§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the powers of drainage boards. [98288]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Land Drainage Act 1991 provides the powers and duties of Internal Drainage Boards who exercise a general supervision over all matters relating to drainage of land in their district.
448WThe detailed powers are set out in Sections 14, 15, 19–21, 25, 36, 55–57, 62–64 and 66 of the Act. They include powers for the improvement and maintenance of existing works, construction of new works, acquisition and disposal of land, powers of entry and the making of byelaws.
§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the constraints are on the fund-raising powers of drainage hoards. [98289]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Land Drainage Act 1991 sets out the financial powers of internal drainage boards (IDBs). Section 36 provides for IDBs to meet their expenses (net of payments to, and receipts from, the Environment Agency (EA)) by drainage rates and special levies. Section 37 sets out how these payments will be apportioned. Sections 38–39 deal with differential drainage charges which are set by sub-dividing the IDB area. Sections 40–54 deal with levying of drainage rates and related provisions. Section 55 provides powers for IDBs to borrow in relation to their functions under the 1991 Act or to discharge other loans. Ministerial consent is required for new borrowing. Section 56 allows IDBs to set navigation tolls. Section 57 allows 1DBs to seek contributions from the EA in relation to water from higher land or dealing with water before it reaches a main river.
We intend to use the forthcoming Water Bill to restore the power for IDBs to borrow to finance contributions to the Environment Agency, which was inadvertently lost when water legislation was consolidated in 1991.