§ 17. Mr. Warbeyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the name and qualifications of the independent member appointed to the British Transport Commission's Canal Survey Board, after consultation with himself.
§ Mr. MolsonThe two independent members of the Board of Survey are Sir Rex Hodges, formerly general manager and secretary of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, and Mr. R. D. Brown, a civil engineer experienced in the design, construction and operation of canals and other public works in this country and abroad.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs the hon. Member satisfied that these appointments will ensure that the survey will be genuinely objective in character and not subject to any preconceptions about the alleged obsolete nature of canal transport? Secondly, will the Minister tell us when this survey is likely to be available?
§ Mr. MolsonIf my right hon. Friend had not been satisfied that these gentlemen were likely to provide an objective survey he would not have approved their appointment. As regards the second point, I am not able to make any promise upon the subject, but I understand that we are likely to have the results of the survey within the next few months.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesIs this survey to be published as a White Paper so that it will be available to hon. Members, or is it to be entirely a British Transport Commission publication?
§ Mr. MolsonThat is a matter for the British Transport Commission.