You can see the list of Defra MInisters and their responsibilities HERE.

If you take a look, you will see that Phil Woolas MP is a Minister of State and one of his responsibilities is Flooding.

However, Jonathan Shaw MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for the South East, appears to be responsible for all matters marine including Inland Waterways and, specifically, British Waterways.

So, presumably, Woolas is getting involved in the Lock Houses issue by virtue of his responsibilty for flooding.

However, from our point of view, I would suggest that we have an interest in Shaw being involved in relation to the wider issue of management of the Thames as a waterway and resource.

Once again, we find the Thames being treated as a diverse topic without cohesive management even at the top?