Ferry companies do not attempt to flatter their figures in this way

Ferry companies do not attempt to flatter their figures in this way.”He said Eurotunnel’s claim to have taken more than one-third of the Dover- Calais market in July was not borne out by the figures published yesterday by cross-Channel operators.According to its calculations P&O had 40.4 per cent of the market, Stena 13.6 per cent, SNAT 13.6 per cent, Hoverspeed 6.4 per cent and Eurotunnel 26 per cent. Competition for business has been fierce, with passengers benefiting from a string of cut price deals. But, as our table shows, Le Shuttle is among the most expensive ways to cross the Channel.The Dover-Calais market has grown by about 20 per cent, and the ferry companies believe the bulk of Le Shuttle passengers have been absorbed by that increase. P&O carried 177,659 cars and 12,998 coaches on its Dover- Calais route in July, marginally down on the same month in 1994. Last year Eurotunnel was working on forecasts that it would achieve a rate of 6,800 cars a day for 1995, carrying an estimated 11 million passengers.Michael Cohen, an analyst with Salomon Brothers, called July’s figures disappointing.

“They are going to have to make a real effort to get the tourist figures up for next year.”City analysts have long felt that Eurotunnel would not meet these forecasts, and are looking to what the company might say about next year’s estimates when they meet bankers in the autumn. The negotiations are about the banks agreeing loans to finance the company beyond October, without which Eurotunnel will collapse and probably be taken over by the banking syndicate.Meanwhile, the high-speed Eurostar train service had a good month, despite breakdowns, including one this week involving members of the Saudi royal family.The total number trains from London to Paris and Brussels was 851, compared with 730 in June. This took the Eurostar total so far this year to 3,952.Dover-Calais for two adults and two childrenPrices for Friday to Sunday this weekend.P and O pounds 92: Tariff D depart Friday 01.00-05.45 or 23.00-23.59return Sunday 01.00-09.45 or 22.00-23.15pounds 120: Tariff C depart Friday 06.30-08.00 or 17.45-22.15return Sunday 11.45-13.30 or 20.15-21.45pounds 135.20: Tariff B depart Friday 08.45-17.00return Sunday 14.15-18.45Sealink pounds 122: depart 07.00-19.00pounds 91: depart 21.00-07.00Hoverspeed pounds 169: depart 06.00-07.00/19.00-21.00pounds 188: depart 07.00-19.00/21.00-06.00Eurotunnel pounds 169: depart 06.00-18.00pounds 115: depart 18.00-06.00. The public regards Michael Heseltine as the power behind the Prime Minister as a result of the Cabinet reshuffle, a poll says today. The Gallup poll shows that 40 per cent think John Major is the most powerful person in the Cabinet, but 39 per cent believe the power resides with the Deputy Prime Minister.
The results will fuel the anger of right-wing Tory MPs who are still furious at the promotion of Mr Heseltine to the heart of the Major government in the Cabinet office, dubbed 10A Downing Street.Mr Heseltine has his own smart-card pass to the Downing Street complex and offices reputed to be size of a tennis court. Whitehall insiders say Mr Heseltine is making his presence felt by calling in officials to coordinate announcements. “The Monday morning meeting with the Chief Whip used to be like an inquisition for ministers They hated it.

Now it is much more pro-active, hands-on,” said one Whitehall source.The Independent has learned that late last week Mr Heseltine took over control of the announcement of the efficiency savings across three departments – the Home Office, health and education – from the Prime Minister. He chaired the announcements himself.His rise may explain the failure of Mr Major to make an impact since the leadership election. The poll in the Daily Telegraph shows Mr Major’s decisive victory has failed to dent Labour’s lead, putting Labour 35 points ahead of the Tories. Labour is on 57.5 per cent, the Tories 22.5 per cent, the Liberal Democrats 14.5 per cent and others 5.5 per cent.The Conservative Party chairman, Brian Mawhinney, is working closely with Mr Heseltine on the Tory fightback during the summer.They are holding daily strategy meetings and planning to make the annual party conference in October a launch pad for new policies.Labour released an internal report showing that the boundary changes have caused dozens of seats to become marginals. Labour claimed that as a victory for their lobbying of the boundary commission.The party believes Mr Blair could be given a working Commons majority with a swing of between four and five per cent, three per cent less than previously thought, if the analysis of boundary changes is correct..

Police were yesterday continuing to search for five handguns which fell out of a van when five constables left a side door open as they travelled back from a training exercise. The officers were returning to the headquarters of the Nottinghamshire force at Arnold, Nottingham, on Wednesday after a session at a police shooting range at Epperstone Manor.
A black canvas holdall containing the five unloaded Smith and Wesson guns slid out of the van during the journey.Nottinghamshire Assistant Chief Constable Michael Todd denied yesterday that the five officers had been suspended but confirmed their authorisation to use firearms in police work had been withdrawn until the outcome of an inquiry.The officers are said to be distraught and are likely to face disciplinary hearings.Mr Todd said: “These people are all highly trained and all of us are taking this very seriously. We just want those guns back.He said the constables were from “the operational support unit of the force which is a firearms training group”.”It appears they put them on the floor of the vehicle and because of the hot weather hadn’t shut the side door. They must have slid along the floor of the van and out of the door.”The officers discovered they were missing before they got back when they were about three-quarters of the way along the five-mile journey and turned round immediately and went over the route.”However, the guns and bag had disappeared and it was thought that a couple passing by in a car had picked them up.Mr Todd said: “One of the officers remembers a red MG Metro car flashing its lights at the police vehicle and a farm worker in the area has told us that he saw a couple leave the same car and pick up a black bag.”If that is the case, you have to ask why haven’t they taken them into the nearest police station?” He added that the guns and bag were not marked with police identification..