HC Deb 19 April 1972 vol 835 cc497-8
29. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now reconsidered his plan to wind up the British Waterways Board and to hand over its responsibilities to regional water authorities in the light of representations made to him.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

The Government's intention remains that responsibility for the waterways should be taken over by the new regional water authorities. Within this framework consultations continue with the British Waterways Board as to the best form of management of the waterways.

Mr. Hughes

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that the British Waterways Board has been in existence only since 1968, during which time it has functioned effectively and well? Does he further appreciate that our waterways are of direct economic value, besides being important as growing centres for leisure and pleasure, as is certainly the case in my own constituency and in South Wales generally? Does he not feel that to obstruct the waterways at this stage is nothing short of economic vandalism?

Mr. Griffiths

The hon. Gentleman's point is absurd, and he knows it. My right hon. Friend is anxious to promote the best interests of the waterways for recreation, amenity and commercial navigation wherever practicable. I am confident that this will be achieved under our proposals.

Mr. Winterton

What assurances can my hon. Friend give that further stretches of canal which are of growing importance for recreational use will not be closed under the new set-up?

Mr. Griffiths

The statutory obligations are intended to be identical with those that exist today, and wherever a sensible and viable scheme can be put forward my right hon. Friend will gladly look at it.

Mr. Simon Mahon

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many stretches of canal are fit for nothing else but closure, and that one canal at Bootle has been described as a murderous, killing sewer, that there is no hope for it and that it has not been used for 20 years? Whether the hon. Gentleman changes the present set-up or maintains it, will he at least see that working-class areas like mine are properly represented on the board?

Mr. Griffiths

I am sure my right hon. Friend is anxious that all sections of the community shall be properly represented. The point made by the hon. Gentleman is a good one. We are seeking to achieve the best use of all our water supplies. It may be that in some areas the best use lies in amenity water parks for beauty or conservation and not simply navigation. We have to look at each case on its merits.

Mr. Denis Howell

Is it not the duty of the British Waterways Board to advise the Government on the future of the waterways system and, if that is the case, why have the Government, without consulting the board, appointed a separate canal adviser, a man who on several occasions has said that he disapproves of the Government's policy? Will the Government take his advice and that of the board and scrap the proposals, which have no support anywhere in the country?

Mr. Griffiths

The fact that the adviser invited by my right hon. Friend to assist us in this matter has expressed different views from those in any Government publication demonstrates the broad-minded attitude taken by my right hon. Friend and his willingness to listen to advice—which is something the hon. Gentleman rarely displays.