Nicholas Soames MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to bring forward proposals for a new programme for the abstraction of water regime. [109266]

Richard Benyon MP; Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries: Reforming the water abstraction regime is a complex process, which will involve changing around 30,000 licences. We are working closely with abstractors and other stakeholders to develop detailed proposals for reform. We plan to consult on these proposals in late 2013, and then legislate for change early in the next Parliament. Implementation of reform in a phased way would begin soon after that, though it may take until the late 2020s to complete.