§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has offered guidelines to water authorities concerning the transfer of staff to the new National Rivers Authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanMy noble Friend the Minister for Environment, Countryside and Water, has already issued guidelines to water authorities asking them to provide outline schemes of organisation for the separation of the functions that will pass to the National Rivers Authority into a separate NRA unit. Further guidance on staff transfer arrangements will be issued shortly.
§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has considered the transfer of all the functions of the rivers division of the Yorkshire water authority to the proposed National Rivers Authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe functions of the National Rivers Authority were set out in the policy statement which the Government published in December. These include the functions of land drainage, water resources, fisheries and recreation carried out by the rivers division of Yorkshire Water. In preparation for the NRA, water authorities are drawing up schemes of organisation in accordance with guidelines we have issued. We shall be considering these in the light of advice we receive from the NRA advisory committee.