HC Deb 20 May 1976 vol 911 c680W
Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of commercial waterway and how many miles of cruising waterway are included in the 1,000 miles of navigable waterway mentioned in paragraph 26 of the Consultative Document "Review of the Water Industry in England and Wales" as being owned or managed by the British Waterways Board.

Mr. Denis Howell

1,000 miles is a typographical error which I regret. The British Waterways Board maintains about 340 miles of commercial waterway and about 1,100 miles of cruising waterway.

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of (i) navigable and (ii) unnavigable waterways are managed, but not owned, by the British Waterways Board.

Mr. Denis Howell

The British Waterways Board manages but does not own its river navigations. These total about 300 miles, of which about five miles are not navigable.