HL Deb 22 June 1989 vol 509 cc306-8

3.23 p.m.

Lord Cornwallis asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to ensure that the essential infrastructure needed for the United Kingdom to take advantage of the commercial benefits arising from the Channel Tunnel is in place by the time the tunnel opens in 1993.

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

My Lords, plans for the necessary road and rail infrastructure are well advanced. The Government have given approval in principle for expenditure of over £600 million by British Rail. There are a number of major schemes in the road programme to provide good access to the tunnel and Channel ports.

Lord Cornwallis

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Is he aware of the concern felt by some British commercial companies that there may be a shortage of suitable industrial and warehousing space near the Channel Tunnel when it opens in 1993? Is he further aware that in consequence some British companies are seeking facilities further afield, in particular in the Pas de Calais region where French and British commercial development is already under way?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, on commercial development, the recent report of the Kent impact monitoring study shows encouraging progress, with, for example, schemes to accommodate producer services and high-tech industry, a business park, a distribution centre and hotel developments. The Kent impact monitoring study made a comparison of the competitors of Kent and the Pas de Calais. The conclusion was that for growth activities Kent should be at least as competitive as the Pas de Calais, and perhaps more so.

Lord Tordoff

My Lords, how soon after the opening of the tunnel is it expected that direct rail services will be able to reach the North of England? What progress has been made to have on-train Customs and immigration facilities?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, direct rail services to points north of London should start when the tunnel opens. There is sufficient capacity on the existing lines to accommodate them. The noble Lord—I cannot remember at the moment the current name of the Benches from which he speaks—will remember that when this Bill went through your Lordships' House we made provision for on-train Customs services to be provided on trains to the north of London.

With regard to London trains, the Government's present intention is for the Customs control to be at the terminals. Arrangements for immigration controls are under review.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, despite the answer that he has given to the noble Lord, Lord Tordoff, is it not correct that the Bill provides that British Rail must submit its plans for both international passenger and freight transport for the tunnel by the end of this year? Irrespective of the plans of British Rail, will the Government insist on there being an adequate number of properly sited transhipment centres with adequate roads to those centres in order to achieve the maximum benefit from freight traffic?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, we shall have to see British Rail's proposals, which under Section 40 of the Act are indeed due by the end of this year. There are already plans for developments in a number of places in the country in advance of those plans.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, will the Government insist that such facilities are provided? That is the important point.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, it is up to British Rail and those interested—the local authorities and commercial interests—to come forward with plans. We shall have to see what they propose.

Lord Swinfen

My Lords, are the Government satisfied with the steps being taken by British businessmen to take advantage of the Channel Tunnel? What help are the Government giving to them?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, there has been a substantial programme of events to highlight the benefits of the Channel Tunnel. Most recently there was such an event in Scotland which was most successful. It may interest my noble friend to know that in Kent, for example, the proportion of firms who expect the tunnel to benefit their trade has increased from 18 per cent. to 59 per cent. as the project has progressed and confidence has grown.

Baroness Phillips

My Lords, has the Minister resolved the problems of the people who have the misfortune to live on the route of the Channel Tunnel?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, if the noble Baroness is talking of the new proposed high speed line to the Channel Tunnel, that is a matter which will have to be resolved by Parliament when British Rail comes forward with its Bill.

The Earl of Cork and Orrery

My Lords, is there any proposal to build a trunk road from the neighbourhood of the tunnel in the direction of Portsmouth along the north side of the South Downs?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I refer my noble friend to the most recently published White Paper. It will give details of all the road schemes in the area.

Lord Greenway

My Lords, will the Minister agree that the need for essential infrastructure also applies to the port of Dover? It handles now, and will continue to handle, large volumes of cross-Channel continental traffic. At present the area is somewhat inadequately served, certainly in the last few miles, by single-lane and sometimes dangerous roads.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, the M20 will be the main route to the entrance to the tunnel. It will continue as a dual carriageway into Dover, and it is very much hoped that it will be complete by the time the tunnel opens.

Viscount Mersey

My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that the main freight depot for the North-West is to be at Crewe? Can he further confirm that British Rail has so far done nothing to modernise or expand the facilities at Crewe?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I cannot confirm that the depot is to be at Crewe. I suspect that we shall have to wait until British Rail comes forward with its Section 40 plans.