§ Ms Rosie WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the means by which the water abstraction licensing system in England and Wales can be used to deal with environmentally damaging water abstractions. [36418]
§ Mr. MeacherWhere water abstractions are damaging sites specially protected under the EC Habitats and Birds Directives, or by designation as SSSIs, the Environment Agency should seek voluntary agreements for reductions with the abstractors wherever possible. Where that is not possible, the Environment Agency should use its existing powers, on a clearly prioritised basis, to vary or revoke the relevant licences, and be prepared to pay compensation where necessary. As part of their review of164W Park on which payments are made under agri-environmental schemes; and under which schemes those payments are made. [35781]
§ Angela EagleThe total area of common land in each National Park on which payments are made under agri-environmental schemes, and the schemes under which those payments are made, are set out in the table.
the water abstraction licensing system, the Government are considering future compensation arrangements and a consultation paper on those and other proposals will be published within the next few weeks.