§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will introduce legislation to make sure that damages which are paid when a fishery is devastated by pollution shall be divided into two parts, namely, compensation for inconvenience and then a grant to restore the fishery;
(2) if he will take steps to ensure that the legislation on the reorganisation of water resources will make the dischargers of effluents liable under common law to restore any fishing rights or fisheries which are destroyed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsIn the light of comments made on my Department's proposals for the publication of information about discharges, I have had useful meetings with representatives of the NAC, ACA, other fishing organisations and the CBI. My right hon. and learned Friend has now agreed that there is no need to modify common law right to damages. We still intend that the proposed regional water authorities should be empowered, and in some circumstances required, to remedy at the discharges' expense any damage done by polluting discharges. The purpose of my Departments proposals is to reduce the pollution of rivers, thereby assisting anglers and all others who use them.