Waterways MP honoured

摘要

Waterways Minister From 2010 to 2013 Richard Benyon (left) is pictured receiving the Inland Waterways Association's Parliamentarian of the Year award from IWA Chairman Les Etheridge. The award recognises of his support for the canals especially during the critical period when the former British Waterways was being transformed into the Canal & River Trust. Mr Etheridge called it a "brave and wise" decision to move the waterways to a charity, while Mr Benyon, Conservative member for Newbury, described his involvement as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Appropriately, the IWA banner behind them depicts the River Thames, a hot topic during the ceremony with IWA, CRT and Mr Benyon all expressing their support for the transfer of the Environment Agency rivers to CRT.