§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the National Water Council on the problems facing operators of waterwheels, due to the levying of charges by regional water authorities; and if he will take steps to assist operators of small hydro-plants.
§ Mr. Denis HowellAt my suggestion the National Water Council and water authorities met representatives of the National Association of Water Power Users last year. The Council has asked the National Association for examples of any hydro-electric schemes which would have gone ahead but for abstraction charges or schemes which would have been kept in operation if abstraction charges had not been applied, and has undertaken, if any specific cases are drawn to its attention, to ask the water authority concerned to check that the charges involved reasonably reflect the effect of abstraction on the water resources in its area and to consider whether any reduction of charges might be justified.