A GOVERNMENT decision or whether to back plans for a
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pri vately financed Channel tunne or bridge could be made by the end of the year, Transpor. Secretary David Howell told the Conservative Party Conference at Blackpool.
"I shall be looking closely a plans for a fixed Channel link" Mr Howell said during a debate on Transport.
"The idea of a Channel tunne was abandoned by the Laboui Government as too costly," he said: "They took the view the' public sector resources coulc • not stretch to such a big project.
"But they were imprisoned by their own doctrine — they dic not look further", said MI Howell.
He demanded: "If a scheme is commercially sound, why shouldn't the private sector finance it?"
Private sector interest was "very encouraging". There was a "fascinating range of possible schemes from a single-bore tunnel to a road-rail bridge".
Mr Howell added: "I shall be examining all these schemes, as will the French, with the aim al making possible a decision in principle by the end of this year."