§ 67. Mr. H. Fraserasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total canal mileage in Staffordshire; and how 940 much of this the British Transport Commission has recommended to him should be closed down.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAbout 260 miles, of which some 26 miles are closed to navigation. The British Transport Commission Bill now before Parliament proposes to close a further eight miles. It has made no recommendation to me for any further closures.
§ 68. Mr. H. Fraserasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give an assurance that he will refrain from making any order closing a canal as a result of the recommendations of the British Transport Commission, until these recommendations have been debated by Parliament.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo, Sir. Parliament has itself laid down a statutory procedure for the protection of all interests concerned in such a case, and I do not think it is for me to alter them.
69. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will reconsider his decision to close the Macclesfield Canal, in view of the amenities it offers to anglers and boating societies.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have made no such decision as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests.
Air Commodore HarveyWill my right hon. Friend impress upon the British Transport Commission that it should look at this matter from an entirely different angle, because thousands of people derive pleasure from these canals, and can he say whether the Commission ever thought of selling licences on a national basis in a way similar to that operated in New Zealand? Will my right hon. Friend look into the matter to see if something can be done to enable these places to remain open on a commercial basis?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAll these points can be considered. All that has happened so far is that a board of survey has reported to the Transport Commission about the value of its canals for transport purposes.
Mr. Jack JonesDoes the Minister appreciate that there are documents in this House bearing 45,000 signatures of people from this area protesting against 941 the intentions of this body, and will he do something to see that the canals are kept open? This Government, like any other Government, want contented workpeople, and angling creates content.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe only question that has arisen so far is that the Commission has been advised by the board of survey as to the value of its canals for transport purposes. No decision beyond that has been taken.