Public Bill Committees
Water Bill

• Water Bill [Lords], 1st sitting (4 speeches)
  [Mr. Bill O'Brien in the Chair]
  • Clause 1 - Duty to conserve water resources (31 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 173, in clause 1, page 1, line 5, after 'implement', insert 'effective'.
  • Clause 2 - Protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater (43 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 174, in clause 2, page 1, line 10, leave out 'furthers the establishment of' and insert 'establishes to the legally binding timetable required'.
  • Clause 3 - Licences to abstract water (16 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 3, in clause 3, page 2, line 29, at beginning insert— '( ) Each licence to abstract water shall be issued in response to an application for planning...
  • Clause 4 - Restrictions on Impounding (9 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 176, in clause 4, page 3, line 12, leave out 'which are not discrete waters'.
  • Clause 5 - Existing impounding works (31 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 5, in clause 5, page 4, line 22, at end insert 'unless the impounding works are contained in an area less than 50m x 20m x 3m'. I suspect that this also has to do...
  • Clause 6 - Existing impounding works: works notices (4 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 7, in clause 6, page 6, line 10, leave out subsection (2).
• Water Bill [Lords], 2nd sitting (0 speeches)
  [Mr. David Amess in the Chair]
  • Clause 6 - Existing impounding works: works notices (30 speeches)
    Amendment moved [this day]: No. 7, in clause 6, page 6, line 10, leave out subsection (2).—[Mr. Wiggin.] Question again proposed, That the amendment be made.
  • Clause 7 - Rights of navigation, harbour (18 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 178, in clause 7, page 6, leave out from beginning of line 44 to end of line 19 on page 7.
  • Clause 8 - Rights to abstract small quantities (36 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 48, in clause 8, page 8, line 10, at end insert— '(1A) Where the construction of a bore hole in connection with an exempt abstraction could affect the...
  • Clause 9 - Rights to abstract for drainage purposes, etc (26 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 18, in clause 9, page 9, leave out lines 34 to 43. The subject of the amendment has probably already been dealt with, as it refers to the internal drainage boards and...
  • Clause 10 - Amendments relating to section 9 (16 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 21, in clause 10, page 11, line 10, leave out subsection (3). This amendment may be unnecessary. I seek clarification because I suspect that this part of the Bill has...
  • Clause 11 - Power to provide for further exemptions (5 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 24, in clause 11, page 13, line 15, at end insert— '(d) a prescribed industry, or (e) trickle irrigation.'. We touched on trickle irrigation when debating a...
  • Clause 12 - Orders under section 33 of the WRA, etc (10 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 27, in clause 12, page 14, line 9, at end insert 'or partly in England and partly in Scotland'.
• Water Bill [Lords], 3rd sitting (0 speeches)
  [Mr. David Amess in the Chair]
  • Clause 13 - Who may apply for a licence (7 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 187, in clause 13, page 15, leave out lines 31 and 32. Good morning, Mr. Amess. I wipe the sleep from my eyes and reflect on the early starts for Committee sittings...
  • Clause 14 - Abolition of combined licences (6 speeches)
    Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
  • Clause 15 - Applications: types of abstraction licence (55 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 188, in clause 15, page 16, line 6, leave out 'ought to be' and insert 'will be considered as if'.
  • Clause 16 - Publication of application for licence (53 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 34, in clause 16, page 17, line 45, at end insert 'of less than 50,000 cubic metres'. I return to the word of the day—''proportionality''. The amendment would...
  • Clause 17 - General consideration of licence applications (33 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 225, in clause 17, page 20, line 10, at end insert— '(2A) After subsection (2) there is inserted— ''(2A) The Secretary of State shall make a code of...
  • Clause 18 - Protection from derogation (5 speeches)
    Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
  • Clause 19 - Protected rights (25 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 38, in clause 19, page 22, line 32, leave out 'four' and insert 'six'.
• Water Bill [Lords], 4th sitting (0 speeches)
  [Mr. Bill O'Brien in the Chair]
  • Clause 19 - Protected rights (4 speeches)
    Amendment proposed [this day]: No. 38, in clause 19, page 22, line 32, leave out 'four' and insert 'six'.—[Mr. Wiggin.] Question again proposed, That the amendment be made.
