§ Mr. Boothasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the report by independent consultants commissioned by his Department to examine the affairs of the British Waterways Board contains proposals to privatise any of the board's freight services or to dispose of any of the board's assets; and whether he will publish the report.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe study was commissioned jointly with the British Waterways Board and the report is confidential to management. I am prepared to consider the release of parts of the report but only after consultation with the board over implementation of its recommendations.