§ Earl Peelasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the National Rivers Authority proposes to contract out of or transfer the operation of, any lock on the Yorkshire River Derwent to British Waterways or any other organisation; and if so, what will be the specifications for such operations;
Whether the National Rivers Authority intends to allow any upgrading, or promotion of, recreational navigation along the Lower Yorkshire River Derwent;
Whether British Waterways has undertaken any survey or study to examine the potential for the development of recreational boating and facilities on the Lower Yorkshire River Derwent, and, if so, whether it is their intention to make this information public; and
What assurances they can give that the responsibility for the operation of Barmby Barrage Lock, whether by the National Rivers Authority or any other body, will not lead to the promotion or encouragement of any increased recreational boating and associated developments along the River Derwent and Pocklington Canal SSSIs and within the existing European Community habitats and species special protection areas and Ramsat Wetland sites in the Lower Derwent Valley.
§ Lord StrathclydeThese are operational matters for the National Rivers Authority (NRA) and the British Waterways Board (BWB). I understand that there have been discussions of the scope for economies through rationalisation of adjacent BWB and NRA operations on the Lower Yorkshire River Derwent and specifically of the operation of Barmby Barrage Lock. No decision has been taken. There is no question of any management arrangement leading to the promotion or encouragement of increased levels of boating activity or associated developments or, therefore, to environmental damage.