§ 66. Mr. Costainasked the Minister of Transport when the Report of the inter-governmental committee, set up by the French and British Governments to consider a cross-Channel link, will be available to him; if he will publish the report or a précis of it soon after its submission to him; and whether, in view of the need to provide major improvements in cross-Channel communications, he will treat the matter with urgency.
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettI regret that I can add nothing at this stage to the Answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Sir W. Teeling) on 23rd January and 6th February. The joint official study is being carried out as quickly as possible.
Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport, in view of the need for an early decision on the Channel tunnel so that British Railways shall not be left with a run-down fleet of cross-Channel vessels and underdeveloped port facilities, and be thus unable to cope with the increasing demands of international trade and tourism, whether he will now expedite the submission to him of the Departmental report about the Channel tunnel, with a view to reaching an early decision.
§ Mr. MarplesI would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Costain) earlier today.