Lords Hansard text for 11 Dec 200711 Dec 2007 (pt 0006)

Water Supply: Pollutions

The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the same resolution would have been afforded to deal with waste disposal sites contaminated by toxic chemicals produced by Monsanto (known as “legacy sites”) in the United Kingdom as has been afforded to United States claimants in the settlements achieved in the United States Bankruptcy Court hearings of 29 November had the United Kingdom Government joined the action against Solutia Inc in the United States Bankruptcy Court. [HL752]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Under Solutia's reorganisation plan, Brofiscin Quarry and other unidentified UK sites that meet the “Legacy Site” definition will receive the same environmental remediation coverage from Monsanto as will be given to a large number of US sites also scheduled as “Legacy Sites”.

The legal advice given to the Environment Agency by its US counsel was that, given the prospective nature of the Environment Agency's potential claims regarding Brofiscin Quarry and other UK sites, “joining the action” against Solutia in the US Bankruptcy Court would not have materially altered the settlement the Environment Agency was able to obtain. Solutia's reorganisation plan did make provision for the settlement of many claims for personal tort arising from environmental damage. Such personal torts are outside the remit of the Environment Agency.

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Waterways: Boatmasters Licence

Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many days practical experience is required over what period to gain the tier 1 level 2 boatmasters licence. [HL715]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Two hundred and forty days over a minimum period of 24 months.

Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which businesses carrying passengers on boats on limited coastal operations were consulted during the statutory consultation process leading to the Merchant Shipping (Inland Waterway and Limited Coastal Operations) (Boatmasters' Qualifications and Hours of Work) Regulations 2006 (SI 3223/2006). [HL716]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: More than 200 companies, colleges and representative organisations were consulted at each of the two non-mandatory public consultations, and as part of the statutory public consultation.

A list of the consultees from the statutory public consultation can be found at:

www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-guidance-regulation/mcga-consultations/mcga-consultations-archive/archived_consultations_2006/ds-ssb-bmlconsultation2-letteranddocs/ds-ssb-bmlconsultation2-2/ds-ssb-bmlconsultationdoch.htm

Waterways: Cleaning and Dredging

Lord Rotherwick asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to promote the (a) cleaning, and (b) dredging of river systems; and [HL679]

What assessment they have made of the effect of reducing, (a) cleaning and (b) dredging of river systems on (i) the water table and (ii) flood risk. [HL680]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Defra has funding and policy responsibilities but does not carry out works to reduce flood risk. The operating authorities (principally the Environment Agency) undertake prioritised programmes of maintenance work on watercourses, including cleaning and dredging where appropriate. Otherwise responsibility for clearance lies with the land owner.

Reducing maintenance on low-risk watercourses releases resources for the Environment Agency to use on high-risk watercourses in accordance with its risk-based approach to asset management.

The effect on low-risk watercourses will probably be increased weed growth and siltation which will reach a natural balance. This may result in an increase

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in flood risk along these watercourses, which is accepted as it is classified as low risk.

While it is important that all channels for flood water are kept free of debris and at their design profile, there is often a limit to the amount of dredging that can sensibly take place. Main rivers and other larger or more natural watercourses should not

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need dredging and normally establish stable regimes. On some rivers, too much dredging could cause the river banks or walls to collapse; likewise deepening a tidal river below its natural bed level will not normally reduce flood risks. Dredging can also cause significant disruption to the natural river environment.

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