asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made towards the establishment of a national navigation authority to bring the management of the waterways into the water authority; and what decisions have been taken as to the scope and powers of such an authority.

The Government remain committed to the concept of a national navigation authority as set out in the White Paper on the review of the water industry (Cmnd. 6876), and detailed work is going ahead in preparation for legislation. I shall be making a statement in due course on the proposed powers and functions of such an authority.