![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
Navigation
News
|
|
Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 968 (C.43 )The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 4, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2005(The document as of February, 2008) STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS2005 No. 968 (C.43 )WATERThe Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 4, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2005
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred upon her by sections 104(6)(a) and 105(3) to (6) of the Water Act 2003[1] and having consulted the National Assembly for Wales[2], hereby makes the following Order: Citation and interpretation 1. - (1) This Order may be cited as the Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 4, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2005. (2) In this Order -
(3) Unless the contrary intention appears, any reference in this Order to a section or Schedule is a reference to a section of or a Schedule to the Act.
(b) section 10 (orders under section 33 of the WRA, etc)[4], for all remaining purposes; (c) in section 16 (protection from derogation), subsection (1), in so far as it relates to subsections (4) and (5), and subsections (4) and (5); (d) section 17 (protected rights); (e) section 36(3) to (6) (transfer to Water Services Regulation Authority and Council of functions, property etc); (f) section 39 (objectives and duties under WIA); (g) section 40 (guidance to the Authority on social and environmental matters); (h) sections 41 and 42 (standards of performance in relation to water supply and sewerage services); (i) section 48 (financial penalties), for all remaining purposes; (j) section 51 (reasons for decisions); (k) section 70 (information); (l) in section 100 (devolution: Wales) -
(ii) subsection (2)(b)(iii), in so far as it relates to provisions amended or introduced by any provision of the Act which was brought into force by virtue of article 2 of the Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 2, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2004[5]; (iii) subsection (6), in so far as it relates to references to provisions amended or introduced by any provision of the Act which is brought into force by virtue of this article; and (iv) subsection (7), in so far as it relates to subsection (6) (so far as brought into force by sub-paragraph (iii)) or the amendments made by subsection (2) (so far as brought into force by sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii)); (m) section 101(1) (minor and consequential amendments and repeals), in so far as it relates to the amendments made -
(ii) in paragraph 32 of Schedule 7, by sub-paragraph (4) for all remaining purposes, and by sub-paragraph (1) in so far as it relates to sub-paragraph (4) as brought into force by this article; and (n) section 101(2), in so far as it relates to the following repeals specified in Schedule 9 -
(ii) the repeal of sections 28 and 39(3) of the WRA; (iii) the repeal of section 50 of the Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992[6]; (iv) the repeal of paragraph 5(3) of Schedule 10 to the Competition Act 1998[7]; and (v) the repeal in relation to the reference in Schedule 1 to the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999[8] to section 2 of the WIA, in so far as it relates to provisions amended or introduced by any provision of the Act which is brought into force by virtue of this article. Provisions coming into force on 1st August 2005
(ii) section 27A(5) and (6); (b) section 56 (licensing of other water suppliers), but only in so far as it has application to paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 4 and -
(bb) inserting into the WIA section 17F(4) and (8); and (cc) giving effect to section 17A of the WIA in so far as relevant for the purposes of section 17F in so far as brought into force by virtue of this article; and (ii) in its application to paragraph 1, only for the purpose of giving effect to paragraph 2 of that Schedule to the extent specified in sub-paragraph (i); (c) in section 100 (devolution: Wales) -
(ii) subsection (6), in so far as it relates to references to provisions amended or introduced by any provision of the Act which is brought into force by virtue of this article; and (iii) subsection (7), in so far as it relates to subsection (6) (so far as brought into force by sub-paragraph (ii)) or the amendments made by subsection (2) (so far as brought into force by sub-paragraph (i)); and (d) section 101(1) (minor and consequential amendments and repeals), in so far as it relates to the amendments made, in paragraph 27 of Schedule 7, by sub-paragraph (7)(b) and sub paragraph (1) in so far it relates to that sub-paragraph. Transitional provisions, savings and revocation Interpretation 1. - (1) In this Schedule -
