§ Sir Cranley OnslowTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps his Department took to consult representatives angling organisations before publishing the procedural guide for operating authorities entitled water level management plans; [23103]
(2) for what reasons no angling organisations are included in the list of useful contacts and addresses in annex II of his Department's guide water level management plans. [23104]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 11 May 1995]: The main purpose of the procedural guide to which my right hon. Friend refers is to help flood defence authorities to draw up water level management plans in areas of conservation importance so as to balance the needs of flood defence, economic activity, and conservation. Such plans are prepared at local level and the guide emphasises the importance of consultations with all those affected, including recreational and sporting interests, during the preparation of a water level management plan for a particular area.
Although representative angling organisations were not consulted prior to publication of the Ministry's procedural guide, such organisations should be consulted by local flood defence authorities when individual plans are in preparation. Annex II of the guide is not intended as an exhaustive list of all those who should be consulted, but to meet my right hon. Friend's point representative angling organisations and other recreational and sporting interests will be added when the guide is next reprinted.