§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the external financing limit for the British Waterways Board. [77106]
§ Mr. MealeThe 1998–99 External Financing Limit for the British Waterways Board will be increased by £350,000 from £53,272,000 to £53,622,000. This will enable them to carry out additional major repairs to the canal network and other urgent maintenance. It will be funded by an increase in grant-in-aid to the Board arising from savings elsewhere on Class VI, Vote 3 and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.