HC Deb 23 April 1990 vol 171 cc42-4W
6. Mr. Geraint Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the channel tunnel.

Mr. Portillo

The channel tunnel is a private sector project. I understand that more than 40 per cent. of tunnelling has been completed and is now progressing at record levels.

44. Mr. Gow

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rate of return he expects will be secured by British Rail on its investment to be undertaken as a result of the prospective opening of the channel tunnel.

Mr. Portillo

The real rate of return on British Rail's investment for channel tunnel services is expected to be at least 8 per cent.

52. Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the channel tunnel link and the site of the second London terminal.

Mr. Portillo

The Department has received a large number of such representations.

53. Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received regarding channel tunnel links with Cornwall.

Mr. Portillo

I have received a number of representations about channel tunnel links with Cornwall.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what evacuation procedures Eurotunnel has designed to ensure that people who have impaired hearing or impaired eyesight can be quickly evacuated in the event of fire;

(2) what tests there have been to examine the effects of a high-speed derailment in the channel tunnel;

(3) what consideration he has given to the conclusions of the intergovernmental commission and the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority on segregation of passengers from light vehicles, passenger cars and coaches from LPG;

(4) if he has any plans to increase the time fire doors on the shuttle rakes are required to resist fire to match the time Eurotunnel is given to rescue passengers from a train stranded in the channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement;

(5) if he has set any criteria for the numbers of drivers required to be present at all times on the two locomotives with which each train using the channel tunnel is to be equipped;

(6) how many evacuees from a carriage carrying passengers not segregated from their vehicles a neighbouring carriage with 50 cm between each vehicle in it could accommodate; and what projections he has made of how long it would take to transfer the passengers from one carriage to another in such circumstances;

(7) what criteria he has laid down for the time taken to evacuate a large coach full of people in smoke; whether he has any plans to vary the criteria where large numbers of elderly or handicapped people are carried; and if he will make a statement;

(8) what reports his Department has studied into the effects of a high-speed derailment in the channel tunnel and the safety of passengers travelling in train carriages and the safety of passengers travelling in their cars with full fuel tanks;

(9) if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority's report "Non-segregation of Drivers and Passengers from their Vehicles";

(10) if the service tunnel of the channel tunnel will be able to be used to evacuate passengers safely at the same time as it is being used to deploy rescue teams and emergency services to the scene of an incident.

Mr. Portillo

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr Vaz) on 8 January,Official Report, column 464, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Hastings and Rye (Mr Warren) on 22 January, Official Report, column 491.

Approval of Eurotunnel's proposed designs and operating procedures is a matter for the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission which is advised on safety matters by the independent Channel Tunnel Safety Authority.

The safety authority has now published its report reviewing the principal factors on which it based its advice to the intergovernmental commission on the non-segregation of drivers and passengers from their vehicles. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The report refers to the authority's view that drivers and passengers should not be allowed to travel in vehicles containing or carrying LPG. With regard to the effects of a high-speed derailment in the tunnel, the report records the authority's stipulation that Eurotunnel should carry out a special study of the behaviour of rolling stock under accident conditions. I understand that the authority is discussing with Eurotunnel the exact nature of the further tests required.

Eurotunnel's operating rules will have to cover matters such as the number of train drivers required to be present on the locomotives and the evacuation procedures for passengers, including the elderly and those with disabilities. Under the concession agreement, Eurotunnel is required to submit these rules for intergovernmental commission approval. When it does so, it will be for the safety authority to advise on whether the proposals are acceptable. Section 19 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 requires Eurotunnel to obtain from the intergovernmental commission a certificate stating that the commission is satisfied with Eurotunnel's code of practice on the conveyance of disabled persons.

Mr. Trotter

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects to receive from British Rail its investment proposals for the trains to be used for the through passenger services to be introduced from the continent to the north of Britain.

Mr. Portillo

I understand that negotiations on the price of the trains are continuing and that BR now intends to submit its proposals in the summer.