Moved by
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
45: Clause 46, leave out Clause 46 and insert the following new Clause—
“Water protocol
(1) The Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State may make an agreement (the “water protocol”) for the purpose of ensuring that—
(a) actions or inaction of the Welsh Ministers, or public bodies exercising functions in Wales, do not have a serious adverse impact on water resources in England, water supply in England or the quality of water in England, and
(b) actions or inaction of the Secretary of State, or public bodies exercising functions in England, do not have a serious adverse impact on water resources in Wales, water supply in Wales or the quality of water in Wales.
(2) The water protocol must—
(a) provide for a procedure for resolving matters of disagreement between the Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State;
(b) make provision about whether, or to what extent, functions relating to such matters may be exercised pending the outcome of the procedure.
(3) The water protocol may be revised by agreement of the Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State.
(4) The water protocol, and any revised protocol, must be laid before both Houses of Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales.
(5) The Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State must exercise their functions in accordance with the provisions of the water protocol, unless it is revoked by agreement of the Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State.”