HL Deb 20 July 2004 vol 664 cc42-4WA
Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether an audit has been undertaken on the number of accredited recreational facilities on the River Thames and the funding committed to their maintenance and upkeep in each year since 2000. [HL3706]

Lord Whitty

As far as we are aware, no central audit has been undertaken of accredited recreational facilities on the River Thames but the Environment Agency has provided information on the number of locks and the costs of maintaining them.

There are 44 locks on the River Thames. Expenditure on their maintenance and improvement since 2000 has been as follows:

  • 2000–01: £2.76 million
  • 2001–02: £3.30 million
  • 2002–03: £2.77 million
  • 2004–05: £3.84 million (forecast)

Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their best estimate of the net financial contribution to the economy of leisure activity on the River Thames. [HL3708]

Lord Whitty

An economic assessment carried out by independent consultants in 2001 estimated that, in that year, boating-related activity on the non-tidal Thames employed 17,000 people and generated a spend of £85 million. Other leisure activity and tourism in the riverside wards of the non-tidal river employed 55,000 people and generated a further spend of £119 million.

Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to increase participation in sport and recreation on the rivers and waterways of the United Kingdom. [HL3710]

Lord Whitty

The Government gave a commitment to increase access to water inWorking for the Essentials of Life, published in 2002. We also commissioned a study from Brighton University study to establish what recreational opportunities are currently available. The report of that study, Water-based sport and recreation: the Facts was published in 2001.

The Brighton study found that supply and demand for water-based recreation is broadly in balance but it identified some unmet demand for white water and long distance routes for canoeists in some parts of the country.

In light of these findings, my right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality asked the Countryside Agency to undertake a feasibility study into improving access for canoeists by voluntary agreement. The study focused on four pilot areas and the findings indicate that voluntary agreements can be made to work in certain circumstances. My right honourable friend is now considering the report's recommendations that agreements be completed in the pilot areas.

In addition, the Environment Agency has embarked on a programme of developing regional strategies for water-based sport and recreation and its annual conservation, access and recreation reports made under the Environment Act 1995 provide information on the range of work undertaken by the agency to increase recreational opportunities.

The Environment Agency is also leading on the development of strategic partnerships and alliances which include public, commercial and voluntary sectors to upgrade facilities on the agencies' navigable rivers which are backed by marketing and promotion initiatives.