§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has established arrangements and procedures in regard to grants for inland water transport under section 36 of the Transport Act 1981; and how many such grants have been approved.
§ Mr. Eyre:Grants under section 36 of the Transport Act 1981 are being administered in the same way and with the same rules and conditions as rail freight facilities grants under section 8 of the Railways Act 1974. One formal application for grant has so far been received, and this was later withdrawn, so no grants have yet been approved. But the Department is ready to discuss any worthwhile proposals where grant is necessary to secure the carriage of freight by inland waterway and where the alternative is heavy road freight traffic on unsuitable roads.