HL Deb 31 March 2003 vol 646 cc1047-8

2.59 p.m.

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will appoint a waterways regulator to monitor charges for moorings on canals, rivers, marinas and inshore waters.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)

My Lords, I feel that I should apologise to the House and to my noble friend Lady Andrews for preventing her achieving a grand slam today.

We are not convinced of the need for a waterways regulator. British Waterways and other navigation authorities are already subject to the law against anticompetitive practice. However, I know that British Waterways is discussing with the Inland Waterways Association the procedure for dealing with appeals against decisions on mooring and on other charges. I think that that should be fully explored.

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that response. But does he acknowledge that canal boat owners question the independence of an ombudsman appointed and paid for by British Waterways and that users of marinas and river berths have nowhere to go when faced with rises in charges of up to 300 per cent in a single year? Will the Minister tell the Inland Waterways Association and the National Association of Boat Owners, which see the need for an independent regulator, where they should go to seek redress, when complaint now can, and does, lead to the loss of moorings?

Lord Whitty

My Lords, as regards British Waterways, the largest operators, the Inland Waterways Association has some complaints about British Waterways because it has moved away from a national matrix of affixing charges to a more locally developed one which is, in effect, making it more commercial. However, the Inland Waterways Association is not in favour of a regulator. It is discussing a more effective appeals system with British Waterways. It is important to note that by and large these charges are fixed only once every five years and that the average increase of British Waterways's mooring charges last year was only 6 per cent.

Lord Livsey of Talgarth

My Lords, does the Minister agree that mooring charges should be levied at a sustainable rate to all who enjoy boating? Certainly, they should be affordable. The appointment of a regulator would help to achieve that good objective.

Lord Whitty

My Lords, I agree with the first part of the noble Lord's question. Because there is a demand on certain moorings and the facilities for some of those moorings have been improved, it is reasonable that the navigation authorities should charge a somewhat higher rate than previously. I do not accept the argument for a regulator on what are essentially commercial transactions. I accept that there is some scope, particularly in relation to British Waterways, for boat owners to expect a better system of appeal. That is under discussion at the moment.