HC Deb 11 May 1999 vol 331 c111
11. Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)

If he will make a statement on the integration of road and canal transport. [82790]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Mr. Alan Meale)

A key message of the integrated transport White Paper is to ensure that all forms of transport, including waterways, work well together, and that each is able to make its maximum contribution.

Mr. Fabricant

In practice, that "key message" is a load of old tosh. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, as planned, the Birmingham northern relief road would cut the Lichfield-Hatherton canal in half? Is he also aware that the Government inspector said that an overpass or underpass should be provided? Is he further aware that his boss—the two—Jag Secretary of State—overruled the inspector, so that work on the canal cannot go ahead, damaging prospects for canals in south Staffordshire? Does the hon. Gentleman think that that might have had something to do with the fact that both Lichfield district and city councils were won back by the Conservatives? Were not the Government's decisions a disaster, and what will they do in future to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again?

Mr. Meale

Speaking of a load of tosh, I remind the hon. Gentleman that he seems to be at variance with both his Front-Bench colleagues and some of his Back-Bench colleagues, who, only a few moments ago, were supporting not only the road haulage industry, but new roads across the length and breadth of England. I remind him of the 15-month public inquiry on the relief road, at the end of which the Government, in the national interest, took a decision on it.

The hon. Gentleman seems to be at variance also with people in his own area, as the bodies supporting the legal challenge to the relief road have withdrawn their objections. As for the Government's plans, we shall very soon be publishing a daughter document that will take into account all the planning considerations, so that we do not again get into the type of mess that the previous Government left us in.

Mr. Fabricant

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. That was a wholly unsatisfactory answer and I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

Madam Speaker

In that case, we must now move on to the next question.