§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish figures for the last 10 years showing the number of lighters in use on the River Thames, the amount of freight carried by lighters and the number of registered lightermen employed.
§ Mr. HoramI am informed that the figures are as follows:
(1) (2) (3) (4) Year Number of Lighters in use on River Thames Amount of freight carried by Lighters million tonnes* Number of registered lightermen employed 1966 … 5,245 9.6 3,328 1967 … 5,134 7.9 3,214 1968 … 4,228 7.4 2,916 1969 … 3,962 6.8 2,103 1970 … 3,640 5.7 1,817 1971 … 2,598 4.9 1,649 1972 … 2,220 3.8 1,272 1973 … 2,172 3.9 1,232 1974 … 2,052 3.7 1,139 1975 … 1,788 2.9 954 * Includes GLC refuse.