§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Prime Minister whether the Government's decision to approve the Channel tunnel is intended to pave the way at the next European Economic Community summit for including a European Economic Community contribution as an offset to the £1.3 billion which is owed to the United Kingdom by the European Economic Community in 1980; if so, whether she estimates that the net benefit to the United Kingdom of such a tunnel would be greater than the United Kingdom's normal contribution; and, if so, by how much.
§ The Prime MinisterThere has been no decision to approve a Channel tunnel, but my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport has said that he will consider commercially sound proposals financed by private risk capital. His announcement had no connection with the issue of our contribution to the Community budget.