§ Mr. PoundTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the report on the inland waterways referred to in the White Paper, A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone; and if he will make a statement. [128006]
§ Mr. PrescottThe report, entitled "Waterways for Tomorrow", will be published tomorrow. Copies will be available from the House of Commons Library and the Vote Office on Tuesday 27 June.
"Waterways for Tomorrow" takes a comprehensive look at the inland waterways of England and Wales and sets out our proposals for their future. We intend to promote the inland waterways and encourage a modern, integrated and sustainable approach to their use. We want to protect and conserve the waterways as an important part of the country's national heritage while, at the same time, encouraging their best and, where appropriate, innovative use, maximising the opportunities they offer for leisure and recreation; as a catalyst for urban and rural regeneration; for education; and for freight transport.
We believe that the measures set out in "Waterways for Tomorrow" will pave the way for a new, revitalised inland waterways system which can be fully, imaginatively and adventurously used by all. This is good news for the environment, the community and the economy.