(b) "the Agency" means the Environment Agency; (c) "called-in application" means an application for an abstraction licence referred to the Secretary of State or the Assembly (as the case may be) under section 41 of the WRA (Secretary of State's power to call in applications) (including that section as applied by section 51(3) of the WRA (modification on application of licence holder)); (d) "licensed relevant abstraction" means a relevant abstraction which, immediately before the commencement of section 6 (rights to abstract small quantities) in accordance with this Order, is authorised by an abstraction licence; (e) "relevant date" means 1st April 2005; (f) "relevant abstraction" means an abstraction which -
(ii) after that coming into force, is an abstraction to which the restriction on abstraction does not apply; (g) "relevant application" means an application for an abstraction licence, or for the variation of such a licence, that relates (wholly or in part) to a relevant abstraction and that -
(ii) not finally disposed of before that date; (h) "restriction on abstraction" means the restriction imposed by section 24(1) of the WRA (restriction on abstraction); and (2) For the purposes of this Schedule, an application shall be considered to have been finally disposed of when -
(b) in the case of a called-in application, the application has been determined under section 42 of the WRA (consideration of called-in applications) (including that section as applied by section 51(3) of the WRA (modification on application of licence holder)); or (c) in the case of any other application, the Agency has given notice to the applicant of its decision on the application, or has failed to do so within the period referred to in section 43(2) of the WRA (appeals to the Secretary of State) (including that section as applied by section 51(3), subject to the modifications in section 51(4), of the WRA), and -
(ii) notice of appeal against that decision or failure has been given and the appeal has been withdrawn or determined. (3) Any reference in this Schedule to a regulation is a reference to a regulation in the Succession Regulations.
(b) in subsection (6), the reference to that paragraph, were omitted.
(b) had a licence been granted in relation to the application before 1st April 2005 -
(ii) that right would have been a protected right for the purposes of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the WRA; and (c) by virtue of paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Schedule -
(ii) consideration of that application will continue; and (iii) any decision to grant a licence will have effect only for the purpose of determining the extent of the applicant's protected right. Aggregated abstractions
(b) "related exempt abstraction" means an abstraction which, immediately before the relevant date -
(ii) is from the same source of supply as that person's licensed relevant abstraction; (iii) forms part of a continuous operation, or of a series of operations, with that licensed relevant abstraction; and (iv) is an abstraction to which the restriction on abstraction does not apply by virtue of section 27(3) or (5) of the WRA (rights to abstract small quantities); and (c) "aggregated abstraction" means -
(ii) in relation to which, as from the relevant date, the restriction on abstraction would, but for the remaining provisions of this paragraph, apply. (2) Any aggregated abstraction shall be treated, before 1st April 2008, as if the amendments made by section 6, so far as it comes into force in accordance with this Order, did not apply to it.
(b) has not been varied in accordance with section 49(4) of the WRA. (2) For the purposes of the application of section 102(3) in relation to a relevant licence, that licence shall be treated as if section 102(2) applied to it immediately after the licence is varied in accordance with section 49(4) of the WRA.
(b) any person who becomes a successor to the licence before the relevant date has not, before the relevant date, given notice under section 49(3) of the WRA. (4) Subject to sub-paragraph (5), an abstraction authorised by a relevant licence shall be treated, before 1st July 2006, as if the amendments made by section 6, so far as it comes into force in accordance with this Order, did not apply to it.
(b) any person who, by virtue of regulation 4(1), becomes a successor to the licence before the relevant date has not, before the relevant date, given notice under regulation 4(2). (3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), an abstraction authorised by a licence to which this sub-paragraph applies shall be treated, before 1st July 2006, as if the amendments made by section 6, so far as it comes into force in accordance with this Order, did not apply to it.
(b) the original licence shall be treated, before the relevant time, as if the amendments made by section 6, so far as it comes into force in accordance with this Order, did not apply to it. (8) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (7), "relevant time" means whichever is the later of -
(b) the day after the day on which any related application under regulation 6 is finally disposed of. (9) Except as provided by paragraph (10), a new licence shall have no effect.
