§ 42. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has yet received from the British Transport Commission their proposals for abandoning the Kennett and Avon Canal; and if he will hold a public inquiry so that local interests may be heard before Parliament is asked to take any action.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe British Transport Commission have made no proposal to me to abandon the Kennett and Avon Canal. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. HurdNo, but it will arise very soon. Is my right hon. Friend not aware that the British Transport Commission have already announced that they have proposals for closing the canal? As soon as they are available, will my right hon. Friend make sure that the local interests, which are commercial as well as those of people who use the canal for pleasure, have full opportunity to make representations before the House is asked to approve of the British Transport Commission's proposals?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI cannot say anything before I receive the representations, but I agree with my hon. Friend that full weight must be given to local interests.
§ Mr. EdeWill the Minister bear in mind that there are other than local interests also concerned with the maintenance of canals?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterCertainly. I think that the supplementary question of my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) expressly related to that point.
§ Mr. Jack JonesIs the Minister aware that these canals give a tremendous amount of pleasure to ordinary British workmen who fish in them at weekends? Is he aware that as a result a large number of men go to work much more contented on Monday mornings than otherwise would be the case? Would he use his influence to keep this canal open, if not for traffic, then for fishing?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think that that aspect of the matter is one much more for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries than for me.