The first day of the new Parliamentary Session, 15 November
2006, saw the tabling of three new Early Day Motions on the subject of the
Waterways.
EDM 90
INLAND WATERWAYS (No. 2)
in the names of Charlotte Atkins (Labour), Sir
Peter Soulsby (Labour), Bob Laxton (Labour), Sir Nicholas Winterton
(Conservative), David Drew (Labour/Co-operative) and Louise Ellman
(Labour/Co-operative) .
"That this House notes that the nation's inland
waterways have undergone a transformation in recent years as more people are
using canals and rivers for recreation than ever before, whether as boaters,
anglers, walkers, cyclists or nature lovers; further notes that more freight is
being transported and that regenerated waterways are the backbone of many inner
city improvements and that thousands of jobs are linked to the well-being of
canals; therefore notes with alarm that the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs has reduced British Waterways' grant by 15 per cent. this
year resulting in a devastating effect upon the inland waterways; further notes
that 180 British Waterways' staff are to lose their jobs and canals are to be
closed; and calls upon the Government to reinstate immediately the cuts imposed
upon British Waterways and to ensure long-term funding is guaranteed to enable
continued investment and restoration of the waterways."
210
signatures as of 4 February
EDM 50
INLAND WATERWAYS
in the names of Peter Ainsworth, James Paice, Bill
Wiggin, Gregory Barker, Andrew Rosindell and Robert Goodwill (all
Conservative).
"That this House notes that inland waterways are a vital
part of the UK's industrial and rural heritage and that they provide space for
recreation and tourism as well as valuable habitats for plants and wildlife;
further notes the important work of British Waterways; and calls on the
Government to support the waterways and environment and livelihoods they
sustain."
158 signatures as of 4 February
EDM 53 BRITISH WATERWAYS FUNDING CUTS
in the
names of Bob Laxton (Labour) and Mike Penning (Conservative).
This has now
been withdrawn and the signatures added to the very similar EDM 90.
On 22 November a further EDM was tabled, dealing with the
Environment Agency waterways.
EDM 235
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY FUNDING
in the names of Desmond Turner (Labour) ,Mike
Penning (Conservative) and Bob Spink (Conservative)
"That this House
notes the considerable boating activity that takes place on Environment Agency
navigations and rivers which provides essential leisure and sporting benefits
to people of all ages, backgrounds and economic levels; further notes that the
Government's social agenda and objectives on health, education and social
inclusion; further notes that by encouraging and promoting boating activity on
Environment Agency navigations the Government will go a long way towards
meeting its published aim of increasing the number of people participating in
healthy outdoor activity by one per cent. per year through to the year 2030;
further notes the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has cut
the Environment Agency's budget by approximately £14.9 million in the
2006-07 financial year and the significant adverse effect this will have on the
Environment Agency's ability to promote and maintain levels of participation in
water-based sport and club-based activities on its navigations; and calls upon
the Government to reinstate immediately funding for the Environment Agency to
ensure that participation in water-based sport and recreation, particularly
participation by young people, is not prejudiced but is increased on
Environment Agency navigations. "
48 signatures as at 4
February
Editor's note
If you click on the title of each
of these motions, the link goes to the relevant page on the Parliamentary
Information web site, where you can see which MPs have signed each motion.
Even if your MP signed one or more of the EDMs in the last session of
Parliament, we'd like you to ask him/her to sign the new ones. In particular we
want to focus on EDM 90 as the main focus of this activity. SInce it is a
cross-party motion it has a better chance of getting a lot of signatures.
We understand that there may be
more EDMs in the pipeline with regional links, which could usefully be brought
to the attention of MPs from appropriate consituencies - but ask them all to
sign EDM 90 as well. |
