§ 25. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the contribution of inland waterways to freight transportation; and what action he has taken or will take to allow such traffic to continue.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have no reason to disagree with the view expressed in the transport policy consultation document last year that the future rôle of inland waterways in freight-carrying is limited. Nevertheless, there are places where freight-carrying by inland waterway makes a valuable contribution to our transport requirements and the British Waterways Board, which manages most commercially used waterways, is constantly seeking to maintain and increase traffic on them. The Government's policy remains to encourage the transfer of freight to waterway wherever it is economically, socially and environmentally sensible to do so.