HC Deb 18 July 1963 vol 681 cc847-8
Sir K. Joseph

I beg to move, in page 45, line 18, to leave out "an inland water" and to insert a source of supply in a river authority area". Perhaps it will be convenient to discuss at the same time the following three Amendments: in page 45, line 30; in page 45, line 34; and in page 46, line 2.

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

That would be convenient.

Sir K. Joseph

Clause 45 was inserted in Standing Committee and deals with the special provisions as to spray irrigation. The first object of these Amendments is to extend the scope of control over spray irrigation to cover abstractions from underground strata which, in the opinion of the river authority, are likely to affect the flow in an inland water which is already subject to licensing control.

The second change is to alter the wording in the Clause from "used" in relation to spray irrigation. The point is not to control the use to which a fanner puts water which he has already stored in a reservoir and which he may wish to use for irrigation. It is rather to control the abstraction of water for inland irrigation. That is why the wording is changed from "used" to "abstraction".

Amendment agreed to.

Sir K. Joseph

I beg to move, in page 45, line 22, to leave out "drought" and to insert "shortage of rain".

It was considered by the semantic experts in the Committee that the word "drought" should be replaced by the phrase "shortage of rain". That is just what the Amendment seeks to do.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made: In page 45, line 30, leave out from "be" to end of line 31 and insert abstracted in pursuance of the licence from the source of supply in question for use for that purpose, and, in relation to that period, the licence shall have effect subject to that reduction accordingly: Provided that the river authority shall not serve such a notice in respect of abstraction of water from underground strata unless it appears to them that such abstraction is likely to affect the flow, level or volume of an inland water (not being an inland water falling within section 2(3) of this Act or an inland water comprised in an order under section 25 of this Act)".

In page 45, line 34, leave out "inland water" and insert "source of supply".

In page 46, line 2, leave out "used" and insert "abstracted for use".—[Sir K. Joseph.]