§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what grants from his Department are available to voluntary organisations to help with the work of restoring canals and waterways; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what grants his Department has made to local authorities for help in restoring canals and waterways; what is the total amount of each grant; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory[holding answer 29 January 1990]Derelict land grant may in certain cases be paid to both public and private sector bodies; including voluntary organisations towards the cost of canal and waterway restoration. It is normally available only where the work forms part of a wider reclamation scheme and is limited to the reclamation element in the restoration scheme. The Department has made derelict land grant available to local authorities for water-related reclamation schemes, but it is not possible to distinguish the amounts of grant paid in respect of the canal or waterway involved.
Grants may also be made to voluntary organisations under the Department's special grants programme towards their management costs.
Under the urban programme grant is paid to local authorities in support of a wide range of projects. In 1988–89 grant-eligible expenditure of £796,029 was approved to help with restoring canals and waterways.
Grants from the European regional development fund (ERDF) are available through the Department for infrastructure schemes in assisted areas where the cost of the works is wholly or substantially financed by public authorities. Work undertaken by a voluntary organisation may be eligible depending on whether its obligations to carry out such works are incorporated in its articles of association or trust deeds.
Local authorities also have power in section 114 of the Transport Act 1968 to assist the maintenance or improvement of any inland waterway in or near their area.