§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on(a) the degree of concentration and (b) the likely effect of poisonous gases if Halon 1301 is used in the channel tunnel to suppress fire.
§ Mr. FreemanThe use of halon gas in the channel tunnel was reviewed by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority in its paper "Non-segregation of drivers and passengers from their vehicles", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. In agreeing to the use of Halon 1301 the authority accepted evidence showing that halon is not harmful at the concentrations used to extinguish fires. Studies also show that the decomposition products of 241W halon do not reach harmful concentrations if it is released before the fire has attained large proportions. But in view of possible irritant effects, the authority concluded that halon should not be released in the compartment of a tunnel shuttle wagon unless it had been evacuated or as a last resort if the lives of passengers were threatened.
§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require the channel tunnel safety authority to publish information about the safety tests conducted on the channel tunnel.
§ Mr. FreemanThe safety authority propose to publish a commentary on the fire safety and evacuation tests being undertaken by Eurotunnel.