§ Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Middle Level Commissioners, who exercise control over a number of navigable waterways in the fen district, exclude from those waterways all steamboats and motor boats; whether he can say by what authority they enforce this exclusion; and whether, if the exclusion is within the legal powers of the Commissioners, he will use his influence with them for the removal of the restriction on trade and travel?
Mr. ROBERTSONI am asking the Middle Level Commissioners for their observations on the hon. Member's question, and I will communicate with him on receipt of their reply. I may point out, however, that the works of the Commissioners were made primarily for the drainage of the area concerned, and that the navigation of the rivers and watercourses throughout the area is subordinate to the maintenance of the drainage.