§ 5. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consideration has been given to the issues raised in respect of the Forth and Clyde canal following recommendations of the Bowes Committee on Inland Waterways.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Niall Macpherson)Any decision to close the canal, as recommended by the Bowes Committee, would be a matter for the British Transport Commission and for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport. The interests affected will need to be consulted and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, for his part, is at present in communication with the fishermen's associations concerned to obtain their views on the recommendation of the Committee.
§ Mr. HannanThere was a recommendation that the Glasgow arm of the Forth and Clyde canal should be redeveloped, and the Committee, while making no firm recommendation, suggested that the main canal should be closed. Has any consideration been given to that point?
§ Mr. MacphersonThe Inland Waterways Redevelopment Advisory Committee has been concentrating on the Monkland portion of the canal network and has not yet considered the other parts.