HC Deb 22 July 1964 vol 699 cc107-8W
Mr. Temple

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that under the draft of the Dee and Clwyd River Authority (Seaward Boundaries of Area) Order, 1964, the area of this river authority in respect of the new functions under the Water Resources Act, 1963, will be different from the area of that same river authority in respect of the other functions of land drainage fisheries and pollution; and for what reason he is proposing another delimitation of the same area.

Mr. Corfield

Yes. The difference relates only to the seaward limit of the river authority's area. The various seaward limits for purposes of the authority's land drainage, fisheries and pollution functions, are not necessarily appropriate for their new water resources functions.

Mr. Temple

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the fact that the Dee and Clwyd River authority own the deep water channel in the River Dee as far as a line drawn from Point of Ayr to Hilbre Point in Cheshire, why he is proposing to delimit the area of this authority for the new functions under the Water Resources Act, 1963, by a line drawn between point SJ 29037003 and point SJ 29257042; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Corfield

I do not think that ownership of the channel affects the area in which the river authority should exercise its new functions under the Water Resources Act, 1963. The draft order excludes from the authority's area for the purposes of those functions (and no others) tidal waters below low-water mark to seaward of the line referred to, because, on the information before my right hon. Friend he regards it as unnecessary for the authority to be enabled to control abstraction from those waters.

Mr. Temple

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether his proposals under the draft of the Dee and Clwyd River Authority (Seaward Boundaries of Area) Order, 1964, would have the effect of altering the area of that authority for land drainage purposes in the estuary of the River Dee.

Mr. Corfield

No.

Mr. Temple

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he proposes to lay before Parliament the Dee and Clwyd River Authority (Seaward Boundaries of Area) Order, 1964; and what objections he has received to the draft of this order.

Mr. Corfield

My right hon. Friend is not required to lay this Order before Parliament. He has received an objection from the Dee and Clwyd River Board.

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