Written question asked by Ian Davidson (Labour) on Monday, 1 June 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 June 1998. It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 June 1998 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: Statement on what steps he is taking to simplify the procedures in the Reservoirs Act 1975 for making appointments to panels of civil engineers and for enforcing the safety provisions of the Act. - Inc ref to consultation paper, copy in Library as Dep 98/477.

Answer: Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to simplify the procedures in the Reservoirs Act 1975 for making appointments to panels of civil engineers and for enforcing the safety provisions of the Act. [44121] Angela Eagle: I am today issuing a consultation paper, jointly with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, setting out the Government's proposals to amend the Reservoirs Act 1975. These proposals involve the transfer of the Secretaries of States' responsibilities for making appointments to the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the transfer of local authorities' enforcement duties in England and Wales to the Environment Agency. I am satisfied that these measures will result in the procedures being made less burdensome both for candidates for appointment and for reservoir undertakers. The amendments would be made by an Order under section 1 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. I have today placed a copy of the consultation paper in the Library of the House.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 44121; 313 c159W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Functions Environment Agency Local government Ministerial powers Public appointments Water Regulation Storage Safety Civil engineering Institution of Civil Engineers
Legislation: Reservoirs Act 1975