendment shall be deposited not later than 27th February 1987; and

That the Committee do meet at 4 o'clock on Wednesday next.—(Lord Brabazon of Tara.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.