  • Clause 20 - Register of certain protected rights (12 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 196, in clause 20, page 23, line 22, at end insert— '(f) a duty for the Agency to publicise the procedure and expiry date for applying for a protected right to...
  • Clause 21 - Form, contents and effect of licences (52 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 164, in clause 21, page 24, line 7, at end insert— '(2A) At the end of subsection (2) there is inserted— ''(c) provision for ensuring public access to...
  • Clause 23 - Modification of impounding licences (20 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 39, in clause 23, page 25, leave out lines 27 to 34.
  • Clause 26 - Claims arising out of water abstraction (32 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 201, in clause 26, page 31, line 29, at end insert 'or to their property or to both'. First, I want to check that ''damage to another person'' includes, by...
  • Clause 27 - Compensation for modification of licence on direction of Secretary of State (13 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 141, in clause 27, page 32, line 30, leave out subsection (2).
  • Clause 29 - Withdrawal of compensation for certain revocations and variations (18 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 229, in clause 29, page 34, line 3, at end insert 'or such later date as the Secretary of State may by order prescribe'. In tabling the amendment, we seek further...
  • Clause 30 - Water resources management schemes: (6 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 203, in clause 30, page 35, line 6, after 'shall', insert 'put these arrangements in the public domain and'.
  • Clause 31 - Water resources management schemes: (5 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 204, in clause 31, page 35, line 17, leave out from beginning to 'or' and insert 'reasonable terms'.
  • Clause 32 - Enforcement notices, and related procedures and offences (18 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 206, in clause 32, page 36, line 15, leave out 'significant'. I wanted to explore with the Minister the meaning of the word ''significant'' in the phrase...
• Water Bill [Lords], 5th sitting (0 speeches)
  [Mr. David Amess in the Chair]
  • Clause 33 - Appeals against enforcement orders (10 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 208, in clause 33, page 37, line 43, at end insert 'and at the end of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) there is inserted ''or''.'.
  • Clause 37 - Water Services Regulation Authority (11 speeches)
    Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
  • Schedule 1 - The Water Services Regulation Authority (70 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 239, in schedule 1, page 133, line 8, after 'Chairman', insert 'a Chief Executive'.
  • Clause 38 - Consumer Council for Water (26 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 230, in clause 38, page 41, leave out lines 4 to 6 and insert— '(12) The Council shall exercise and perform its powers and duties so as to contribute to the...
  • Schedule 2 - The Consumer Council for Water (16 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 122, in schedule 2, page 136, leave out lines 10 to 12 and insert 'understands disability'. On page 136, the Government have sought to include disability as one of...
  • Clause 40 - Conditions relating to costs (7 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 103, in clause 40, page 42, line 28, at beginning insert— 'Subject to subsection (2A) below,'.
  • Clause 41 - Forward work programmes (16 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 73, in clause 41, page 44, line 6, leave out 'make to the Secretary of State' and insert 'lay before each House of Parliament'.
  • Clause 42 - Objectives and duties under WIA (20 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 76, in clause 42, page 45, line 17, after 'capital', insert 'in line with market expectations'.
• Water Bill [Lords], 6th sitting (0 speeches)
  [Mr. David Amess in the Chair]
  • Clause 42 - Objectives and duties under WIA (34 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 281, in clause 42, page 45, line 23, after 'the', insert 'immediate and long term'. Good morning, Mr. Amess. I happy to say that I am in fuller breath than I was...
  • Clause 43 - Guidance to authority on (35 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 78, in clause 43, page 47, line 36, leave out 'or mainly'. This is another probing amendment. The clause refers to guidance on social and environmental matters ''by...
  • Clause 44 - Standards of performance (28 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 80, in clause 44, page 49, line 5, leave out from 'Council' to end of line 7.
  • Clause 46 - General functions of the Council (5 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 83, in clause 46, page 52, line 26, after 'obtaining', insert 'publishing'. This is not a particularly difficult proposal. It relates to the interests of consumers...
