HC Deb 08 March 1948 vol 448 cc112-3W
12. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Transport what are the terms of reference of the committee of inquiry he has appointed to consider the slow turn-round of ships; what are the names of its members; and when he now expects its report.

Mr. Barnes

The Working Party on the Turn-Round of Shipping was set up to examine the causes of delay to ships in the United Kingdom and to initiate or suggest action for improving present performance. Teams from the Working Party have visited the major ports and interim reports have, in certain cases, already been circulated to the interests concerned for consideration and action as necessary. I expect to receive a comprehensive report within the next few weeks. Following is a list of the members of the Working Party:

navigation since 1939 by authority of Acts of Parliament or of Orders under the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888. Full details are not available of canals closed to navigation otherwise than under statutory authority to abandon, but it is know that the canals shown in List B are now not navigable.

A.—LIST OF CANALS ABANDONED TO NAVIGATION BY AUTHORITY OF ACTS OF PARLIAMENT OR OF ORDERS UNDER THE RAILWAY AND CANAL TRAFFIC ACT, 1888, DURING THE PERIOD 1ST JANUARY, 1939, TO PRESENT DATE.
Name of Canal. Approximate length affected. Authority.
Shrewsbury Canal Navigation ¾ mile Order under Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888.
Droitwich Canal 5¾ miles Droitwich Canals (Abandonment) Act, 1939.
Droitwich Junction Canal 1½ miles Droitwich Canals (Abandonment) Act, 1939.
Birmingham Canal Navigations (part) ¼ mile Walsall Corporation Act, 1939.
Lancaster Canal (part) ½ mile London Midland and Scottish Railway Act, 1939.
Regents Canal (part) ¾ mile Order under Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888.
Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal (part) 7 miles London Midland and Scottish Railway Act, 1941.
Calder and Hebble Navigation (part) 1¾ miles Order under Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888.
Glamorgan Canal 13¼ miles Cardiff Corporation Act, 1943.
Coalport Canal (part) 1 mile London Midland and Scottish Railway (Canals) Act, 1944.
Ulverston Canal 1¼ miles London Midland and Scottish Railway (Canals) Act, 1944.
Huddersfield (Narrow) Canal (part) 20 miles London Midland and Scottish Railway (Canals) Act, 1944.
Shropshire Union Canal (parts) 130 miles London Midland and Scottish Railway (Canals) Act, 1944.
Trent and Mersey Canal (part) 3 miles London Midland and Scottish Railway (Canals) Act, 1944.
Ashby Canal (part) 3 miles London Midland and Scottish Railway (Canals) Act, 1944.
Cromford Canal (part) 16 miles London Midland and Scottish Railway (Canals) Act, 1944.
Weaver Navigation (part) ½ mile Weaver Navigation Act, 1945.
Swansea Canal (part) 1½ miles Breconshire County Council Act, 1946.
Birmingham Canal Navigations (part) 3 miles Birmingham Corporation Act, 1946.
Calder and Hebble Navigation (parts) ½ mile Order under Railway Canal Traffic Act, 1888.

B.—LIST OF CANALS KNOWN TO BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC SINCE 1939 ALTHOUGH ABANDONMENT NOT AUTHORISED.
Name of Canal. Length of portion closed.
Miles.
*Barnsley (part) … 5
Stroudwater … 8
*Derby … 14½
Driffield … 11
*Monkland … 13
* Subject of application for abandonment order under Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888.
In addition to the foregoing, parts of the Rochdale, Basingstoke and Union Canals and a number of minor arms and branches, of which the precise mileage is not known, are not now navigable.