Richard Benyon

Last week Lord Prescott of Hull parked his ample haunches on the red leather benches in the House of Lords. From all the reports I read there was no hint of the inner turmoil that he must have been suffering. Not that long ago he had more or less vowed that he would rather chew his fingers off one by one, than don ermine and join their Lordships. I wonder if this dramatic U turn will now see him giving an impassioned defence of a totally appointed House of Lords as the Parliamentary reform process gets going.

His name came up in the House of Commons in a debate I was replying to on behalf of the Government. We were debating the future of British Waterways and our wonderful canal network. Apparently when he was Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott went around the country sloshing money about like some munificent Maharajah. He allocated £15 million towards some piece of waterways engineering that is much valued by waterway lovers in the east of London. Most politicians will be forgotten almost as soon as they leave office. Not so Prezza. The Prescott Sluice will ensure that his name lives on. I have no ambition to achieve such a degree of immortality which is probably just as well with the looming expenditure cuts.

However, I am ambitious for the future of our canals. With a good degree of cross-party consensus I am hoping to be able to transfer British Waterways from being a Government quango to being a charitable trust. A version of the National Trust for our canals. Our canals are havens for recreation and wildlife. They support tourism and enhance our quality of life. In our towns they provide the focus for regeneration. Wherever they are they are part of our heritage. I know from first hand the passions waterways arouse in so many users. I want to harness that enthusiasm in a structure that is owned by them and that puts our waterways on a solid long term financial footing. If Lord Prescott helps me in this endeavour I will push for him to be made a Duke.