  • Clause 47 - Provision of information to the Council (17 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 64, in clause 47, page 55, leave out lines 31 to 34 and insert— '(3) Before giving a direction under this section and in specifying the form in which any...
  • Clause 49 - Consumer complaints (19 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 57, in clause 49, page 59, line 39, at end insert— '(12A) Where a report is made to the Authority pursuant to subsection (10), and the report shows that, in...
  • Clause 50 - Investigations by the Council (0 speeches)
    Amendment made: No. 259, in clause 50, page 60, line 14, leave out 'Office of Fair Trading' and insert 'OFT'.—[Mr. Morley.] Clause 50, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
  • Clause 51 - Financial penalties (18 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 84, in clause 51, page 62, line 6, leave out from 'penalty' to end of line 7. I have been looking forward to this amendment, because the idea that a penalty should be...
  • Clause 52 - Enforcement of certain provisions (3 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 87, in clause 52, page 66, line 40, leave out subsection (3). Bearing in mind the Minister's comments about a Bill the size of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, I have to...
  • Clause 53 - Links between directors' pay and (12 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 88, in clause 53, page 67, leave out lines 29 to 36.
  • Clause 54 - Reasons for decisions (3 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 91, in clause 54, page 69, line 11, leave out from 'decision' to end of line 13. The amendment would omit the words ''in such manner as it considers appropriate for...
  • Clause 55 - Co-operation between water regulators (2 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 92, in clause 55, page 69, line 32, at end insert— (e) the Drinking Water Inspectorate'. Why are we not encouraging co-operation between the Secretary of...
• Water Bill [Lords], 7th sitting (0 speeches)
  [Mr. David Amess in the Chair]
  • Schedule 4 - Licensing of water suppliers (53 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 123, in schedule 4, page 143, leave out lines 27 to 30.
  • Schedule 8 - Minor and consequential amendments: (2 speeches)
    Amendments made: No. 299, in schedule 8, page 202, line 15, after 'licences', insert '(within the meanings of Chapter 1A of this Part)'. No. 300, in schedule 8, page 213, line 17, after...
  • Clause 60 - The Chief Inspector of Drinking Water and (11 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 105, in clause 60, page 75, leave out lines 16 to 24. This clause deals with the appointment of the drinking water inspectorate, and the amendment concerns the...
• Water Bill [Lords], 8th sitting (0 speeches)
  [Mr. Edward O'Hara in the Chair]
  • Clause 80 - Flood plans: large raised reservoirs (3 speeches)
    Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
  • Clause 81 - National security (4 speeches)
    Amendment made: No. 261, in clause 81, page 96, line 40, leave out 'in pursuance of' and insert 'pursuant to'.—[Mr. Morley.] Question proposed, That the clause, as amended, stand part of...
  • Clause 83 - Crown application (4 speeches)
    Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
  • Clause 85 - Water conservation by public authorities (38 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 211, in clause 85, page 98, line 22, leave out subsection (1) and insert— '(1) It is the duty of each public authority, in carrying out his or its functions,...
  • Clause 87 - Control of water from coal mines (9 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 162, in clause 87, page 102, line 3, at end insert— '4D Powers of the Authority with respect to any abandoned mine All the statutory powers conferred on the...
  • Schedule 6 - Compulsory purchase under the (0 speeches)
    Amendments made: No. 267, in schedule 6, page 183, line 10, leave out '4B' and insert '4C'. No. 268, in schedule 6, page 183, line 18, leave out '4B' and insert '4C'. No. 269, in schedule 6,...
  • Clause 89 - Transfer of discharge consents (12 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 114, in clause 89, page 103, line 33, leave out 'or 6 above'.
  • Clause 90 - Trade effluent consents (5 speeches)
    Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
  • Clause 91 - Trade effluent consents: (5 speeches)
    Amendment proposed: No. 262, in clause 91, page 106, line 20, leave out paragraph (b) and insert— '(b) in subsection (6), at the end there is inserted ''and ''controlled waters'' has the...
