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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she estimates the impact of the European Water Framework Directive to be upon (a) water management and (b) land use planning at local government level. [91931] Mr. Morley: The information is as follows: (a) The Water Framework Directive sets up a catchment-based system of managing water through the establishment of river basin districts. The Environment Agency, which the Government have proposed should be the competent authority for the directive, already manages water on a catchment basis. Therefore, although boundaries will be new, the principle will not. In addition, England is well placed in legislative and institutional terms to implement the directive-in terms of the regulatory system, licence regimes and legal framework already in place. Our second consultation paper consults on what the gaps are and how they might be filled. The activities required by the Water Framework Directive-such as review of human activity, economic analysis, co-ordination of river basin management plans and selection of programme(s) of measures-will enable water to be managed in a more holistic way which encourages interested parties to contribute more actively to how water is managed in their area. (b) We are considering the implications of the Directive for land use planning at local government level in discussion with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Environment Agency and others. The Environment agency is also carrying out research into the effects of land use on water quality.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

91931; 398 c342W

Session

2002-03

EC documents

Dir2000/60/EC

Subjects

Licensing EU law Local government Planning Water Water supply Regulation Research Rivers

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk