On Tuesday my MP, Caroline Lucas submitted a written question to the Government which was entitled on “Inland Waterways: Access” and the response which has come from Trudy Harrison who is a Minister for Food and Rural Affairs indicates very clearly that the Government is not competent. So this question and response is available here and it is listed below. As it happens so far one person has linked to suggest that the answer is not adequate. Perhaps some more of us will respond.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the success of her Department’s policy on voluntary access arrangements on inland waterways as a means to increase access on unregulated waters; and how many kilometres of new access has been secured for recreation in this Parliament.

Trudy Harrison: Given the wide range of local circumstances, the Government does not have a role in making voluntary access agreement arrangements, nor do we monitor or hold information on them, since they are tailored to local situations enabling the needs of different users to be balanced both with each other and with the property rights of landowners.