§ Lord MELCHETTasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the Norfolk County Council's recent decision that there should be a public inquiry into the proposal in the Norfolk and Suffolk Land Drainage Committee's report on the Yare Basin Flood Control Scheme that a surge barrier be constructed at Great Yarmouth; and whether they will now take steps to set up an inquiry into this proposal under Section 96 of the Land Drainage Act 1976; and whether they will ensure before any such inquiry is held that a full Environmental Impact Statement on the effects of this proposal has been prepared by or under the supervision of the Nature Conservancy Council.
110WA
The MINISTER of STATE, MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES and FOOD (Earl Ferrers)The power to carry out the proposed Yare Basin Flood Control Scheme rests initially with the Anglian Water Authority. Unless and until that authority decides to go ahead with the proposal it would not be appropriate for my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to use his powers under the Land Drainage Act 1976 to set up a public inquiry. I understand that the Norfolk and Suffolk Land Drainage Committee of the authority has recently decided to defer a final decision on the proposed scheme so that further investigations and consultations can be carried out.