§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on progress in encouraging the transfer of freight from road and rail to waterways;
(2) what percentage of Great Britain's freight was carried on waterways in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975;
(3) what tonnage was carried on the inland waterways of Great Britain in 1974 and 1975.
§ Mr. Denis HowellAs I told the hon. Member on 22nd January [Vol. 903, c. 535.]—freight carried on waterways operated and maintained by the British Waterways Board in 1974 and 1975 was 3.86 million tonnes and 4.17 million tonnes, respectively. Freight carried on the British Waterways Board's system of waterways expressed as a percentage of total freight moved in Great Britain was 0.3 per cent. for years 1970, 1971 and 1972; and 0.2 per cent. for the years 1973 and 1974. This information is not available yet for 1975. Inland waterways policy is, of course, currently being reviewed.