§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be in a position to announce a national policy for the use of inland waterways for commercial transport as provided for in section 13 of the Transport Act 1978.
§ Mr. Giles ShawWhen the improvements to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire navigation are completed we shall monitor the returns on the investment as a guideline to the viability of any further proposal for improving an inland waterway for commercial transport purposes, which we shall consider on the basis of our general policy that each mode of transport should pay its own way in fair competition with alternative modes. Meanwhile, section 36 of the Transport Act 1981 has extended to waterways the grants which section 8 of the Railways Act 1974 gave in respect of rail transport.