§ Mr. OnslowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend article 18 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 so as to require local planning authorities to consult the National Rivers Authority on the availability of adequate water resources before granting planning permission for any development that is assessed as being likely to lead to a significant increase in water consumption in the area concerned.
§ Sir George YoungMy right hon. Friend has no present plans to do so, but he keeps the General Development Order under constant review and pays close attention to any comments or proposals which the National Rivers Authority may make to him.
In addition to the existing statutory consultation requirements in article 18 of the General Development Order, the National Rivers Authority is already a consultee under the environmental assessment regulations. Local planning authorities also consult the National Rivers Authority on a non-statutory basis in preparing development plans and about planning applications which have implications for flood defence and land drainage; the Department's circular 17/82, which deals with these matters, is under review.