§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has had from the leader of Manchester city council about his recent public statement in which he questioned the rationale of the continued connection between Manchester city council and the Manchester Ship Canal Company; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI have received representations from Councillor Stringer, and in reply have reiterated my view that, whatever the long-standing relationship between his council and the Ship Canal Company, it needs to be reviewed from time to time in the light of new circumstances. I look for such a review to take place in the context of the local study on the future of the upper reaches of the ship canal which is in hand at the moment. The city council and the canal company are both taking part in that study, and I understand that a report is due later this year.