§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to publish information on the volume of water abstracted from rivers and boreholes 831W in England and Wales, and the limits in the relevant licences for such abstractions, under section 201 of the Water Industry Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsAggregate figures, by the regions of the National Rivers Authority, are published annually in the digest of environmental protection and water statistics. Under section 204 of the Water Resources Act 1991 it is an offence to disclose, without its consent, information of this kind provided by an individual or business except, inter alia, under arrangements for the publication of information about water undertakers under section 201 of the Water Industry Act 1991. I am considering whether it would be appropriate to make such arrangements.