§ 2.44 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF LUCANMy 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 have completed their inquiries into questions arising from the Report (dated 1951) of the Land Drainage Legislation Sub-committee of the Central Water Committee; and whether they have yet come to any decision on the recommendations of that body relating to the future of those waterways which can no longer be put to economic commercial use for transport purposes.]
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, the principal recommendations of the Land Drainage Legislation Sub-Committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee raise a number of very complex issues which are at present under consideration by my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I assume, however, that the noble Lord has particularly in mind the Committee's recommendations on the future of disused canals. These recommendations were circulated jointly by my right honourable friends the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister of Housing and Local Government to a large number of interested bodies for their views. Their replies revealed 945 widely divergent opinions, and Her Majesty's Government have concluded that further consideration of the issues involved is necessary before a decision can be reached on the future of these waterways.
§ THE EARL OF LUCANMy Lords, while I am grateful to the noble Lord for his reply, would he not agree that the Government action in this matter has been in slow motion? This Report was signed in November, 1950. Have Her Majesty's Government not been able to get to a further point in the consideration of these recommendations?
LORD HAWKEThe problem of dealing with these canals is one of great interest to various local authorities. As the noble Earl knows, we do not wish to ride roughshod over the local authorities in this country, and in a matter where views are likely to be divergent it takes a long time before some common policy can be hammered out.
§ THE EARL OF LUCANWhile we all realise that it is difficult to get agreement on a number of divergent views, would Her Majesty's Government say whether they have consulted all the appropriate bodies, the associations representing local government, industry, transport and the rest, and whether all those views will be given due consideration before the Government come to a decision?
LORD HAWKEI am not precisely briefed on exactly what bodies have been consulted, but I understand that the three Ministers concerned have, as I said, consulted a large number of interested bodies. I have no doubt that they include the bodies mentioned by the noble Earl. If he has in mind any body which has not been consulted, I wish he would bring it to the attention of my right honourable friend.
§ THE EARL OF LUCANWe hope that Her Majesty's Government will explore still further avenues.