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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the development of rivers in urban areas for water transport.

No such assessment has been made. The Government does not have a role in operational matters on inland waterways, which is the responsibility of the relevant navigation authority. Local authorities have responsibility for transport policies within their areas, including any proposals for using rivers.