HL Deb 11 July 1995 vol 565 cc1475-6

3 Clause 5, page 7, line 14, leave out 'section 161' and insert 'sections 161 to 16IC'.

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 3. I shall also speak to Amendments Nos. 171, 177, 179, 251, 252, 253, 257, 259, 287, 288 and 293.

During our Committee and Report stages my noble friend Lord Crickhowell moved amendments for the introduction of an anti-pollution notice procedure into the powers available to the environment agency under the Water Resources Act. Amendment No. 287, which stems from these proposals, enhances the powers of the agency to prevent water pollution and to ensure that clean—up works are carried out where such pollution has occurred. The NRA already has a power under Section 161 of the Water Resources Act 1991 to carry out anti-pollution works itself and then seek to recover costs from a polluter or a potential polluter.

Amendment No. 287 introduces new Sections 161A, 161B and 161C to the 1991 Act. Section 161A will enable the agency to serve a notice which will require a polluter or a potential polluter to carry out anti-pollution works. We envisage that this power will he of particular value in preventing pollution incidents from occurring. The notice, which is called a "works" notice, will be served after consultation and will set out the actions which must be carried out and the date for their completion.

The remainder of the amendments in this group are consequential and there are those which provide analogous powers to the Scottish environment protection agency.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 3.—(Earl Ferrers.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.