HC Deb 16 February 1996 vol 271 cc715-6W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those regulations concerning licenses for the abstraction of water which remain to be covered by regulations to be brought in to implement European Union directive 92/43 on habitats and species; and when he expects to lay drafts before Parliament. [15198]

Mr. Clappison

Chapter II of part II—sections 24 to 72—of the Water Resources Act 1991 concerns the granting of licences for the abstraction of water. Those sections will be covered by further regulations implementing the EC habitats directive. It is expected that the regulations will be laid before Parliament later this year. Currently, regulation 3 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 required all competent authorities, such as the National Rivers Authority or environment agency, in the exercise of any of their functions, to have regard to the requirements of the habitats directive.