HC Deb 09 February 1972 vol 830 cc1330-1
32. Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can announce the date of the proposed conference on water and recreation; if he will publish the names of the bodies which he expects to invite to it; and what form it will take.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Eldon Griffiths)

The conference will be held on 28th February at Church House, London. For the list of bodies, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8th February and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the provisional agenda.—[Vol. 830, c. 328–9.]

Mr. Spearing

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Would he not agree, in examining the subject of water space, that gravel pits and reservoirs are very different from canals and rivers? If the Government wish to do something about this, will they listen to the representations of such bodies as the Inland Waterways Association which has asked them to reconsider the breaking up of the unitary canal system?

Mr. Griffiths

The purpose of the conference is to allow all concerned, including the Inland Waterways Association, a full opportunity to put their points of view forward. I can assure the hon. Member that the total amount of water space, wherever available, can be better used for amenity and recreation and that is certainly the intention of my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Maddan

Would my hon. Friend agree that there are a large number of people who believe that the best hope for the future of inland waterways is as part of a general water authority organisation?

Mr. Griffiths

Yes, and it is the intention of my Department that the future of the waterways as a whole will be better than their past.

Sir G. de Freitas

As the Question referred to what form the conference will take, will the hon. Gentleman say whether it will be quite clear that it will be possible for people to advocate the complete separation of the control of navigation from the provision of water because this is the fundamental point about which the inland waterways authorities and others are much worried?

Mr. Griffiths

The terms of reference of the conference, which I will be glad to send to the right hon. Gentleman, certainly make it possible for people to put forward any such suggestions.