River Thames (Hansard, 12 April 1994)

§ Mr. Spearing
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional funds he expects to be devoted to projects or events which he has so far publicised in respect of the River Thames in London; and under whose auspices they will be spent and managed.

§ Sir George Young
In relation to the Thames festival, a steering group which is chaired by Clive Priestley, chairman of the London Arts Board and includes representatives of London First, the London Council for Sport and Recreation, the Sports Council, the Department of the Environment and others will shortly be considering a feasibility study and business plan for the festival, including its funding and overall management.
Announcements will be made shortly about the funding and management of the preparation of the Thames study and feasibility study for the Thames cycle route.

§ Mr. Spearing
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what specific matters in respect of the Thames in London he has consulted the London Rivers Association.

§ Sir George Young
The London Rivers Association was formally consulted in March 1993 on the Government's approach to the east Thames corridor. Officials have also met the association for a general discussion on Thames issues. In addition, the London Rivers Association has been formally consulted about a number of issues connected with the work of the Thames working group chaired by my hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London.

§ Mr. Spearing
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation he has already had concerning his suggestion for events relating to the Thames in 1995; and what statutory duties he or his Department have for the Thames in London(a) directly and (b) indirectly through statutory bodies.

§ Sir George Young
The Department of the Environment in association with the London Arts Board, the London Council for Sport and Recreation, London First, the National Rivers Authority and others is assisting with the preparation of a feasibility study for a Thames Festival in 1995.
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Apart from any functions conferred by local enactments, the Secretary of State has the same direct responsibilities towards the Thames as for other rivers.
The Department has an indirect statutory duty through the preparation of planning policy advice which the London boroughs have to take account of in preparing their unitary development plans and in exercising development control.
The Department also has responsibility for determining applications under the town and country planning legislation that may come before my right hon. Friend on appeal or call-in.
The Department of the Environment also sponsors the National Rivers Authority, which is responsible for pollution control, flood defence and water resources management of the River Thames in London. The NRA also has duties in relation to conservation and recreation and is responsible, upstream of Teddington lock, for navigation and fisheries management.