HL Deb 11 July 1988 vol 499 cc698-9
Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I beg to move.

Moved, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 16th June be approved [29th Report from the Joint Committee].—(Lord Hesketh.)

Lord Northfield

My Lords, this is where I must put the following question. It has not been answered. The noble Lord can answer this very quickly, I am sure; and if we do not receive an answer, we are bound to keep putting this question. The directive makes clear that the subjects in Annex II should cover the water management projects for agriculture whether they are grant-aided or not. All that the regulations do is to apply the directive where a grant is applied for. Why does it not cover land drainage matters, which are very important for the natural environment in the case of wetlands, when no grant is being applied for?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, land drainage improvement works, unlike new works, are permitted developments under the general development order. It is far less bureaucratic to create new arrangements complementary to the agriculture department's responsibility under the Land Drainage Act 1976 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Environmental assessments operated through the planning system would require all works, however minor, to be considered by planning authorities in deciding whether planning effects were significant.

On Question, Motion agreed to.