§ Mr SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the total number of applicants for grants and the number of grants made under section 36 of the Transport Act 1981 in respect of facilities for freight transport on inland waterways and the date, purpose and amount of the last grant made; and if he will make a statement concerning any changes made in the terms and conditions applicable to such grants since their introduction.
§ Mr. PortilloThere have been five grants awarded towards facilities for freight transport on inland waterways under section 36 of the Transport Act 1981. As not all inquiries lead to a formal application for grant it is not possible to state the total number of applicants since the scheme began, but only one formal application has been refused. The last grant was made in October 1986 for petroleum traffic and totalled £65,000. There have been no changes to the terms and conditions attached to these grants, but a review about three years ago on value for money grounds led to some budget adjustment.