§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Minister of Transport how many navigable rivers have no navigation authority; if she is aware of the dangers to navigation that arise therefrom; and what remedial action she proposes to take.
§ Mr. John MorrisInformation is not available to provide an answer to the first part of this Question. The British Waterways Board is the navigation authority for about a dozen rivers and various other bodies have responsibilities for navigation on about a score of rivers and290W the Broads. These responsibilities were generally established by private legislation to meet the needs of waterborne trade. I know of no new proposals of this nature and there are no general powers enabling the Government to take the initiative to establish new authorities.
There will always be navigational hazards and those who use boats have a responsibility for ascertaining their nature and the degree of risk and for exercising particular caution when they are unknown. It is open to those interested in the navigation of particular rivers to arrange, subject to obtaining the necessary consents, for the clearance of channels.