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British Waterways

I understand that my hon. Friend seeks an assurance, but I must not be premature in any announcement when discussions are taking place. I know my hon. Friend is trying to tempt me, but if he could be a little patient while the useful discussions across Government Departments are continuing, I hope to be able to bring the matter home. I am sure that hon. Members are, like me, already aware of the wide range of public benefits that the waterways offer. To provide just a few examples, I would mention their ability to stimulate regeneration in our towns and cities, their ability to be a focus for community activities and to provide open spaces for exercise and public enjoyment, their role in encouraging tourism, as green routes for commuters, as sources of employment and, of course, as a source of enjoyment for boaters together with the ancillary industries and businesses that boating supports. Our intention with the production of "Waterways for Everyone" is to stimulate and support the coming together of those who might benefit more from our waterways with those charged with managing them, thus enabling the waterways' potential to be realised and their future safeguarded. By working together across government—across national, regional and local government—and with third sector and business partners, we can capture the cross-cutting and multi-functional nature of what waterways contribute to our quality of life. We are committed to making sure that the benefits from public support for the waterways are more widely felt.