§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Parliament will be informed if advice from the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority, or from its British delegation, is being disregarded.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)The Channel Fixed Link Treaty gives the safety authority the right to make reports directly to the Government. The Government have assured the Select Committee on the Channel Tunnel Bill—see House of Lords, Minutes of Evidence of Select Committee on the Channel Tunnel Bill: Monday 6th April, page 28, second column—that should the safety authority bring to the attention of the Secretary of State a fundamental disagreement on an important issue of public safety between themselves and the Intergovernmental Commission, or should the UK delegation to the safety authority notify a similar disagreement between themselves and their French counterparts, the Secretary of State for Transport will report that fact to Parliament.