§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will study the potential commercial contribution of inland waterways for industrial freight movement; what plans he has for developing commercial inland waterways in Great Britain generally, and in the Midlands, in particular; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denis Howell:The British Waterways Board is responsible for nearly all commercial inland waterways in Great Britain: it is for the board to study the potential of such waterways and to formulate plans for their development. A 851W revised submission on a possible application for assistance from the European Regional Development Fund for the improvement of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation from the British Waterways Board and the South Yorkshire County Council is currently under consideration. In the Midlands commercial traffic is largely confined to the Trent Navigation between Newark and Gainsborough. The BWB in conjunction with Leicester University are at present engaged on a study of the economics of commercial water transport on this Navigation.