§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the conclusions of the Cairncross Committee which reported last April on the viability of the Channel Tunnel he accepts; and what action, if any, has been taken on these.
§ Mr. CroslandThe main tasks of the Cairncross Group were to consider the adequacy of the economic and financial studies being carried out by consultants and to indicate points that should be taken into account in assessing any future Tunnel project. Most of the Group's findings did not, therefore, call for immediate action. However, I am discussing with my colleagues and others a number of matters raised in the Report—in particular, the effect of peak pricing on shipping capacity, possible improvements in traffic forecasting, and the co-ordination of investment.
§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the total amount of compensation to be paid to the companies that were to build the Channel Tunnel has yet been established; and what is the latest figure.
§ Mr. CroslandThe price paid for acquiring the companies' shares was £18.7 539W million. This includes £8.6 million in additional compensation to the shareholders. These costs were shared equally between the Governments.
§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the French Government have indicated their willingness to renegotiate the terms on which the Channel Tunnel might be constructed; and what response he has made.
§ Mr. CroslandNot since the project was abandoned.
§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the French Government have asked Her Majesty's Government to assume responsibility for the French share of any compensation due following the United Kingdom's decision to abandon the construction of the Channel Tunnel; and what reply has been given.
§ Mr. CroslandNo. The two Tunnel companies claimed abandonment of the project; it was not a unilateral decision of the British Government.