Dear All,
Sorry to trouble you all but there is something
which urgently needs your attention. (I expect many of you will already have
done what I mention below)
MPs have tabled what they call an Early
Day Motion - an indication of support for the waterways. If more than 40 MPs
sign it, there is a good chance of a Debate in the House which will force the
Minister to explain himself - and tell him of the opposition.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT AS MANY MPS AS
POSSIBLE SIGN THE EARLY DAY MOTION. It is number 2757. The text is set
out below. So far 107 MPs have signed. The original six MP are listed as are
the latest to join in. We need as many as possible before this session of
Parliament ends in about two weeks’ time
So can you all write to your MPs, urging
them to sign this motion and also ask them to write to Gordon Brown and
David Miliband (at DEFRA) objecting to the cuts? As IWA have said, letters are
far better sent to your own MP than direct to the Ministers. A civil servant
will reply to you if you write to a Minister. If an MP writes, the Minister has
to reply to the MP.
You can write to your MPs at House of
Commons,
The most important point is to object to
the proposed cuts in future years. Already BW has postponed £5m of maintenance
works this winter. As someone said, it is like not painting the window frames
of your home; eventually it costs you a lot more as the frames rot and you have
to replace the whole lot.
John Dodwell
(IWA General Secretary 1971-74)
|
2757 |
INLAND WATERWAYS |
16:10:06 |
|
|
Charlotte Atkins |
|
|
Mrs Louise Ellman |
|
|
Mr Jim Cunningham |
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|
Ms Karen Buck |
|
|
Mr David Drew |
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|
Mrs Janet Dean |
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* 107 |
|
|
Lynne Featherstone |
Hon Nicholas Soames |
Mr Frank Field |
|
|
Mr Nick Hurd |
Anne Milton |
Mike Gapes |
|
|
Mr Greg Pope |
Mr Michael Clapham |
Mr Gordon Marsden |
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|
Ann McKechin |
Annette Brooke |
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|
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 immediately to reinstate the cuts imposed upon British Waterways
and to ensure long-term funding is guaranteed to enable continued investment
and restoration of the waterways. |
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