HC Deb 25 June 1998 vol 314 cc560-1W
Sir Raymond Powell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to restrict the use of water for irrigating crops. [47514]

Angela Eagle

Under proposals set out inThe Review of the Water Abstraction Licensing System in England and Wales—Consultation Paper which we published on 19 June, all forms of irrigation where water is moved from a source and applied to land would have to be licensed, unless the abstracted quantities are below a threshold amount which would be set to reflect the local water resource position. Currently, only abstraction for spray irrigation requires a licence.

Sir Raymond Powell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to remove entitlement to compensation if an abstraction water licence for irrigating crops is revoked or varied. [47515]

Angela Eagle

As set out inThe Review of the Water Abstraction Licensing System in England and Wales—Consultation Paper which we published on 19 June, we are minded to remove, from a date to be determined, compensation for losses arising from the revocation or variation of any abstraction licence which has been granted without time limit if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the proposed action is necessary in order to protect the associated water environment from significant damage.