§ Earl Peelasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the Minister's reply to the noble Earl's previous question, why is it, given the drought conditions that have prevailed in certain regions, that the Environment Agency (or its predecessor, the National Rivers Authority) has not thought it appropriate to submit any draft statement containing provisions for determining minimum acceptable flows in any inland waters as set out at s.21(1) of the 1991 Water Resources Act.
The Minister of State Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)The Environment Agency is of the view that the appropriate legislation for drought management is that which is contained in Sections 73 to 81 of the Water Resources Act 1991. However, the agency will be considering its position in relation to the provisions for determining minimum acceptable flows which are set out in Section 21 of that Act and may make such proposals as may be appropriate in due course.
At the present time, the agency's policy is to protect river flow through the use of conditions which are specified in water abstraction licences. These conditions are widely applied and have an effect similar to that which might be obtained from setting minimum acceptable flows.