HL Deb 18 April 1988 vol 495 cc1205-6

2.45 p.m.

Lord Hayter asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, as reported recently in the Guardian (24th March), Eurotunnel has now received permission to carry cars and passengers on the same train carriages to save the expense of double handling.

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

My Lords, the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority has recommended that design work may continue on the assumption that passengers in private cars will be allowed to remain with their vehicles in shuttle trains. It has however advised that coach passengers should be segregated from their vehicles unless further evidence is produced to justify the original proposals. These preliminary views have been passed to Eurotunnel though much further work is needed before final decisions are taken. Even if certain classes of passenger were segregated, vehicles and passengers would travel on the same train.

Lord Hayter

My Lords, as the safety authority has issued this report and recommendations, will there be any opportunity for Members of your Lordships' House to study them?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I think the answer is probably, no. We spent a good deal of time last year during the passage of the Bill and in your Lordships' Select Committee discussing this subject. There is a great deal of communication between the inter-governmental commission and the safety authority and Eurotunnel. I do not believe it would be useful for each and every item on that agenda to be discussed in your Lordships' House.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the article referred to in the Guardian stressed that the decision was taken to avoid the cost of double handling? Will he assure the House that that factor was not an important matter in the taking of the decision on this vital issue? As the report also said, there are other matters to be determined. Is one of those to carry out the statement made by Eurotunnel that on each shuttle train a crew of six will be responsible for stewarding and looking after general safety?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I can give the noble Lord and the House an absolute assurance that the safety authority has made it clear throughout that it will confine itself to the safety implications of Eurotunnel's proposals and not to the economic disbenefits to Eurotunnel. One of the issues upon which Eurotunnel will need to undertake further work is the role of the personnel involved on the shuttle trains.