§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals concerning the prosperity of River Rhine navigation are currently being deliberated upon by the Central Rhine Commission t and to what extent British interests are affected by such proposals.
§ Mr. RowlandsProposals for promoting the prosperity of Rhine navigation under consideration at the present time include:
- (a) Establishment of a laying-up fund for the purpose of evening out temporary fluctuations in freight rates caused primarily by seasonal changes in water levels on the Rhine. An agreement should be ready for submission to Governments concerned by the end of this year;
- (b) Agreement on new uniform construction and use and traffic regulations for goods and passenger vessels in the interests of safety, and on new rules for the registration of vessels;
- (c) Supervision of engineering works to ensure that navigation is not obstructed and consultation on hydro-technic projects affecting the flow of the river;
- (d) Measures which may be needed to deal with new trading conditions once the Rhine is linked with the Danube sometime in the early 1980s.
All the above are of benefit to British interests on the Rhine, both as shippers and carriers of goods. These interests are at present relatively small but growing, particularly in the field of shipborne barges.