§ 2.43 p.m.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that the same standards of health and safety will be applied to the proposed Channel Tunnel terminal as will be required at equivalent terminals at ports and harbours.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)My Lords, the safety authority which has been established to supervise the safety of the tunnel system will ensure that equivalent standards apply.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. I should like to ask whether the Government are making provision for enough staff to perform these duties and also for customs and immigration to enable all necessary terminals to be manned with equal effectiveness and without delays.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraYes, my Lords, the Government have given an assurance that they will do everything possible to ensure that when the tunnel opens the level of service at the ports and the tunnel alike will be the best practical within the resources available, and that in judging the resources to be allocated to each mode the frontier control departments will do everything possible to avoid bias in favour of one competitor or the other.
§ Lord UnderhillMy Lords, has not the emphasis in the published reports of the sittings of our Select Committe been on questions of safety and rabies? The Select Committee has already had expert evidence on rabies. Is it not also a fact that we can return to these issues when the matter comes before the House in the form of the Bill?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, the noble Lord is right, and I have no doubt that we shall return to the issues of safety and rabies when the Bill comes before your Lordships' Committee. However, the Question is specifically targeted at the terminals rather than the tunnel system itself.