Clause 15 - Applications: types of abstraction licence
Water Bill [Lords]
9:00 am
Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 30, in
clause 15, page 16, leave out lines 13 to 16.
The amendment deals with new section 36A(1)(d), which states that
''any such application as is referred to above ought to be accompanied by an application for revocation of an existing licence to abstract water.''
The provision is unnecessary, because that is something that the agency might have to decide when dealing with applications for abstraction licences. I understand that those who want to change the type of licence will accompany such applications with a revocation of the existing licence. That may be the key: it may be that one cannot change a licence unless one already has one, in which case the provision is more understandable. However, it seems a little too heavy-handed because it seems almost automatic that one should not be able to change something unless one already has it. I cannot return to a shop and change an item unless I have something to change. The provision seems to be over-egging the pudding a little, and I wonder why it is in the Bill; I feel that it is slightly more drafting than needed. I want to know why people should be able to change a licence if they do not already have one.