asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what encouragement is being given to the British Waterways Board to develop further its freight-carrying capacity.
The board is aware that we are prepared to consider schemes likely to provide an adequate return on investment. In this connection we and the board will be interested in the results of improvements currently being made to the South Yorkshire Canal which will enable it to be used by larger vessels.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the effect of the reference to the British Waterways Board in the public expenditure White Paper in light of his answer on this matter on 25 July 1979.
No change is envisaged in the status of the British Waterways Board or its statutory functions. We now see
| ESTIMATED DWELLING STOCK BY TENURE AND AGE MIDLANDS, SOUTH AND NORTH OF ENGLAND: 1978 | |||
| Percentages | |||
| Midlands | South of England | North of England | |
| Tenure | |||
| Owner-occupied | 56 | 57 | 54 |
| Rented from local authority or new town | 32 | 26 | 34 |
| Year of construction | |||
| Pre 1919 | 27 | 31 | 32 |
| 1919–1944 | 23 | 22 | 23 |
| 1945–1963 | 24 | 22 | 21 |
| 1964–1978 | 26 | 25 | 24 |