asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reach a decision on the joint application to his Department for a submission for grant aid under the European regional development fund for a study into the social and economic feasibility of a scheme to revitalise the Leeds and Liverpool canal corridor.

The application for European regional development fund grant aid was received in my Department on 11 November. Internal consultations are already under way and officials expect to be in a position to discuss the proposals with Lancashire county council shortly.