Where the money went

Published: Saturday, 19 December 2009

IT SEEMS that Nick Hurd, the MP for Ruislip, had picked up on Allan Richards' Money down the drain' article in narrowboatworld. For this week, in Parliament, he asked the  Minister for details of  payments made by British Waterways to (a) Four Communications, (b) Cavendish Communications and (c) Atherton Associates in the last 12 months; for what purposes; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each contract under which such payments were made.

The Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, replied that British Waterways has advised that payments made in the 12 months since the 1st November 2008 (excluding VAT) to Four Communications, Cavendish Place Communications and Atherton Associates are as follows:

Payments

(a) Four Communications—£39,805.53 for public affairs support for British Waterways London. The contract was not renewed.

(b) Cavendish Place Communication—£61,627.57 for public affairs support. This is a rolling contract.

(c) Atherton Associates—None.

British Waterways stated that due to commercial sensitivity and constraints, it will not be placing copies of contracts in the Library.