HC Deb 29 January 1976 vol 904 cc299-300W
Mr. Beith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who is responsible for the designation of watercourses as farm ditches eligible for grant aid by his Department; and what procedure is followed in the case of new designations.

Mr. Strang

There is no formal procedure for designating watercourses as farm ditches eligible for grant under the Department's capital grant schemes. However, where the watercourse primarily serves only one farm and the work proposed is straightforward in nature and for the benefit of the agricultural business, grant can be considered under our capital grant schemes.

Mr. Beith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what procedure arterial watercourses can be redesignated as rivers; and whether such redesignations in recent cases has led to the acceptance of liability for maintenance and protection work associated with the watercourses by the regional water authority.

Mr. Strang

Under Schedule 2, paragraph 11, to the Water Act, 1973 water authorities have power, subject to statutory processes, to have watercourses designated as "main river". The effect of this is to enable the water authority to exercise its powers under the Land Drainage Acts for the control, maintenance and improvement of the watercourses concerned. But their powers under these Acts to carry out work are permissive and do not normally involve any liability to carry out particular work.

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