§ Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is yet able to make a statement about representations made to him by the hon. Member for Inverness and others about the urgent need to repair Laggan locks on the Caledonian Canal and so enable the canal to be reopened as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe Government recognise the importance of this canal to both the fishing and tourist industries in Scotland. I am happy to say that we have now been able to make arrangements to enable the British Waterways Board to put work in hand on repairing the Laggan lock immediately, and I hope that this will enable the canal to be reopened to traffic this summer.