HC Deb 21 June 1972 vol 839 cc116-7W
Mr. Hall-Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ascertain from river authorities and publish the number of water power users who have abandoned such use in each river authority area in England in each of the years 1966 to 1972.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

No. River authorities have information about the use of water power only where the user holds a licence under the Water Resources Acts.

Mr. Hall-Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ascertain from river authorities and publish figures as to the total revenue of each river authority in England from charges to water power users under Sections 23 and 58, respectively, of the Water Resources Act. 1963.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

No. I am not satisfied that the value of this information would justify the expenditure involved in obtaining it.

Mr. Hall-Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ascertain and publish the names of river authorities in England who do not require water power users to be licensed under Section 23 of the Water Resources Act, 1963.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

I agree that it would be useful for my Department to publish general guidance on the application of the Act to power generation, and consultations are taking place with the Association of River Authorities and the British Association of Grain, Seed, Feed and Agricultural Merchants Ltd. to this end. When this has been done it will be possible to determine how far there are genuine differences in the interpretation of the Act, which would have to be resolved by the courts. Until then the differences in circumstances between individual river authorities' areas make it impracticable to do this.

Mr. Hall-Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ascertain and publish the names of river authorities in England which make a specific rate for water power users in their charging schemes under Section 58 of the Water Resources Act, 1963.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

The list is as follows:

  • Cornwall.
  • Cumberland.
  • Dee and Clwyd.
  • Devon.
  • Hampshire.
  • Isle of Wight.
  • Kent.
  • Lancashire.
  • Lincolnshire.
  • Mersey and Weaver.
  • Northumbrian.
  • Trent.
  • Yorkshire.

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