Release Date: 12 December 2007

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is pleased to report that following extensive lobbying of MPs by IWA members around the country, Michael Fabricant, Conservative MP for Lichfield, secured an adjournment debate in Parliament on the future funding of canals in the UK on Tuesday 11th December. The debate was answered by Jonathan Shaw MP, the Waterways Minister at the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. The debate was well supported and 12 other MPs participated.

IWA was pleased to be invited to provide Mr Fabricant with a detailed briefing on the current situation on the state of the waterways, funding issues and IWA’s concerns. IWA branches briefed other MPs, and a range of contributing arguments were put to the minister during the course of the hour and a half debate.

In answer to the many comments directed at the Department’s funding allocations for British Waterways and the Environment Agency, the minister reported that he was actively engaging with delivery partners in the process of setting budgets. The minister also reported that despite allocations not being announced until the end of February 2008, he expected the budget for British Waterways would now be broadly around flat cash for a three-year period.

The minister commented on the proposed licence fee increases and indicated sympathy for vulnerable boat owners, but argued that boat owners only contributed 10% of the total cost of the waterways and the rest was already borne by the taxpayer. This was despite IWA arguments in support of the fact that boaters only constitute 3% of users and provide the intrinsic interest in the waterways scene; including provision of waterside property developments with a significant premium, and creating a major tourist attraction for the UK.

At a meeting later in the day with IWA national chairman John Fletcher, and representatives from other waterway organisations, the minister re-confirmed the position that around flat cash funding for British Waterways looked likely. The minister also gave an update on the British Waterways status review and confirmed his support for arrangements which would enable British Waterways to borrow commercially to assist the good management of it business. The minister’s announcements met with widespread approval from those who were present.

The minister also announced that he had set up a joint governmental inland waterways committee comprising senior representatives of the departments for Transport, Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Health, Communities and Local Government, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Treasury, together with representatives of the main navigation authorities and the Inland Waterways Advisory Council. This is intended to enable a greater understanding of the intrinsic value of the waterways to the UK as a whole within Government and to enable other government departments become more involved in understanding and subsequently partnering support for the waterways as a consequence.

Commenting on the meeting with the minister John Fletcher, IWA national chairman, said:

‘I am pleased at the constructive nature of today’s meeting and the commitment and interest the minister has demonstrated towards the waterways.’

‘I was pleased that the minister was able to confirm that he did not expect recent newspaper reports of alleged further cuts to Defra’s budget to have a deteriorative effect on settlements for navigation authorities‘

‘IWA also welcomes the recent funding commitment from Government for the Broads Authority.’

John went on to say:

‘The minister indicated a willingness to meet waterways representatives on a regular basis in order to improve communication. I welcome his initiative and openness to an ongoing dialogue. IWA will seek to make full use of this opportunity to press home the case for the nation’s waterways.’

John concluded by saying:

‘The rapid response of IWA members throughout the country to brief their MPs for the waterways debate has been rewarded with a constructive and well-informed debate in Parliament and a firm commitment from the minister on funding. The strength of the waterways lobby has proved its worth in ensuring better funding for navigation authorities for the next three years than would otherwise likely have been the case.’