My Lords, Members of the House will probably know of my interest in this Bill through my family business, as listed in the register.

Noble Lords may also know that the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, was a sparring partner when I was a Minister in Defra and, of course, a former...

My Lords, Members of the House will probably know of my interest in this Bill through my family business, as listed in the register.

Noble Lords may also know that the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, was a sparring partner when I was a Minister in Defra and, of course, a former...

Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill. Lords second reading debate agreed to on question. Committee negatived. Standing Order 46 having been dispensed with, Lords third reading debate agreed to on question and Bill passed. Moved By

Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill. Lords second reading debate agreed to on question. Committee negatived. Standing Order 46 having been dispensed with, Lords third reading debate agreed to on question and Bill passed. Moved By

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who are here and who have contributed to this debate at an unsociable hour, although that has not affected the quality of the contributions, nor the vigour with which they have been presented. I just say to the noble Lord, Lord Knight, that...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who are here and who have contributed to this debate at an unsociable hour, although that has not affected the quality of the contributions, nor the vigour with which they have been presented. I just say to the noble Lord, Lord Knight, that...

My Lords, in December, the water White Paper, Water for Life, set out the many challenges facing the water sector: how much water we have available now and in the future; the impact on our natural environment from water and sewerage management; and the issue that this Bill is designed...

My Lords, in December, the water White Paper, Water for Life, set out the many challenges facing the water sector: how much water we have available now and in the future; the impact on our natural environment from water and sewerage management; and the issue that this Bill is designed...

That the Bill be read a second time.

That the Bill be read a second time.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what caused the increase of over 50 per cent in incidents of serious pollution from agriculture shown in the joint National Statistics and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publication The Environment in your Pocket 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what caused the increase of over 50 per cent in incidents of serious pollution from agriculture shown in the joint National Statistics and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publication The Environment in your Pocket 2009.

I think that the noble Lord referred to sealed cesspits.

I think that the noble Lord referred to sealed cesspits.

I thank the Minister for introducing the regulations and going through them. I think that he shares my determination to use this brief debate to expand on the Government’s reasons for their introduction. We on these Benches appreciate and understand that groundwater is an important resource. Its contamination is potentially...

I thank the Minister for introducing the regulations and going through them. I think that he shares my determination to use this brief debate to expand on the Government’s reasons for their introduction. We on these Benches appreciate and understand that groundwater is an important resource. Its contamination is potentially...

Before the Minister concludes, it is of interest that there are two elements to the regulations: there is the registration requirement and the permitting element. As I understand it, the permitting element refers to those in a location that may give rise to a hazard. If that is the case,...

Before the Minister concludes, it is of interest that there are two elements to the regulations: there is the registration requirement and the permitting element. As I understand it, the permitting element refers to those in a location that may give rise to a hazard. If that is the case,...

Draft Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

To ask Her Majesty's Government with reference to regulation 17(2) of the draft Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009, whether the cost of acquiring information that does not normally come into the possession of the person concerned will be met by the Environment Agency.

To ask Her Majesty's Government with reference to regulation 17(2) of the draft Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009, whether the cost of acquiring information that does not normally come into the possession of the person concerned will be met by the Environment Agency.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many permits covered by the draft Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 are outstanding in each region in England and Wales.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many permits covered by the draft Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 are outstanding in each region in England and Wales.

To ask Her Majesty's Government with reference to regulation 12(3) of the draft Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009, whether permits granted before the draft Regulations come into force comply with regulations 8 and 9; and, if not, whether the Environment Agency may amend an existing permit if its conditions...

To ask Her Majesty's Government with reference to regulation 12(3) of the draft Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009, whether permits granted before the draft Regulations come into force comply with regulations 8 and 9; and, if not, whether the Environment Agency may amend an existing permit if its conditions...

Clause 66: Determination of applications Amendment A1 A1: Clause 66, page 37, line 33, at end insert ", including social or economic consequences"

Clause 66: Determination of applications Amendment A1 A1: Clause 66, page 37, line 33, at end insert ", including social or economic consequences"

I thank those who have renumbered these amendments. Although it has resulted in us having to renavigate our way through the Bill, at least we have clear beacons by which we can see our way through to, I hope, concluding this Committee stage in the not-too-distant future. We are on...

I thank those who have renumbered these amendments. Although it has resulted in us having to renavigate our way through the Bill, at least we have clear beacons by which we can see our way through to, I hope, concluding this Committee stage in the not-too-distant future. We are on...

I am very grateful to the Minister for those words and I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment A36 withdrawn. Clause 80 agreed.

I am very grateful to the Minister for those words and I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment A36 withdrawn. Clause 80 agreed.

After that slight foray into crime and punishment, we are back to one-stop shopping. This is a probing amendment. I believe that the Environment Agency has been in productive talks with Defra over the past couple of weeks, and I have tabled this amendment in the hope that there has...

After that slight foray into crime and punishment, we are back to one-stop shopping. This is a probing amendment. I believe that the Environment Agency has been in productive talks with Defra over the past couple of weeks, and I have tabled this amendment in the hope that there has...

The noble Lord, Lord Tyler, has introduced a worthy amendment. If the appropriate licensing authority is allowed to delegate functions relating to marine licensing, it is equally important that these powers are not alienated beyond control. The appropriate licensing authority must ultimately be in command and so must be able...

The noble Lord, Lord Tyler, has introduced a worthy amendment. If the appropriate licensing authority is allowed to delegate functions relating to marine licensing, it is equally important that these powers are not alienated beyond control. The appropriate licensing authority must ultimately be in command and so must be able...

I have great sympathy with the noble Baroness’s amendments in this group. They fit neatly into our discussion before the break on what comprises a proper conservation network. She is right, despite the fact that I have some reservations about the desirability of establishing a formal two-tier system where some...

I have great sympathy with the noble Baroness’s amendments in this group. They fit neatly into our discussion before the break on what comprises a proper conservation network. She is right, despite the fact that I have some reservations about the desirability of establishing a formal two-tier system where some...

Perhaps I may ask the Minister a further question on his response, which, I agree, has been very comprehensive. He mentioned a paper to be published in April, which would give us the shape of the network of marine conservation zones. Is it meant to be illustrative or projected in...

Perhaps I may ask the Minister a further question on his response, which, I agree, has been very comprehensive. He mentioned a paper to be published in April, which would give us the shape of the network of marine conservation zones. Is it meant to be illustrative or projected in...