§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Eurotunnel and British Rail about the proposed Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloMy right hon. Friend and I have had discussions with Eurotunnel and with British Rail on a range of issues related to the Channel tunnel.
§ Mr. PrescottTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contact his Department has had with Eurotunnel or TML representatives to discuss the disposal of surplus spoil from the Shakespeare cliff site; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ParkinsonMy Department has discussed the disposal of spoil arising from the Channel tunnel with Eurotunnel and TML on a number of occasions.
I understand that Eurotunnel originally planned to use 1 million cu m of spoil as part of the bulk fill required for the construction of the Cheriton terminal. At the start of the operation, it used sand brought in by pipeline. This was welcomed by local authorities, as it involved less environmental disturbance than would the use of spoil. Sand was therefore used for the whole operation. Eurotunnel identified a number of options for disposal of the now surplus spoil, on which it consulted the Department and other interested parties. It announced at the meeting of the Kent joint consultative committee on 18 October, chaired by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, that it was not its intention to bring forward a private Bill 185W on the matter. It is still considering, with TML, disposal options permitted within the Channel Tunnel Act, and has promised full consultation with those concerned.