§ Mr. Durantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the British Waterways Board has applied to him for funds to enable a start to be made on works to reopen Netherton tunnel on the Birmingham canal navigations.
§ Mr. FoxReinstatement of the Netherton tunnel is part of the Fraenkel maintenance programme for which funds have been provided. The British Waterways Board is going ahead with 65W investigatory work and expects that remedial works to the tunnel lining will start in September. I understand that the Board is hopeful that the tunnel will reopen in the spring of next year.