§ Mr. Moate asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action is taken to ensure that all reservoir undertakings comply with the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act 1930 particularly with regard to the keeping of weekly records of water levels, leakage, repairs and so on; which authorities are responsible for appointing inspecting engineers; and how many prosecutions there have been for non-compliance with the Act;
- what would be the cost of implementing the Reservoirs Act 1975; and what extra manpower would need to be employed;
- if he is satisfied with the level of observance and enforcement of the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act 1930; and, if not, what steps are being taken in this connection;
- if it is his intention ever to introduce orders under the Reservoirs Act 1975 in order to bring the provisions of the Act into force.
§ Mr. Giles Shaw:As I explained in my letter of 20 March 1981 to my hon. Friend and in my answer to him on 22 October, steps are already well in hand to secure better application of the 1930 Act by the local authorities and others concerned. When I can judge the results of this initiative, I intend to review the whole question of 197W legislative control of reservoir safety in the light of any remaining problems. Meanwhile I have no reason to change my view that bringing in the 1975 Act now would make no significant difference to the effectiveness of statutory controls but would lead to considerable expenditure of money and manpower for new administrative arrangements.
Inspecting engineers under the 1930 Act are appointed by the undertakers responsible for each reservoir, but appointments can be made only from those enrolled on the appropriate panel, maintained by the Secretary of State with the advice of the Institution of Civil Engineers. The same arrangements would apply under the 1975 Act.
No central records are kept of enforcement action taken in the courts under the 1930 Act; I believe that few, if any, such cases have arisen.
Mr. Moate asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there is a register of all sizeable reservoirs and dams in Great Britain: and what is the precise total number of reservoirs of over 5 million gallons capacity.
§ Mr. Giles Shaw:The best available information is contained in my answer of 20 May 1981 to my hon. Friend the Member for Essex, South-East (Sir B. Braine).—[Vol. 5, c. 118]—My hon. Friend may also be interested in the answer I gave on 30 March 1981 to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley).—[Vol. 2, c. 45–6.]