Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, since the principal canals of the country are under the control of the Government, whether he is satisfied that all of them are in effective use; and whether the Government is concerning itself with the future of the smaller canals not under official control.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Bury (Mr. Chorlton) on 8th October, 1942, about the use made of the canals during the war. The utility of the smaller canals is not being lost sight1152W of in the inquiries which are now being made into the future of inland waterway transport after the war.