§ Mr. Hayesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to privatise the British Waterways Authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveSome 70 per cent. of the British Waterways Board's expenditure is financed by Exchequer grant, so there is little possibility of privatising it as a whole. The board already contracts out all significant engineering projects and some aspects of its freight activities, but we have asked it to look for opportunities to increase private participation in its affairs.