HC Deb 24 July 1922 vol 157 cc10-1
6. Mr. GILBERT

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any further progress has been made with the construction of the canal on the Rhine between Bale and Mannheim; whether British representation has recently been strengthened on the Canal Commission; and can he say if British commercial interests are now fully represented thereon, and who are the British representatives, and if his Department has nominated anyone in order to represent British shipping interests on the Rhine?

Mr. BALDWIN

The construction of the Lateral Canal to the Rhine between Basle and Strasbourg, of which the first section was recently approved by the Central Commission for the Rhine, has not yet been commenced. Great Britain is represented on the Commission by Mr. J. G. Baldwin, C.B., who has the right to record the two votes to which this country is entitled. Sir Joseph Broodbank, late General Manager to the Port of London Authority, who has been associated in this connection with important British commercial and shipping interests, has been appointed to act as British Commercial Adviser on the Rhine Commission on questions relating to the improvement of the river.