HL Deb 28 June 2001 vol 626 c17WA
Lord Tomlinson

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What decisions have been reached about the possible use of economic instruments in relation to water abstraction. [HL96]

Lord Whitty

The department is publishing tomorrow a paper entitledTuning Water Taking. This sets out government decisions following consultation last year on the use of economic instruments in relation to water abstraction in England and Wales. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

The paper confirms that water abstraction charges will remain limited to recovery of the Environment Agency's water resources management costs. The agency is expected to consult by June 2002 on changes to the current charging scheme within this overall cost ceiling. The paper goes on to say that voluntary abstraction licence trading will be made easier by a variety of means, within the Environment Agency's existing powers, whilst ensuring that trading does not harm the water environment.