§ Mr. Thorneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport when the Government are going to put into operation the report by Mr. Frank Pick in connection with canals on war work; how many tons of water-borne coal were carried by ships and canal boats and whether there has been an increase in canal-borne coal?
§ Colonel LlewellinI am sending to my hon. Friend a copy of a statement recently issued to the Press showing the action which is being taken on Mr. Pick's recommendations, together with a statement of the tonnage of coal and other fuels 733W carried by canals and inland waterways during the six months ended 30th June, 1941. Although the canals have lost much of the coal previously forwarded for shipment, the weekly tonnage of canal-borne coal for home consumption has risen by about 15 per cent. during the present year. Figures of coastwise coal shipments are not published and I do not consider their disclosure to be in the public interest.