§ 53. Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has now been made with South Yorkshire Navigation, the South Yorkshire county council, the appropriate industries, the Hull and Humberside port authorities, and the Commission of the EEC about a waterway link between central Yorkshire and Community markets and trading partners.
§ Mr. Denis HowellOn 8th September my right hon. Friend approved the British Waterways Board's proposals for improving the Sheffield and South Yorkshire navigation between Doncaster and Rotherham at a cost of about £10 million. This scheme has wide support in226W the area and the South Yorkshire county council has undertaken to make a substantial contribution to the capital costs. The improvement will enable 700-tonne barges to navigate as far as Mexborough and 400-tonne barges to reach Rotherham. It is expected that it will stimulate waterborne traffic with Europe via the Humber ports. We are in process of preparing in consultation with the relevant authorities an application for grant from the European Regional Development Fund.