Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to the public purse was of Government support for the Navigation Authorities to meet the costs of commercial boat licence and mooring fees for financial year 2020-21 arising from the covid-19 pandemic.

No specific support has been provided to navigation authorities to meet the costs of commercial boat license and mooring fees arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government is providing an unprecedented scale of wide-ranging financial support for businesses of all sizes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to feedback received, the Government introduced further support schemes particularly for smaller businesses that were finding it difficult to access the initial package. We are monitoring the impact that these measures are having in supporting public services, businesses and individuals, including the waterways sector.