§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what communications he has had with the safety commission of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission concerning use of the new 1123W Austrian tunnelling method in the channel tunnel's cross-over chambers.
§ Mr. WattsThe Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission supervises all matters concerning the construction and operation of the tunnel on behalf of the United Kingdom and French Governments. It is advised by the independent channel tunnel safety authority. The safety authority carried out very careful checks of the tunnelling and support systems used in the channel tunnel, including the new Austrian tunnelling method, before advising the intergovernmental commission that it had no objection to their use.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what detailed arrangements have been made covering the Secretary of State's freehold interest Ai the channel tunnel, in the event of the formal liquidation, or insolvency of the concessionaires; and what equivalent arrangements have been made in respect of assets within the public domain in the Republic of France.
§ Mr. John WattsIn Britain the Government hold the freehold of the land on which the fixed link has been built. This land is leased to the concessionaires under the terms of the concession agreement. In the event of formal liquidation of the concessionaires the concession agreement states that the terms of those leases shall end. Similar arrangements in France are also covered by the concession agreement.