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Written Question
Canal and River Trust: Finance
Wednesday 14th December 2022

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the progress made by the Canal & River Trust on growing alternative income sources to its grant funding.

Answered by Rebecca Pow

The Government currently provides an annual grant of over £50 million to the Canal and River Trust, guaranteed until 2027. We are undertaking a review of the grant, as required by the 2012 Grant Agreement. The review is assessing whether the grant is providing value for money and whether there is a case for continued government funding beyond the end of the grant period in 2027. As the review is ongoing, I am unable to provide specific details. The outcome of the review will be announced when it has concluded.


Written Question
Inland Waterways and Reservoirs: Finance
Wednesday 14th December 2022

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of reducing funding for UK waterways and reservoirs on the (a) level of risk faced by communities and (b) economic, social and environmental afforded to areas near those waterways and reservoirs.

Answered by Rebecca Pow

The Government currently provides an annual grant of over £50 million to the Canal and River Trust, guaranteed until 2027. We are undertaking a review of the grant, as required by the 2012 Grant Agreement. The review is assessing whether the grant is providing value for money and whether there is a case for continued government funding beyond the end of the grant period in 2027. As the review is ongoing, I am unable to provide specific details. The outcome of the review will be announced when it has concluded.


Written Question
Inland Waterways: Repairs and Maintenance
Wednesday 14th December 2022

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment as part of the review of the Canal & River Trust's future grant funding of the potential impact of climate change on the cost of maintenance and repair of waterways.

Answered by Rebecca Pow

The Government currently provides an annual grant of over £50 million to the Canal and River Trust, guaranteed until 2027. We are undertaking a review of the grant, as required by the 2012 Grant Agreement. The review is assessing whether the grant is providing value for money and whether there is a case for continued government funding beyond the end of the grant period in 2027. As the review is ongoing, I am unable to provide specific details. The outcome of the review will be announced when it has concluded.


Written Question
Canal and River Trust: Finance
Wednesday 14th December 2022

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her review of the future grant funding for the Canal & River Trust post-2027 will conclude; and whether she will publish that review once concluded.

Answered by Rebecca Pow

The Government currently provides an annual grant of over £50 million to the Canal and River Trust, guaranteed until 2027. We are undertaking a review of the grant, as required by the 2012 Grant Agreement. The review is assessing whether the grant is providing value for money and whether there is a case for continued government funding beyond the end of the grant period in 2027. As the review is ongoing, I am unable to provide specific details. The outcome of the review will be announced when it has concluded.


Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Nov 2022
UK Canals and Waterways

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered the future of the UK’s canals and waterways.

It is a pleasure to be here this morning, particularly under your chairmanship, Sir Robert, or should I say chairship nowadays? I am not sure.

Last Saturday, I had a pleasant day walking …..."

Michael Fabricant - View Speech

View all Michael Fabricant (Con - Lichfield) contributions to the debate on: UK Canals and Waterways

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Nov 2022
UK Canals and Waterways

"I am more than happy to do so. The work that is being done in my hon. Friend’s constituency—as in my own constituency, with the Lichfield and Hatherton canals—is testament to the hard work and enthusiasm that people have for the wonderful environment created by our canals.

Our canals have …..."

Michael Fabricant - View Speech

View all Michael Fabricant (Con - Lichfield) contributions to the debate on: UK Canals and Waterways

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Nov 2022
UK Canals and Waterways

"My right hon. Friend is absolutely right, and it is interesting that the West Midlands Mayor, who has already been mentioned, is a keen supporter of the Lichfield and Hatherton canals. Why? Lichfield is not in the West Midlands Combined Authority, but it will link to the deprived urban areas …..."
Michael Fabricant - View Speech

View all Michael Fabricant (Con - Lichfield) contributions to the debate on: UK Canals and Waterways

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Nov 2022
UK Canals and Waterways

"I can say to my right hon. Friend, who is also Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, that not only will I support him, I have actually signed the letter agreeing to that proposal, because it seems an eminent way to ensure that our canals and waterways remain as unpolluted …..."
Michael Fabricant - View Speech

View all Michael Fabricant (Con - Lichfield) contributions to the debate on: UK Canals and Waterways

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Nov 2022
UK Canals and Waterways

"That is a fantastic example from my hon. Friend. Those of us familiar with canals know that type of art, with beautifully, vividly painted flowers on coal scuttles and buckets. An ugly bucket can be transformed into a thing of beauty. I have friends who live some distance from canals …..."
Michael Fabricant - View Speech

View all Michael Fabricant (Con - Lichfield) contributions to the debate on: UK Canals and Waterways

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Nov 2022
UK Canals and Waterways

"In a moment. I will just carry on a little bit, if he will forgive me.

On behalf of everyone here, I want to thank the volunteers. But they can only be a small part of the answer. The sustainable future of our canals depends on a substantial continuing investment …..."

Michael Fabricant - View Speech

View all Michael Fabricant (Con - Lichfield) contributions to the debate on: UK Canals and Waterways