§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report those figures available for the number of miles of waterways in the Midlands used for commercial navigation; what plans he has for increasing the mileage available
325Wfor commercial purposes and to encourage its usage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denis HowellNone of the British Waterways Board's 350 miles of commercial waterway is located in West Midlands, Warwickshire or Staffordshire; its waterways in this area are all cruising or remainder waterways, used extensively for recreational purposes, Within the East and West Midlands economic planning regions the only commercial waterways are the Trent Navigation, from Nottingham to Gainsborough—about 40 miles—and the River Severn, from Tewkesbury to Stourport—about 25 miles.
The Government have no plans for increasing the mileage of the board's commercial waterways in the West Midlands. Increased usage is a matter for the board.