  • Clause 96 - Provision of public sewers (12 speeches)
    Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
  • Clause 98 - Adoption of lateral drains (1 speech)
    Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
  • New clause 19 - Power to require adoption of private sewers (20 speeches)
    'After section 102 of the WIA there is inserted— ''102A Power to require adoption of private sewers (1) The Secretary of State may be regulations establish a scheme to enable a sewerage...
• Water Bill [Lords], 9th sitting (0 speeches)
  [Mr. Bill O'Brien in the Chair]
  • Clause 98 - Adoption of lateral drains (3 speeches)
    Question proposed [this day], That the clause stand part of the Bill. Question again proposed.
  • Clause 99 - Requisitioning and adoption of lateral drains: supplementary (5 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 212, in clause 99, page 123, line 46, after 'building', insert 'and is outside the curtilage of that building'. Welcome back to our chilly Committee Room, Mr....
  • Clause 100 - Communication with public sewers (20 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 136, in clause 100, page 124, line 26, at end insert— '(2A) Substitute for paragraph (b) of subsection (2)— ''(b) to discharge directly or...
  • Clause 101 - Devolution: Wales (8 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 117, in clause 101, page 125, line 42, leave out 'or mainly'.
  • Clause 102 - Minor and consequential amendments and repeals (0 speeches)
    Amendment made: No. 302, in clause 102, page 128, line 15, after first 'amendments', insert '(including the repeal of certain spent enactments)'.—[Mr. Morley.] Clause 102, as amended,...
  • Schedule 7 - Minor and consequential amendments (92 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 130, in schedule 7, page 185, line 35, leave out paragraph 4. On my notes is written, ''Why not convert?'' and that is the question that I seek to raise with the...
  • Schedule 9 - Repeals (0 speeches)
    Amendments made: No. 274, in schedule 9, page 223, line 30, column 2, at end insert— 'In Schedule 1, the entry for ''Local authority''.'. No. 316, in schedule 9, page 223, line 41,...
  • Clause 103 - Specific transitional and transitory provisions (0 speeches)
    Amendment made: No. 263, in clause 103, page 129, line 11, leave out second '(6)' and insert '(5)'.—[Mr. Morley.] Clause 103, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 104...
  • Clause 106 - Interpretation, commencement, short title, and extent (5 speeches)
    Amendment proposed: No. 264, in clause 106, page 132, line 3, at end insert— '( ) section 87(3).'.—[Mr. Morley.]
  • New clause 16 - Duty to encourage water conservation (0 speeches)
    '(1) The relevant authority must, where appropriate, take steps to encourage the conservation of water. (2) The relevant authority is— (a) the Secretary of State, in relation to...
  • New clause 11 - Liability of owners for charges (13 speeches)
    '(1) In section 144 of the WIA (relating to the liability of occupiers for charges), in subsection (1), after ''of this section'', there is inserted ''and of section 144AA below''. (2) After...
  • New clause 20 - Rats in sewers (11 speeches)
    'After section 95 of WIA there is inserted— ''95A Power to approve Codes of Practice (1) The Secretary of State may by Order approve any code of practice (whether prepared by him or...
  • New clause 21 - Temporary sprinkler bans (9 speeches)
    'After section 76 of the WIA, there is inserted— ''76A Temporary sprinkler bans (1) If a water undertaker is of the opinion that a serious deficiency of water available for distribution...
  • New clause 25 - Joint charging for water and sewerage services (4 speeches)
    'After section 144B of the WIA, there is inserted— ''144BB Joint charging for water and sewerage services With effect from April 1st 2004, notices of payment due from occupants of...
  • New clause 26 - Metering (0 speeches)
    '(1) In section 142 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (powers of undertakers to charge), in subsection (2), ''(2A),'' is omitted. (2) In section 142 of the Water Industry Act (charges schemes)...
• Water Bill [Lords], 10th sitting (0 speeches)
  [Mr. Bill O'Brien in the Chair]
  • Clause 61 - Fluoridation of water supplies (213 speeches)
    I beg to move amendment No. 319, in clause 61, page 76, line 28, leave out from 'until' to end of line 30 and insert 'an indemnity with respect to the arrangements has been given by virtue of...
• Water Bill [Lords], 11th sitting (137 speeches)
  [Mr. Bill O'Brien in the Chair]