Quoting this in a commons early day motion, Charlotte Atkins, Labour MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, has urged the government to create a dedicated freight unit to encourage greater carriage of freight on the inland waterways following the recommendations of the House of Commons select committee report on British Waterways (BW).

Mike Hancock, Liberal Democrat MP for Portsmouth South, has also tabled an early day motion that notes the environmental benefits and calls on the government and major retailers to support the movement of freight by water.