Safety In The Channel Tunnel

EDM number 735 in 1990-91, proposed by Ronnie Fearn on 23/04/1991.

That this House notes with concern the tone of the annual report for 1989-90 of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority; expresses particular concern that at such a late date the Authority should be drawing attention to the fact that major outstanding questions still to be resolved include the design criteria to be used for protecting the system against earthquakes, emergency ventilation and the final arrangements chosen for the rolling stock (in particular the HGV wagons) ; recalls that the Authority feels it is by no means clear that acceptable solutions will be found in the time frame of the Avant Project programme; calls on Her Majesty's Government urgently to review the Tunnel's official opening date in 1993 in order to give all concerned, especially major transport and industrial concerns, sufficient warning of any need to postpone the opening in the interests of ensuring the safety of its potential users; and calls upon the Safety Authority to release the results of the tests that have led them to conclude that the risks to safety caused by non-segregation of passengers and vehicles will be acceptable.

This motion has been signed by a total of 34 MPs.