Gunnel hurdles &ark
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• The Government has cleared the first major hurdles in its battle to get through the legislation to build the Channel Tunnel.
After an all-night sitting, MPs gave a second reading to the Bill and all the necessary procedures to enable the committee stage to be carried Out properly.
During the debate there were repeated references to the environmental benefits of removing the equivalent of 365,000 lorries a year from Britain's roads by switching their loads to rail.
However, Labour MP John Silkin, who predicted that the ferries would be wiped out of business if the tunnel wei ahead, warned that that v pose severe problems for lorry drivers, who often the 90-minute ferry cross for their compulsory rest period.
Transport Minister Dai Mitchell said he believes requirement of lorry driv( would in fact make ferrie; more attractive.
Mitchell also assured N that there was no questio spoil from the construed° work being moved by roa from the site, but he left the possibility that opera might have the chance to move the shale as no deci has been taken on that.