British Waterways Bill

HC Deb 23 February 1993 vol 219 cc515-6W

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of the British Waterways Bill on commercial shipping;

(2) if he will list the British waterways docks planned to be closed as a result of the British Waterways Bill.

Mr. Maclean

The British Waterways Bill removes the statutory duty to make the Weston Points docks available to commercial traffic, but does not prevent navigation through the docks or their operation by another party. I understand that for some years there has been no such traffic through Weston Point docks. There should be no effect on commercial shipping. More generally the Bill seeks to enable the British Waterways Board to carry out its functions more efficiently to the benefit of all users, including commercial shipping.