Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Alun Michael (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 8 February 2012 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Canal and River Trust

Question: I agree with the Minister about the trust’s virtues—that was why we argued for it—so I hope that he will join me in paying tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore, who was the Minister when the process to create it was started, and the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon), who has steered through the process. Will the Minister comment on what the question was about: the benefits of such an arrangement for Wales? Will he ensure that the trust becomes a fully representative elected body within a reasonable period, although that will take a little time, and that sight is not lost of the necessity of the trust engaging the public?

Answer: I entirely endorse the right hon. Gentleman’s words. As he rightly says—I am glad to recognise this—the policy is bipartisan, so I assume that he is aware of all the background. On the benefits for Wales, I specifically referred to the fact that the trust is in England and Wales. The benefits will be similar, in that it is difficult to identify specific benefits that might be attributed to Wales but not England, or vice versa. The trust is for both those parts of the UK. It will become a representative body, and the right hon. Gentleman is right to ask us to ensure that all the areas that it covers are represented on it.

Secondary information