Written question asked by Charlotte Atkins (Labour) on Monday, 25 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 February 2010. It was answered by Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 February 2010 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

British Waterways Board and Environment Agency: Finance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans (a) British Waterways and (b) the Environment Agency has to reduce its budget deficit.

Answer: British Waterways implemented an organisational restructure in 2009 which, together with other efficiencies, will divert up to £10 million a year to front line waterways maintenance. British Waterways is proposing that over the long term it also moves to third sector/mutual status. British Waterways believes such a move will help close the current funding gap and lead to a more sustainable future by growing income from other sources, volunteering growth, better local community engagement and delivering greater efficiencies.In 2008, the Environment Agency published "2020 Vision for Funding our Waterways". This strategy document set out the resources required to maintain and operate its waterways and offer a specified level of service to those using the waterways. It concluded that there was a deficit between what was needed and its level of expenditure at that time. The document also identified how the Agency could reduce this deficit by developing and growing new income streams, reducing costs and rebalancing its navigation expenditure to invest more on maintaining waterways and less on service operations. In the light of changed economic circumstances the Agency is now updating the strategy so that it can continue to reduce and manage its budget deficit while providing safe waterways for the public to enjoy.

Secondary information