§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing Government support for British Waterways at 1991 prices for each year since 1979, and planned support for the next three financial years.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe table shows in current prices the Government's grant to the British Waterway Board—BWB—in the years 1979–80 to 1991–92, together with BWB's external financing limit, EFL, which covers grant and borrowing from the National Loans Fund, for the same period.
Grant External financing limit Cash £ million 1991–92 prices £ million Cash £ million 1991–92 prices £ million 1979–80 22.8 52.7 25.7 59.5 1980–81 25.6 50.0 30.0 58.7 1981–82 28.4 50.6 31.6 56.3 1982–83 37.6 62.6 39.3 65.4 1983–84 39.8 63.3 40.8 64.9 1984–85 41.8 63.3 42.8 64.8 1985–86 43.5 62.5 44.1 63.3 1986–87 43.9 60.9 44.8 62.2 1987–88 44.0 58.0 45.0 59.3 1988–89 45.9 56.3 44.9 55.1 1989–90 48.1 55.5 46.5 53.6 1990–91 49.3 52.8 49.4 52.9 1991–92 48.5 48.5 48.5 48.5 The BWB's external financing limit for 1992–93 has been set at £51.1 million, with guideline figures of £49.3 million and £46.4 million for the following two years.
The figures for grants fluctuate from those in the BWB accounts, since the accounts figures are amounts receivable in respect of the year, while the above figures are the amounts actually paid in each year.
72W
§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce a regulatory agency for British Waterways.
§ Mr. HeseltineNo.
§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what implications the policies contained in Cm. 1559, the citizens charter, have for waterways users or customers of the British Waterways Board.
§ Mr. HeseltineI expect the board to take full account of the principles of the citizens charter in the customer charter it is developing. In particular, I expect to see that it has effective means for dealing with complaints from users and customers.
§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met representatives of the British Waterways Board; and what matters were discussed.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry), met the chairman of the board on 11 November to discuss a number of matters of current interest, including financing; the board's proposed customer charter; and the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council.
§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the British Waterways Bill.
§ Mr. HeseltineSince this private Bill was deposited on 27 November last year, a number of letters have been received from hon. Members, and the public, concerning various clauses. The replies have made it clear that it is for the promoters, British Waterways Board, to satisfy Parliament of the case for the Bill.
§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation affecting the regulation of navigation rights on inland waterways.
§ Mr. HeseltineNo; but as recommended by the Environment Select Committee, we are starting a review of the navigation functions of British Waterways Board and the National Rivers Authority. It is too early to say whether legislation will result from this review.