HC Deb 10 February 1997 vol 290 cc69-70W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the investigations into the channel tunnel fire to be completed. [14492]

Mr. Watts

The channel tunnel fire has raised a number of complex issues. A judicial inquiry into the cause of the fire is being carried out by the French authorities; I have no information on its timetable. Eurotunnel is carrying out its own investigation, the timetable for which is a matter for the company. The inquiry by the independent Channel Tunnel Safety Authority is proceeding as quickly as possible, but until it has progressed further and has been given access to evidence currently held for the French judicial inquiry, the authority is not able to forecast when its inquiry will be completed.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the distance between the freight train involved in the recent fire in the channel tunnel and the passenger service immediately behind was at the time that the freight train stopped in the tunnel. [14429]

Mr. Watts

Three investigations, including a judicial inquiry, are under way into the channel tunnel fire. Until all the facts have been established, it could be prejudicial to release partial information.