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Flood and Water Management Bill

I want to add only a little to what has been said. There is a world of difference between the circumstances described by the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, and the sort of reservoir mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Cameron of Dillington. The problem we are facing here is that we are trying to deal with both sets of circumstances in one schedule. I am rather surprised that the reservoir described by the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, is not already caught by the large reservoir construction regulations which require a far higher standard of safety than the sort of reservoir described by the noble Lord, Lord Cameron; indeed, I happen to possess one. I have to say that it is a remarkably small puddle of water, but it is to be included in this provision. There is of course yet another classification of reservoir which might be added here. A lot of reservoirs such as mine that are used to collect winter rainwater have no streams running into or out of them at all because the water is simply pumped. When the reservoir begins to look slightly full, you switch on the pump so that no more water can get in and, frankly, there is no risk. Even if there is an unearthly downpour, as we had on one occasion in our part of the world a few years ago—I know that a neighbour saw the level of his swimming pool rise by six inches—it will not reach anywhere near the top of ring reservoirs that are pumped. Trying to classify all these different types of reservoir in one simple schedule is very difficult. We have perforce to accept what is before us today, but in other circumstances there is no doubt that the case would be argued most forcefully that a lot more detail has to be put into this schedule in order to make sense of the vastly differing circumstances that the present classification seeks to gather together as if they were identical. I agree entirely with the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, that the circumstances of the people of Keswick are intolerable. Indeed, I am very surprised that the situation is not already covered by other reservoir construction regulations. If it is not, it jolly well should be. However, the sort of position described by the noble Lord, Lord Cameron, is very different. The only person or body that is likely to be damaged if a small irrigation reservoir goes is normally the owner himself. Occasionally it might pose a risk to a neighbouring household, but these constructions are out in the open countryside, and therefore the level of risk is very low indeed. If one looks at the need for increased productivity from agriculture in the future, the use of irrigation is going to have to become more widespread. Certainly, anything that imposes unreasonable costs would draw to it wide objections from many different bodies. I can do no more than say that I hope the Minister will accept that there is a problem here. The schedule seeks to encompass many different circumstances into what is apparently one system. The Government will have to exercise great care in how they define and administer these provisions. At the moment we cannot change the schedule, but I have no doubt that if this Bill had been going through in anything like normal circumstances, there would be some considerable amendment here in order to take account of the very different situations that can and do exist.