Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Freight Traffic: Navigable Waterways

Thursday 28 October 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government providing 20 million through the Department for Transport's mode shift freight grant schemes in 2021-22 to support rail and water freight services
  • Department for Transport responsibilities include encouraging the shift from road to rail and water freight transport
  • No plans to reinstate the freight facilities grant in England, but interest in shifting freight transport remains

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Michael Fabricant Con
Transport Environment
Context

The questioner asks about steps to encourage the use of inland waterways for freight transport, highlighting a potential benefit over road haulage.

Question

What steps he is taking to encourage the use of navigable waterways for freight traffic; and if he will make a statement.

Answer from Rebecca Pow

The Government are providing £20 million through the Department for Transport's mode shift freight grant schemes in 2021-22 to support rail and water freight services on routes where they deliver environmental benefits over road haulage but are more expensive to operate. Responsibility for operational matters and management of inland waterways rests with the relevant navigation authority, with no role for Ministers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked about steps to encourage freight use on navigable waterways, while the answer focused on existing funding schemes without addressing specific initiatives or measures.

How: Responsibility For Management Lies With Navigation Authority

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Q2 Michael Fabricant Con
Transport
Context

The questioner, chair of the all-party group on waterways, highlights that about 1,500 miles out of 5,000 miles of navigable waterways are suitable for freight. He asks if the Department has considered reintroducing freight facility grants.

Question

I thank the Minister very much for her reply, and for her kind comments about me, which I thought were rather nice. The all-party group on waterways, which I have the honour of chairing, has identified that about 1,500 miles of our 5,000 miles of navigable waterways are suitable for freight. In addition to the measures the Minister has just outlined, has her Department given any thought to reintroducing the freight facility grants for wharfs and handling facilities?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

This area comes under Department for Transport responsibilities; it does not have any plans as such to reinstate the freight facilities grant in England, but the Government are interested in shifting freight transport. The fund I mentioned earlier has mostly gone to rail because the case must be made for waterways, so my hon. Friend is advised to make that case.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked about reintroducing freight facility grants specifically, while the answer only noted no plans without addressing this issue directly.

How: It Does Not Have Any Plans As Such

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