This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Water Environment and Water Services Bill
29/01/2003
MSPs have supported the Executive's Water Environment and Water Services Bill which establishes for the first time a source-to-sea planning framework for river basin management.
This is designed to help reduce levels of pollution, and protect habitats supporting Scotlands wildlife.
After the Parliamentary vote, Environment and Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said:
"As a country we depend socially, culturally, and economically on the quality of our water environment. This Bill reinforces our commitment to a cleaner, safer environment and creates, for the first time, a strategic framework to protect our water environment.
"The new guidelines surrounding Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems SUDS will help tackle the problem of pollution caused by contaminated surface water run-off - we are leading the world on the SUDS approach.
"The backing for this Bill will create a structure under which we can support wildlife and the environment, by protecting and enhancing the status of our lochs and rivers. It also confirms our protection of Scotlands wetlands.
"The Water Environment and Water Services Bill is good for our communities, economy and environment."
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Allan Wilson said:
"Our amendment on marine fish farming will allow us to produce regulations introducing statutory planning controls for fish farms, under local authority control. This will ensure that such developments are rightly subject to local democratic scrutiny.
"A Cabinet sub-committee, which has been established to look at all flooding issues, will report next month, and we believe this to be the proper forum to examine all relevant issues.
"Furthermore, we have incorporated a provision on sustainable flood management which reinforces the existing approach where local authorities consider flood alleviation solutions which take advantage of the capacity of the natural flood plain.
"The Bill puts people at the heart of river basin management. SEPA will be required to consult communities, businesses and other interested parties in developing sub-basin plans and enable them to participate actively through the River Basin Advisory Groups.
"The provisions in this Bill will ensure a vibrant and sustainable future for Scotland's water environment."