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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the written statement entitled Future funding for the Canal and River Trust of 10 July 2023, HCWS924, for what reason she plans to reduce funding for the Canal and River Trust relative to the funding announced in 2012.

When the Canal and River Trust (C&RT) was set up in 2012 to replace British Waterways, the Government agreed to provide an annual grant totalling around £740 million over a 15-year period up to 2027 as the charity established itself. At the time the Government and the C&RT agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding on 28 June 2012 that the C&RT would progressively reduce reliance on Government grant funding.

The Government recently agreed to provide the C&RT with a further £400 million grant over ten years from 2027, while encouraging the C&RT to increase income from alternative sources and reduce reliance on taxpayer funding as an independent charity, consistent with the original strategic intent. There have been incorrect claims made that this new grant represents a £300 million cut to the C&RT’s funding.

The Government has been discussing with the C&RT for some time how the C&RT can increase income from other sources and has been offering support on this.