Oral Answers to Questions — Transport. – in the House of Commons at on 6 March 1935.
Mr John Tinker
, Leigh
asked the Minister of Transport how many miles there are of waterways, canals, etc., that were formerly used for carriage of goods that are no longer used and have fallen into disuse; and whether his department have any plans in consideration of what shall be done with them?
Mr Leslie Hore-Belisha
, Plymouth, Devonport
I regret that I am unable to state what mileage of canals or inland waterways, which have at some time been used for the carriage of goods, are no longer used. In cases where waterways have ceased to be used for navigation, they are often required for drainage purposes, but otherwise their utilisation or disposal is a matter primarily for the owners of the site.
Mr John Tinker
, Leigh
Seeing that canals now are passing out altogether, could not some department make an examination in order to see what could be done with them?
Sir Lindsay Everard
, Melton
Will the Minister of Transport bear in mind before doing anything in this matter that this water is very valuable to agriculturists who live alongside the canals.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
