On Tuesday, February 06, 2007 7:57 PM [GMT+1=CET], Ann Harvey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> How do you think that the current bird flu outbreak will affect our > waterways funding campaign? It can't help can it? This may be the > excuse that DEFRA need to refuse to alter the cuts in funding to BW. I don't think it makes the least difference, as there's no chance of any salvation coming from DEFRA - they haven't got the cash, even if they wanted to take a more helpful attitude. The only way there can be any short-term help is by the Treasury putting forward some extra money. We've argued from the beginning that some of the stuff that's made a bog hole in DEFRA's finances should have come out of the Government's central contingency fund rather than being taken from other organisations under the DEFRA umbrella, and the precautions against Avian Flu has always been one of those we mentioned. Now this has gone from precautions to reality, the same argument applies. In realistic terms, what now matters is the longer-term picture, in the form of the Comprehensive Spending Review for 2008-2010. We had originally thought that this was going to be decided by about Easter, but current rumours are that it won't happen until the change of Prime Minister has happened, whenever that is! Mike Stevens narrowboat Felis Catus III web-site www.mike-stevens.co.uk Defend the waterways. Visit the web site www.saveourwaterways.org.uk
