HC Deb 05 December 1956 vol 561 cc1211-3
1. Mr. Hannan

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to receive a report from the Committee of Inquiry on Inland Waterways and Canals which he appointed in February this year.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Hugh Molson)

I understand that the Committee is making steady progress, but that it cannot yet say when it will be able to report.

Mr. Hannan

Does the Parliamentary Secretary not recollect that when the Minister made his original statement in the House and replied to criticisms that the appointment of this Committee was a delaying tactic, he said that the need was for the Committee to report quickly and objectively? What is his interpretation of the word "quickly"? Is it a year, or two years, or five years?

Mr. Molson

We are most anxious that the Committee shall report as soon as possible. We have inquired what the cause of the delay is, and we understand that a good deal of the written evidence, which was asked for as long ago as last April, has not yet been received.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a very distressing situation, that there was really no point at all in having a Committee of Inquiry when all the facts were known, and that the only excuse which the Minister could give was that it would not take very long before we could have the report and a decision, and be able to get on with the work? Now it appears that the report is delayed because the Committee is not getting the evidence, and that we shall not get the report for months or even years. The situation for our canal system is very serious.

Mr. Molson

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that we are most anxious that this Committee shall get on with its work as quickly as possible. It was, however, set up to go into these various problems as a result of the very strong representations which were made to us, notably by the Inland Waterways Association, which is one of the associations which has not yet presented its written evidence.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that some sections of the canal system in Openshaw. Manchester, are in such a dilapidated state that they constitute a serious menace to life and health, and that several young children have already lost their lives? Will he not ask for an interim report from this Committee, to deal particularly with unused canals or sections which are in such a dangerous condition?

Mr. Molson

No, we certainly will not ask for an interim report. We are anxious to receive the final report as soon as possible. I am very glad to think that what has been said in the House today may have the effect of inducing the various interests concerned to speed up the presenting of the evidence.

31. Mr. Atkins

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the fact that goods can be carried by water with a considerably smaller expenditure of oil per ton-mile than by road, he will issue a general direction to the British Transport Commission to make the greatest possible use of its fleet of vessels on the canals and inland waterways.

The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Harold Watkinson)

There is no need for a direction. The British Transport Commission has informed representatives of trade and industry that there is spare capacity on the services provided by its craft and that it will do its utmost to cater for traffic offered for conveyance by inland waterway.

Mr. Atkins

As these vessels are very economical compared with lorries, will my right hon. Friend ask the British Transport Commission to redouble its efforts to find the traffic to take advantage of their capacity?

Mr. Watkinson

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving more publicity to this service. I hope that many industrialists will take advantage of it.