British Waterways Board

HC Deb 07 February 1983 vol 36 c287W

Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will increase the grants to the British Waterways Board so that a five-year programme of maintenance and investment can be operated; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

We recognise the need for the British Waterways Board to be able to eliminate the backlog of maintenance on its waterways. The board has welcomed Inbucon management consultants' recommendation that the reduction of the backlog should be funded by a special programme over 10 to 15 years. Our proposals, in table 2.8 in Volume Two of "The Government's Expenditure Plans" (Cmnd. 8789—II), are that the grant in 1983–84 should be £40 million, compared with £28 million in 1981–82 and £38 million in 1982–83. It is our intention that the amount of grant in subsequent years should be of the same order. Part of the grant—£8 million in 1983–84—will be specifically allocated to the maintenance backlog and to investment in plant and equipment.