Trans-European Network Projects (Hansard, 11 December 1995)

The Earl of Courtown
Yes, my Lords, we do.

§ Lord Hooson
My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for that reply and note its brevity. I appreciate very much that these days in certain circles the term "integrated" is regarded as a dirty word. Nevertheless, do the Government agree that we need to have special transport strategies to enable us to take the greatest possible economic advantage of the single market? In particular, can the noble Earl say what steps the Government are taking to ensure that not only the south east of England but the whole of the United Kingdom can take advantage of, for example, the Channel Tunnel and the improved facilities in the Channel ports which are the gateway to Europe not only for south-east England but the whole of the United Kingdom?

The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, the Government have a clear transport strategy. One of their main aims is to strike the right balance between healthy economic development, protecting the environment and sustaining future quality of life. However, the Government's role is not to tell transport operators what services to provide or to tell people where and how to travel.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that there is concern in Wales about the 1096 implications of these network projects? Can he give the House an assurance that the projects will extend so far as Fishguard in South Wales and Holyhead in North Wales?

The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, the Fishguard rail link is not represented at present on the draft combined transport network as it is not used for the transport of unitised freight. British Rail believes that there is no immediate prospect of combined transport services being developed on that route.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, can the noble Earl say whether this matter has been discussed with the Secretary of State for Wales and the Welsh Office? If it has not been discussed, does he agree that that is an extremely serious situation? There will be a great deal of dissatisfaction in Wales when they hear what the noble Earl has said.

The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, the Ireland-UK-Benelux road link project consists of a number of schemes which are in the road programmes of the Department of Transport, the Welsh Office and the Scottish Office and which are at varying states of readiness. From this tranche of funds from TENs approximately £1.6 million in funding was obtained for this route in 1995.

§ Viscount Mersey
My Lords, perhaps my noble friend will correct me if I am wrong. Am I right to understand that two routes were planned from Felixstowe, one to finish at Fishguard and the other to end at Holyhead? Is not there also a fast route planned from Stranraer down to the M.6 at Carlisle? Does my noble friend have any more specific details on those three schemes?

The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his question. I should like to answer him fully. The priority projects for the United Kingdom will receive some £22 million, which is just over 15 per cent. of the total funds available for priority projects in 1995 and more than any other member state will receive from the EC fund. In addition to the £7 million for the west coast main line, the Channel Tunnel rail link will receive £13.6 million and schemes along the Ireland-UK-Benelux road link will receive a further £1.6 million. The United Kingdom will also receive another £360,000 for road traffic management.

§ Lord Carmichael of Kelvingrove
My Lords, will the Minister accept that the points made by the noble Lord, Lord Hooson, were very appropriate for the part of the world from which I come? Is he aware that there was great argument 30 years ago about the Channel Tunnel and a great deal of support came from the north of England, Wales and Scotland because it was believed that it would break down the barrier so that industrial goods and railway passengers could take a route straight down from Scotland and those other areas right to the heart of Europe? If the idea of the Channel Tunnel had merely been to enrich the south east of England, it would not have been well accepted.
Could I ask the noble Earl whether he is aware of the recent Motion carried in the European Parliament debate on the grand European network? That Motion 1097 stressed the need for top environmental standards and emphasised the importance of upgrading the west coast line which serves the Midlands, north-east England and Scotland. Can he also tell us the Government's view of the amendment which was carried requiring that a minimum of 40 per cent. of investment should be in railways and no more than 25 per cent. in roads? Have the Government considered that Motion which was carried in the European Parliament?

The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, I cannot answer the exact question asked by the noble Lord. An efficient transport infrastructure is essential to national competitiveness. The road network is at the heart of our infrastructure, but the size and content of a national road programme must take account of the Government's overall policy and circumstances. We must contribute to the Government's commitment to keep a firm control on expenditure.

§ Lord Pearson of Rannoch
My Lords, is my noble friend able to confirm that the Channel Tunnel was in fact built without any help from Brussels? Also, are not the projects addressed by the Question more the fruit of European corporatist ambitions to rebuild their economy after the distress brought by socialist policies? Finally, can he confirm that the cost involved is £110,000 million and say how much of that the United Kingdom is expected to spend?

The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, the Channel Tunnel was funded exclusively from private funds. The UK supports the objective of Article 129 of the Maastricht Treaty to realise the benefits of an efficient single market by developing networks in transport, telecoms and energy infrastructure.

§ Lord Hooson
My Lords, can the noble Earl confirm that scope exists for private, public and European investment? It is necessary for the strategy of this country to be in tune with that of the Continent so that we have the benefit of an integrated—if that is the right term—transport system that will benefit the economy of the whole of western Europe.

The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, Article 129c of the Maastricht Treaty states that: The Community … may support … projects of common interest financed by Member States". The Commission and member states agreed that the intention was to support large infrastructure projects of common interest whether they were provided by the public sector or solely or jointly by the private sector.