Reservoirs (Hansard, 9 May 1994)

Mr. William O'Brien
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of additional staffing requirements of the National Rivers Authority if the responsibility for administration of the Reservoirs Act 1975 is transferred to the authority.

§ Mr. Atkins
This would depend on the arrangements that the National Rivers Authority chose to make and on the extent to which—like some of the local authorities currently responsible—it chose to employ consultants to do the work. Since there would be a merger of the two separate existing registers of large, raised reservoirs and of impounding licences, less staff effort overall should be needed.

Mr. William O'Brien
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to change the administration of the Reservoirs Act 1975; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Atkins
As described in "Deregulation: Cutting Red Tape", the Government have proposed to merge in England and Wales the two separate existing registers of large, raised reservoirs—the responsibility, under the Reservoirs Act 1975, of certain local authorities—and of impounding licences—the responsibility, under the Water Resources Act 1991, of the National Rivers Authority—in view of the substantial overlap between the two registers.

Mr. William O'Brien
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which he considers to have been neglectful in carrying out their duties under the Reservoirs Act 1975.

§ Mr. Atkins
I have no reason to think that any local authority has been ineffective in carrying out its functions under the Reservoirs Act 1975: however, over 10 per cent. of the authorities concerned have still not sent to my Department the report on the previous two years statutorily required to be made by 1 April 1993.

Mr. William O'Brien
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost to local authorities of carrying out their duties under the Reservoirs Act 1975.

§ Mr. Atkins
When the Reservoirs Act 1975 was implemented in 1985, the additional current expenditure by local authorities was described as insignificant. No subsequent estimate has been made.
68W

Mr. William O'Brien
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of cases in each local authority where enforcement under the Reservoirs Act 1975 has been carried out in each of the past five years.

§ Mr. Atkins
Reports are required every two years: the number of enforcement actions reported in England has been:

Number

1987–89 14

1989–91 10

1991–93 ¹3

¹ In the reports so far received.

	Number
1987–89	14
1989–91	10
1991–93	¹3
¹ In the reports so far received.