§ Mr. Bradleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the British Railways Board intends to promote legislation to authorise construction of the rail link with the proposed Channel Tunnel project.
§ Mr. CroslandThe first stage of public consultation on the route of this link has now been completed. A wide variety of views has been expressed and a number of alternatives have been suggested. The Chairman of British Rail and I have jointly concluded that we should defer the final decision on the route until the end of this year to allow more time for full consideration of the issues, especially the environmental issues, in consultation with the local planning authorities. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport hopes to meet the local authorities in the next few weeks to discuss the possible route; this may enable us to limit the number of possibilities for further consideration, but the new programme will allow them until October to formulate their final views.
It follows that the introduction of the Bill to give effect to the decision on the route will not now be possible next November, but subject to the consent of Parliament it will be introduced later in the Session. A decision about the route will, of course, in no way prejudge a decision by Parliament as to whether or not to proceed with Phase III of the Channel Tunnel project.
Deferment of the decision on the route inevitably means continuing uncertainty about properties which may or may not ultimately be required; I am giving urgent consideration to this problem and a statement will be made as soon as possible.
70W
£ million at 1973 survey prices 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 Local authorities— Purchase of land and existing buildings … 429 422 420 424 Sale of land and existing buildings … … -252 -283 -294 -260 New Town Development Corporations— Purchase of land and existing buildings … 35 28 23 19 Sale of land and existing buildings … … -74 -73 -65 -60 Central Government— Purchase of land and existing buildings … 77 79 77 74 Sale of land and existing buildings … … -10 -8 -8 -7 I shall also be discussing with British Rail what can be done to reduce to the minimum any delay in completion of the Channel Tunnel project, if it goes ahead.