21. Mr. TEMPLE MORRISasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the scheme to make the River Nene navigable from the Wash to Northampton, and thence to connect with the inland canal system affording water transport westward to the Severn estuary and Wales; and whether he can make any statement as to the cost and the execution of this scheme?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI have seen references in the Press to the possibility of a scheme such as my hon. Friend mentions, and certain proposals for improving the River Nene from Thrapston upstream, mainly for navigation purposes in connection with industrial development at Corby, were submitted to the Ministry about a year ago by the River Nene Catchment Board for a Government contribution towards the cost. As, however, no part of the operations proposed could be regarded as land drainage works of an emergency character, I was unable to recommend a grant. No detailed scheme was prepared, but the proposals visualised, which could have constituted but a small part of the comprehensive scheme to which my hon. Friend refers, would, I am advised, have cost at least £150,000 to carry out.