asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 1 November (WA 42), about the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ immediate funding pressures, whether the British Waterways Boards’ canal development programme will receive any long-term funding. [HL75]

It is for British Waterways to prioritise its expenditure in the light of competing demands, including maintenance, major works and the support it gives to canal restoration projects. The department has been having on-going discussions with British Waterways over its funding for 2007-08 and beyond.