§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the level of Government funding to the British Waterways Board in each year since 1979; and what has been the percentage change in each year in constant prices.
§ Mr. John PattenThe table shows the British Waterways Board's external financing limit, which covers both grant and borrowing, for the years 1979–80–1987–88, together with its expression in 1986–87 prices and the annual and overall percentage changes on this constant price base.
EFL (cash) EFL (1986–87 prices) Annual percentage change Overall percentage change £m £m 1979–80 25.7 42.8 — — 1980–81 30.0 42.1 -1.6 — 1981–82 31.6 40.4 -4.0 — 1982–83 39.3 46.9 + 16.1 — 1983–84 40.8 46.6 -0.6 — 1984–85 42.8 46.8 + 0.4 — 1985–86 44.1 45.4 -3.0 — 1986–87 45.0 45.0 -0.9 — 1987–88 45.0 43.1 -4.2 + 0.7