HL Deb 19 February 2003 vol 644 c1140

3.17 p.m.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Whitty, I beg to introduce a Bill to amend the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Water Industry Act 1991; to make provision with respect to compensation under Section 61 of the Water Resources Act 1991; to provide for the establishment and functions of the Water Services Regulation Authority and the Consumer Council for Water, and for the abolition of the office of Director-General of Water Services; to make provision in connection with land drainage and flood defence; to amend the Reservoirs Act 1975; to make provision about contaminated land so far as it relates to the pollution of controlled waters; to confer on the Coal Authority functions in relation to the discharge of water from coal mines; to extend the functions of the Environment Agency in relation to the Rivers Esk, Sark and Tweed and their tributaries so far as they are in England; and for connected purposes. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a first time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read a first time.—(Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton.)

On Question, Bill read a first time, and to be printed.