933
Cross-Channel
House of Lords
[ 27 FEBRUARY 1985]
Wednesday, 27th February, 1985.
The House met at half-past two of the clock: The CHAIRMAN Of Committees on the Woolsack.
Prayers Read by the Lord Bishop of Chichester.
Lord Vinson
Nigel Vinson Esquire, LVO, having been created Baron Vinson, of Roddam Dene in the County of Northumberland, for life-Was, in his robes, introduced between the Lord Northfield and the Baroness Cox.
2.46 p.m.
Mr. Rudolf Hess
Lady Saltoun: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the cost to the United Kingdom of guarding Mr. Rudolf Hess in prison.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young): My Lords, there is no cost to the United Kingdom arising from Hess's imprisonment. All the costs of the three Western powers are borne by the German authorities.
Lady Saltoun: My Lords, I thank the noble Minister for that Answer. May I ask her whether, in view of the forthcoming special 40th anniversary celebrations in commemoration of VE Day, her noble friend will approach the nations concerned in order to secure the liberation of Herr Rudolf Hess as a gesture of peace and goodwill?
Baroness Young: My Lords, I am sure that your Lordships will understand that it would not be right for me to give the House an undertaking to make a further approach on a specific occasion. However, I should like to assure the noble Lady that successive British Governments, together with the Governments of France and the United States, have argued for Hess's release on humanitarian grounds. Her Majesty's Government have made more than 20 such appeals to the Soviet Union, most recently in November 1984.
2.48 p.m.
Cross Channel Fixed Link
Lord Davies/of Leek: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are still interested in establishing a link with Europe either in the form of a bridge or a tunnel; and whether a study of existing freight and passenger traffic via France has been made.
Lord Brabazon of Tara: My Lords, as I said in reply to my noble friend Lord Bessborough in the unstarred
HL 14 F2
Fixed Link
934
debate on this subject on 16th January, the Government remain willing to facilitate the construc tion of a cross-channel fixed link by the private sector if it can be financed without support from public funds or Government guarantees against commercial or technical risks. On the second point raised by the noble Lord, a full study of existing and expected freight and passenger traffic was included in the report of an Anglo-French study group published in June 1982 (Cmnd 8561). But promoters will no doubt make their own up-to-date traffic forecasts before developing firm proposals to submit to the two Governments.
Lord Davies of Leek: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that comprehensive reply. Will the noble Lord tell the House whether the committee is still in existence or whether consultations are still taking place between the French and ourselves on this issue?
Lord Brabazon of Tara: Yes, my Lords, the joint Anglo-French/working group which is preparing guidelines has been asked to complete its work by the end of February (that is, tomorrow) and intends to submit its report on time. The exact date upon which guidelines can be issued to promoters will depend on whether there are any points remaining to be resolved in discussion between my right honourable friend the Secretary of State and his French counterpart.
Lord Underhill: My Lords, does the Minister agree that there are many other factors involved, apart from the commercial viability that will be left to private capital? Is it intended that the Government will issue a White Paper covering the whole sphere and all the problems involved?
Lord Brabazon of Tara: My Lords, I have no knowledge of any proposal to issue a White Paper. The guidelines for the promoters will of course be published; and it is hoped that they will be available in about a month's time.
Lord Ferrier: My Lords, can my noble friend say whether these estimates will include a calculation in respect of the police, Customs and security staffs who will be necessary for the 24 hour-a-day watch that will have to be kept in respect of any such bridge or tunnel?
Lord Brabazon of Tara: My Lords, all the factors which my noble friend has mentioned are being very closely considered by my right honourable friend.
European Fighter Aircraft Project
2.51 p.m.
The Earl of Kinnoull: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress is being made on an agreed definition of the European fighter aircraft project and on future work-sharing in its production.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (Lord Trefgarne): My Lords, the