Written question asked by Bob Laxton (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 May 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 May 2009. It was answered by Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 June 2009 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Inland Waterways: Olympic Games 2012

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to assist British Waterways to enable the transport of freight by water to and from the Olympic site.

Answer: DEFRA provides grant in aid to British Waterways in order for it to meet its statutory responsibilities for the maintenance of its waterways, including enabling freight transport as appropriate. DEFRA and its sponsored bodies—British Waterways, the Environment Agency and Natural England—promoted an initiative to maximise the potential of the waterways around the Olympic site, including for freight. The construction of Prescott Lock, which has opened up these rivers for the sustainable movement of materials by water, was funded by a number of bodies, among them the Department for Transport through a Freight Facilities Grant, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, the Olympic Delivery Authority and Transport for London. Apart from grant in aid support for British Waterways, DEFRA provided £2 million towards the total £20 million cost of this project from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund¹."¹ Figures obtained from British Waterways"

Secondary information