HC Deb 19 December 1994 vol 251 cc878-9W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the arrangements for joint health and safety protection of the safety of passengers on the channel tunnel rail link, following the construction and completion of the tunnel.

Mr. Watts

Union Railways has in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive, prepared an outline railway safety case for the proposed channel tunnel rail link from St. Pancras to Cheriton. I have today placed copies in the Library. The Health and Safety Executive has confirmed that there are no aspects of the outline design which would call for an objection.

The outline safety case recognises that an updated and more detailed safety case will need to have the approval of the Health and Safety Executive before the rail link is brought into use.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings have been held with the French railways to discuss the safety of the channel tunnel rail link.

Mr. Watts

Union Railways, which has been responsible for developing the channel tunnel rail link project, is a member of European Union committees preparing standards relating to high-speed railways. SNCF is also represented on these committees. In addition, Union Railways is involved with a continuous dialogue with SNCF and other European railways on matters of common interest, including safety.