HC Deb 20 July 2001 vol 372 c627W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total Government investment was in inland waterways in(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in the last five years; and what the forecast is for the next three years. [4394]

Mr. Meacher

Local information is not collated centrally. However, total expenditure by British Waterways over the past five years has been £163 million. They anticipate spending another £191 million over the next three years.

Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total Government investment in inland waterways was in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000. [3748]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 16 July 2001]: This information is not available. However, the grant in aid paid to British Waterways, and the element of grant paid to the Environment Agency towards the funding of its navigation responsibilities, were as follows:

£ million
British Waterways1 Environment Agency Total
1997–98 51.9 2.3 54.2
1998–99 53.6 3.1 56.7
1999–2000 59.0 3.1 62.1
2000–01 64.9 4.5 69.4
1Figures include grant in aid paid towards Scottish waterways