Thank you for contacting me about the Canal and River Trust and its future funding arrangement.

I fully share concerns about the future of funding for our canals. 

I know how lucky we are to have some 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales. They are hugely important, providing habitats for nature, homes for people and a place to take part in recreational activities. They also help to prevent floods and give us a network of green corridors steeped in rich industrial history unlike anywhere else in the world.

As you know, the Canal and River Trust and the Government are currently undergoing the review process for the Trust’s annual grant funding arrangement. The Trust has a long-term funding agreement with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that runs until 2027. I know its future sustainable operations rely in part on this funding.

The review process outcome was due to be reported in July 2022, but the Government said in March 2023 that it would be available later this spring, and more recently that it would be announced “shortly”.

The annual grant has been capped at £52.6 million until 2027, and the review is to inform the decision beyond the end of the current grant period. The delay is threatening the future of our canals and of all those who rely on them. It makes it more difficult for the Trust to plan for the future and hampers the progress of a number of larger projects designed to help build and shape much-needed resilience to the harsh and increasingly frequent effects of climate change.

I believe the Canal and River Trust, alongside local navigation, harbour and waterways authorities, does a crucial job protecting and restoring our internal waterways. We are seeing an increase in use of these waterways for commercial navigation as well as for leisure and residential use. It is vital this work continues and that the Government does not roll back crucial work to increase the use of our waterways, which is vital as part of the work towards reaching net zero.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this. I will continue to call for the Government to properly fund our canals and waterways.