MPs join ranks to battle Tunnel
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I A group of more than 20 MPs has been formed to oppose the Channel Tunnel, and to encourage opposition to the Channel Tunnel Bill when it reaches the House of Lords.
The group is led by John Slain, Labour MP for Deptford, who claims the Channel Tunnel project will need Government backing if it is to succeed.
Secretary of the group is Jonathan Aitken, Conservative MP for Thanet South, and the group's treasurer is Donald Stewart MP of the Scottish Nationalists. Lord Bruce of Donnington, a Labour peer, is the only representative from the upper chamber to join the group, which has attracted no SDP or Liberal members in the group.
fl Conservative MP Teddy Taylor has called for a nostrike agreement with railway workers on the proposed Channel Tunnel. "If 50% of British overseas trade is carried through the tunnel, this country could be crippled by strikes by British or French rail workers," he said.
IN BBC director of programmes Michael Grade has written to the backers of the suspended Arena programme Night Moves, confirming that his inquiry into the funding of the programme is continuing. He has thanked them for their interest in seeing the matter resolved, but says: "It may be sonic few weeks before we announce that decision."
II There were 432,000 licenced heavy goods vehicles in Britain at the end of 1985 — almost a quarter fewer than in 1975, roads minister Peter Bottornley has told MPs.
Those vehicles, however, moved 11% more tonne/kilometres of goods than in 1975, a reflection of the increasing number of larger lorries.