Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the authority is for contractors working on behalf of Transport for London to conduct preparatory Silvertown Tunnel bore hole drilling works in Bugsbys Reach in advance of a decision on development consent for the proposed Silvertown Tunnel.

Transport in London is a matter for Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor. We understand from TfL that these works are being carried out under a statutory permit granted by the Environment Agency.

It is standard procedure for investigative works such as these to be carried out in advance of major development proposals and the works are without prejudice to the Secretary of State’s determination of the application for development consent for the Silvertown Tunnel.