Commentary Part 1.Water Industry Regulation of relevant undertakers, water supply licensees and sewerage licensees Section 28: Frequency of water resources management and drought plans
152.This section amends sections 39B of the WIA to change the frequency of drought plans to a maximum five yearly cycle in keeping with water resources management plans. Where there is a duty to prepare a revised plan within the five year time limit, this means the revised plan must be prepared and published within the five years (in accordance with the procedure in section 37B of the WIA).
153.The section inserts new subsections (4) to (9) in section 37D to empower the Secretary of State in respect of undertakers wholly or mainly in England, or the Welsh Ministers in respect of undertakers wholly or mainly in Wales, to amend the planning timeframes for water resources management plans. This can only be done by order using the negative resolution procedure. The Secretary of State’s and the Welsh Ministers’ powers here can be exercised in the same statutory instrument. New section 39D makes the same arrangements for drought plans.