Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to implementing a flexible water abstraction licensing system linked to real-time water availability

Defra is taking steps to move towards a more flexible abstraction licensing system. The white paper: A new vision for water, includes the proposal to move the legislative framework for regulating abstraction, to the Environmental Permitting Regulations. This will provide a modern flexible framework to support growth and access to water when it is available. The Environment Agency is upgrading its digital platforms and undertaking smart farming trials. These trials are designed to understand what is required to support a modern approach to managing abstraction.