The IWA provided Fabricant with a detailed briefing on the current situation on the state of the waterways, funding issues and its own concerns. In addition, IWA branches briefed other MPs and a range of contributing arguments was put to the minister during the course of the hour and a half debate.

In answer to the many comments directed at the department’s funding allocations for British Waterways (BW) and the Environment Agency (EA), the minister reported that he was actively engaging with delivery partners in the process of setting budgets. The minister also reported that despite allocations not being announced until the end of February 2008, he expected the budget for BW would now be broadly around flat cash for a three-year period.

Commenting on the proposed licence fee increases, Fabricant indicated sympathy for vulnerable boat owners, but argued boat owners only contributed 10% of the total cost of the waterways and the rest was already borne by the taxpayer. This was despite the IWA's arguments in support of the fact that boaters only constitute 3% of users and provide an intrinsic interest in the waterways scene; including provision of waterside property developments with a significant premium and creating a major tourist attraction for the UK.

At a meeting later in the day IWA national chairman John Fletcher, and representatives from other waterway organisations, the minister gave an update on the BW status review and confirmed his support for arrangements which would enable BW to borrow commercially, an announcement that met with widespread approval from those present.

Fabricant also announced a joint governmental inland waterways committee to enable government to gain a greater understanding of the value of the waterways to the UK.

‘I am pleased at the constructive nature of today’s meeting and the commitment and interest the minister has demonstrated towards the waterways,’ said IWA national chairman John Fletcher. The minister indicated a willingness to meet waterways representatives on a regular basis to improve communication, said Fletcher, who paid tribute to the rapid response of IWA members throughout the country in briefing their MPs for the waterways debate.