Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Minister of Transport what comparative studies his Department has made on the amount of tonnage carried by lighterage on the River Thames compared with the amount of tonnage carried by road hauliers to destinations in which the river transport has hitherto been used.
§ Mr. MarshGeneral studies on this subject are being undertaken by the Freight Group of the Transport Coordinating Council for London. As part of their studies of freight transport as a whole they are considering the best use to be made of the Thames as a highway. My Department did, however, establish in detail the implications of transferring coal 77W supplies to Hackney power station from water to rail and road.