WATER FREIGHT

Early day motion 143, tabled 20 November 2006 by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 82 members.

That this House notes that moving freight by water is several times more environmentally sustainable than doing so by road and takes lorries off the congested road network; further notes that water freight makes a major contribution to the UK's economy and employs more than 200,000 people; welcomes the role played by Sea and Water in promoting water freight; calls on major retailers and others to do more to make their supply chains more green by making use of inland waterways and short sea shipping; and urges the Government to continue to support the water freight industry with policies to develop and maintain the inland waterway network, and by ensuring that planning policies in particular encourage rather than hinder access to the waterways.

Signatures by party: Labour 39, Liberal Democrat 19, Conservative 17, DUP 5, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.