HL Deb 25 March 1952 vol 175 cc909-10
VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, whether they will ask the Transport Commission to publish a map of the canals showing—

  1. (a) those to be retained or reopened;
  2. (b) those to be closed;
  3. (c) those whose future is still undecided;
in order that local authorities, industry and otter interests may have an opportunity to make any representations they may wish to make.]

THE EARL OF ONSLOW

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Leathers, I would inform the noble Viscount that the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive of the British Transport Commission have already issued a map showing three categories of waterways—namely, (a) those in regular use, which have been retained; (b) those which have already been closed to traffic; and (c) those in occasional use and the future of which is under consideration. I am sending the noble Viscount a copy of this map. When specific proposals are formulated for the abandonment of particular waterways for the purpose of navigation, full precautions are taken to bring these proposals Lo the notice of all interested parties and to give them ample opportunity of making representations.

VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his complete answer—and I must say that the noble Lord, Lord Leathers, has given full answers in this matter—may I ask whether he will make certain that those measures that have been outlined are really carried out? Because I know of a branch waterway being quietly closed in the course of a Private Bill dealing with entirely different, matters.

THE EARL OF ONSLOW

My Lords, I will certainly place that matter before my noble friend and I can assure the noble Viscount that it will be looked into. When the noble Viscount sees the map I shall be sending him shortly, I am sure he will be completely satisfied.