§ Baroness Pitkeathleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a decision has been reached on the review of the Environment Agency's navigation responsibilities. [HL1429]
§ Lord WhittyThe Environment Agency's navigation responsibilities were considered during stage 1 of the Financial, Management and Policy Review (FMPR) which has recently been completed. The review team considered a wide range of views on the subject, including responses to public consultation, reports such as that of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee and an independent consultant's study.
The stage 1 report concluded that there were no compelling operational reasons for a transfer of functions from the Environment Agency to British Waterways but nor were there insuperable barriers to such a transfer. The report also concluded that there was an underlying policy issue to be resolved which was beyond the scope of the FMPR to address. Essentially, that was whether the institutional arrangements for the waterways should be structured to promote navigation and regeneration benefits, with flood defence and conservation accommodated within 134WA the structure, or vice versa. In this respect British Waterways and the Environment Agency offer different advantages.
We have considered carefully the FMPR report and information and views provided subsequently by the Environment Agency and British Waterways. This has not been a straightforward decision. We are attracted by the potential regeneration benefits a transfer to British Waterways could bring, and accept the FMPR report's conclusion that flood defence issues do not pose an insuperable barrier to transfer, given British Waterways' safety record on its own rivers. However, any change needs to be justified by clear and objective evidence. On balance we do not judge there is sufficiently robust evidence on which to justify a transfer. We have therefore decided that current responsibilities should continue.
The Environment Agency will be set challenging new targets to deliver the improved service on navigation and regeneration being developed through initiatives like Thames Ahead, working with local authorities and other partners. We look forward to positive results from this exercise, and to renewed good will and partnership with British Waterways in serving our important inland waterways.