HC Deb 23 July 1996 vol 282 cc313-4W
Mr. Anthony Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to prevent duplication of pleasure boat licensing by public authorities on the same inland waterways. [39636]

Mr. Robert B. Jones

I am today issuing a consultation paper. This sets out the Government's proposal to amend the law to provide that no licence from a local authority under section 94 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1970, as amended, is required in respect of pleasure craft on any waterway owned or managed by British Waterways or the Environment Agency. The legislative change would be made by an order under section 1 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.