Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement of his policy on the use of the waterways systems as an alternative mode of transport within a co-ordinated transport policy.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe Government's policy for the use of waterways for freight transport was set out in the transport policy White Paper (Cmnd. 6836): that while the scope for the transfer of freight to waterways is limited, water transport is a relatively efficient user 257W of energy for freight transport, and remains useful on a local scale, and that proposals for investment will be examined on their merits. I am assisting my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in the development of a national policy for the use of inland waterways for commercial transport, as required under the Transport Act 1978.