§ Mr. MILLSasked the Minister of Transport if he is now in a position to announce the date of commencement of work on the Dartford-Purfleet tunnel; and whether the Kent and Essex County Councils have completed their consideration of approach roads from Sevenoaks and Maidstone, in Kent, and Ipswich and Chelmsford, in Essex?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONI hope that it may be possible to invite tenders for the pilot tunnel before the end of the present month. With regard to the access to the tunnel, the lines of approaches connecting it with existing arterial roads on both sides of the river are determined, and grants have from time to time been made from the Road Fund enabling the county councils of Essex and Kent to carry out improvements further afield which will facilitate access to the tunnel. I am not in a position at this stage to say what further works of this character may ultimately be considered necessary by the county councils.