HL Deb 03 May 1985 vol 463 cc519-20WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what grounds it has been determined that a speed of 17 knots is the likely maximum for any vessel that might collide with the Channel Fixed Link (paragraph 34.2 of Annex 2 to chapter 4), "assuming a life expectancy for the Link of at least a hundred years" (paragraph 35.4).

Lord Brabazon of Tara

Developments in shipping far into the future cannot be foreseen with certainty; a judgment has to be made now on the basis of known facts and probabilities, taking account of both the speed and the displacement of vessels. The view of the professional advisers of the two Governments was that 17 knots should be adopted as the standard for the largest vessels which might come into contact with the Link.