Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the accessibility to users with disabilities of new public access paths along rivers and canals.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government committed in its manifesto and the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to create nine new National River Walks, one in each region of England, as part of our plans to improve responsible access to nature. In May 2026, this Government launched the first of these National River Walks, the Mersey Valley Way in Stockport, delivering improved accessibility along a 21.5km route, habitat restoration, new opportunities for access for diverse users, as well as extensive community engagement.
This Government will launch a competition to identify the next National River Walks later in 2026. They will be expected to deliver access which is multi-user, accommodating walking, wheeling, cycling and/or horse riding. An economic assessment of cost, benefits and value for money of the applications received will take place in accordance with the standard government process for the awarding of grant funding.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic case for improving access along (1) National River Walks, and (2) other waterways.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government committed in its manifesto and the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to create nine new National River Walks, one in each region of England, as part of our plans to improve responsible access to nature. In May 2026, this Government launched the first of these National River Walks, the Mersey Valley Way in Stockport, delivering improved accessibility along a 21.5km route, habitat restoration, new opportunities for access for diverse users, as well as extensive community engagement.
This Government will launch a competition to identify the next National River Walks later in 2026. They will be expected to deliver access which is multi-user, accommodating walking, wheeling, cycling and/or horse riding. An economic assessment of cost, benefits and value for money of the applications received will take place in accordance with the standard government process for the awarding of grant funding.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) average cost, and (2) benefits, of new public access paths along rivers and canals.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government committed in its manifesto and the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to create nine new National River Walks, one in each region of England, as part of our plans to improve responsible access to nature. In May 2026, this Government launched the first of these National River Walks, the Mersey Valley Way in Stockport, delivering improved accessibility along a 21.5km route, habitat restoration, new opportunities for access for diverse users, as well as extensive community engagement.
This Government will launch a competition to identify the next National River Walks later in 2026. They will be expected to deliver access which is multi-user, accommodating walking, wheeling, cycling and/or horse riding. An economic assessment of cost, benefits and value for money of the applications received will take place in accordance with the standard government process for the awarding of grant funding.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate the creation of paths along rivers and canals.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government committed in its manifesto and the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to create nine new National River Walks, one in each region of England, as part of our plans to improve responsible access to nature. In May 2026, this Government launched the first of these National River Walks, the Mersey Valley Way in Stockport, delivering improved accessibility along a 21.5km route, habitat restoration, new opportunities for access for diverse users, as well as extensive community engagement.
This Government will launch a competition to identify the next National River Walks later in 2026. They will be expected to deliver access which is multi-user, accommodating walking, wheeling, cycling and/or horse riding. An economic assessment of cost, benefits and value for money of the applications received will take place in accordance with the standard government process for the awarding of grant funding.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which functions of the Environment Agency they are proposing to transfer to the Canal and River Trust.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
We are proposing to respond to the Canal & River Trust’s recent proposal for the transfer of EA navigations imminently. As such, I am unable to comment further.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the Canal and River Trust to assume responsibility for the Environment Agency's navigable inland waterways.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government’s long-term aim is to transfer the Environment Agency’s navigations to the Canal & River Trust. We are open to sensible and serious proposals from both the Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust and I understand that they have been working well together to develop options. I await their proposals with interest.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the Environment Agency's budget to maintain its navigable waterways.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
As a navigation authority, the Environment Agency is responsible for over 1,000km of inland waterways. It takes its stewardship role very seriously and works closely with those who use our waterways.
As part of the 2015 Spending Review, the Environment Agency’s capital settlement from Defra was £13m to invest over the next four years. This funding will enable the Environment Agency to prioritise the investment across England’s waterways focusing on those assets which will benefit the most.
In addition to this capital investment, the Environment Agency will continue to invest the £9m per annum income collected via registration charges from waterway users. This is complemented by further Environment Agency annual investment; for 2017/18 this will be £3.6m. In total, this is sufficient to maintain navigable waterways for 2017/18.
The Environment Agency is reviewing the future costs required to run and maintain these waterways as part of the potential transfer of its navigation responsibilities and assets to the Canal & River Trust. As part of this process the Environment Agency will engage with both users and Defra on the future investment needed to maintain navigable waterways.