asked the Prime Minister whether he will take the necessary steps to secure the appointment of a Joint Committee of Lords and Commons or, alternatively, the appointment of a Select Committee of this House, to consider the question of the Channel Tunnel, with a view to ascertaining whether the objections recently urged against the project on the ground of naval, military and aircraft defence have undergone material modification in support of the early construction of the proposed submarine railway.

May I ask, is there any question of urgency with regard to this matter?

I understood there was some statement to be made.

The Prime Minister indicated on 7th July, in reply to a supplementary question addressed to him by the right hon. Member, that if there was a general desire for such a Com- mittee, he would be prepared to consider the suggestion. So far, no approaches have been made in this sense, and I have yet to learn whether those interested in this problem have the support of any considerable section of the House.