Examination of Witnesses (Questions 17759
- 17767)
Ordered that Counsel and Parties be called in.
Promoter's response to the Committee Statement on
Woolwich Station
17759. Chairman: Can I remind everybody
who is here this morning that we will be conveniently breaking
at about 11.30 for people who wish to get a coffee, and then we
will resume at about 11.50. We will give you an exact time nearer
the time. Mr Elvin, it is very good to see you since the summer
recess. Have you brought good or bad tidings to our statement
last week?
17760. Mr Elvin: It is not a statement
which I think the Committee will welcome. I have been asked by
the Secretary of State to make a statement this morning in response
to what you said last Thursday afternoon. Sir, I am asked to convey
to the Committee that the Secretary of State has considered very
carefully the views of the Committee as communicated to us last
Thursday, and of course it goes without saying that he accepts
that it is for the House to determine what goes into legislation
and what does not. The Secretary of State regrets, however, that
he is unable to accede to the Committee's request to include a
station at Woolwich, within the Promoter's draft AP3 instruction
to be placed before the House. He has already explained his reasons
for this, namely the considerable extra cost which it would add
when he is seeking to drive down the costs of the project.
17761. The Secretary of State, however, does
wish to reassure the Committee that the question of Woolwich was
looked at in some detail during the summer months, following the
announcement of the Committee's interim conclusions. This included
consideration of whether it would be possible to build a station
at Woolwich without incurring similar significant costs in comparison
to the type of station which was examined by the Committee.
17762. The Secretary of State's position was
not a knee-jerk reaction to the Committee's conclusions. Indeed,
I am asked to make it clear to the Committee that the new Secretary
of State looked at the issue afresh and did not simply rubberstamp
the view of the earlier Secretary of State.
17763. However, sir, I am asked to draw your
attention, perhaps, you may think, to the obvious, that since
AP3 requires an instruction from the House the content of AP3
will be something which has, in any event, to be determined by
the House. The timing of the instruction to debate, of course,
is not a matter for the Secretary of State, but it is understood
it is likely to be in the near future. Given the clear and strong
view of the Committee on the issue of a new station at Woolwich
the Secretary of State anticipates that this issue will arise
as part of the debate by the House on the instruction motion.
In that connection the Secretary of State understands from what
was said last week that the Committee may wish to lay a special
report before the House; it therefore seems likely that the issue
of Woolwich will be a matter for the decision of the House.
17764. Sir, that is the statement I am asked
to give to the Committee.
17765. Chairman: Mr Elvin, I think what
we had better do is to clear the Committee and give the Members
who are present the opportunity to discuss it for a few short
moments.
After a short break
17766. Chairman: Mr Elvin, can I tell
you that the Committee Members who are here present have reflected
on the statement you asked to be read out to the Members of the
Committee. We are astonished, quite frankly, about the decision
of the Secretary of State to, for the second time, dismiss the
view of this Committee after many days of taking evidence to this
Select Committee. It is unprecedented; it happened the first time
and likewise the second time we are not willing to accept that.
What we have decided is that we need time to reflect on that and
we are not going to sit as a Committee for the remainder of this
week. We are going to come back next Tuesday where we will have
time to reflect and meet with one another and discuss this matter,
and then we will decide whether or not we shall sit on. In the
meantime, I will try to make contact with the Secretary of State
to repeat the view which I have just given you now.
17767. Mr Elvin: Very well, sir.
| 