(ii) in relation to which -
(bb) a person, before 1st July 2006, makes an application under regulation 5; (b) "part licence" means a new licence that -
(ii) relates to a relevant abstraction. (2) Except as provided by paragraph (3), a part licence shall have no effect. 1.Section 195A of the WIA (reasons for decisions), as inserted by section 51, shall only apply to decisions made after 1st April 2005. 2.Section 100(6) (devolution: Wales) shall not have effect in relation to references to any Act generally except -
(b) as from the dates specified in this Order in relation to the provisions in question, to the extent that any such Act has been amended by the Act by virtue of the provisions of this Order. 3.Until such time as section 35(1) (the Council), in so far as it inserts section 27A of the WIA (establishment of the Council and committees), and section 35(2) to (4) are fully in force, any reference to the Council in any provision of the WIA introduced or amended by the Act and by virtue of this Order, except section 27A, shall have effect as if it were a reference to the customer service committees. (This note is not part of the Order) This Order brings into force on 1st April 2005 or 1st August 2005 certain provisions of the Water Act 2003 ("the Act"), and makes transitional provision and savings in respect of some of those provisions. The provisions in Part 1 of the Act brought into force on 1st April 2005 relate to abstraction licensing. They: substitute a new general exemption from licensing of small volume abstractions for the exemptions previously found in section 27 of the Water Resources Act 1991 ("the WRA") (section 6); enable the Secretary of State (in England) and the National Assembly for Wales ("the Assembly") (in Wales) to revoke any order made under section 33 of the WRA, or under a local or private Act, which provides for an exemption from abstraction licensing (section 10); and make related and consequential changes to the protected rights framework (sections 16, in part, and 17). The transitional and savings provisions in Schedule 1 protect certain applications already made, and certain abstractions already taking place (including those in relation to which an entitlement to succeed has arisen), so that abstractors can benefit from protected rights. The provisions in Parts 2 and 3 of the Act brought into force on 1st April 2005: empower the Secretary of State to make transfer schemes in relation to the setting up of the Consumer Council for Water ("the Council") and the Water Services Regulation Authority ("the Authority") (section 36); amend the general duties with respect to the water industry on the Secretary of State, the Assembly, the Director General of Water Services and, in due course, the Authority ("Ofwat") (section 39); establish a new regime for the Secretary of State and the Assembly to give guidance on social and environmental matters to Ofwat (section 40); establish new rules for making Regulations in relation to standards of performance in relation to water supply and sewerage services (sections 41 and 42); establish a new financial penalties regime for relevant undertakers and licensed water suppliers (section 48); impose new duties on Ofwat, the Secretary of State and the Assembly to publish reasons for certain decisions made under the Water Industry Act 1991 (section 51); and extend the Environment Agency's powers to obtain information in respect of its water resources functions (section 70). The provisions in Part 2 of the Act brought into force on 1st August 2005 empower the Secretary of State and the Assembly to direct the Council as to the establishment of regional committees (section 35), and permit applications to be made to Ofwat for water supply licences (but do not empower Ofwat to grant such licences). Transitional provisions and savings arising from the coming into force of provisions in Part 2 of the Act are made in Schedule 2. (This note is not part of the Order) The following provisions of the Water Act 2003 have been brought into force in England and Wales by commencement orders made before the date of this Order:
* These provisions also extend partially to Scotland (section 105(9) of the Act) and were brought into force in Scotland by the same Order. These provisions also extend to Scotland (section 105(9) of the Act) and were brought into force in Scotland by the same Order.The following provisions of the Water Act 2003 have been brought into force in England by commencement orders made before the date of this Order:
The following provisions of the Act have been brought into force in Wales by commencement orders made before the date of this Order:
Notes: [1]2003 c. 37.back [2]The power in section 105(3) to appoint a day on which provisions of the Water Act 2003 shall come into force is vested in the "appropriate authority". The appropriate authority in relation to provisions of the Act for which a day is appointed by this Order is the Secretary of State after consulting "the Assembly" (the National Assembly for Wales: section 105(2)).back [3]The expression "the WIA" means the Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56) (section 105(2) of the Act).back [4]The expression "the WRA" means the Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57) (section 105(2) of the Act).back [5]S.I. 2004/2528 (C. 106).back [6]1992 c. 43.back [7]1998 c. 41.back [8]S.I. 1999/672.back [9]S.I. 1969/976.back [10]Section 49 was amended by the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25), section 120 and Schedule 22, paragraph 128.back ISBN0 11 072727 4 -- Back --
Stat
|
Other
|