To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if water extracted from boreholes or aquifers requires a water extraction licence: and if he will make a statement. [38994]

The National Rivers Authority has a duty to manage water resources, including groundwater, under part II of the Water Resources Act 1991. Most abstractions from groundwater require a licence from the authority. The major exemptions are for agriculture or domestic use below 20cm per day.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by (a) region or county and (b) location the number of new water extraction licences that have been approved since 1 July; and if he will indicate the amount of water granted to be extracted. [38993]

The number of new abstraction licences issued by the National Rivers Authority between 1 July and 15 October, with their associated quantities, are as follows:

Region	Number of new licences	Quantity(Megalitres perannum)
Anglian	26	462
North West	21	200
Northumbria and Yorkshire	38	2,751
Severn Trent	53	6,811
Southern	5	14,708
South Western	34	13,040
Thames	4	2,801
Welsh	22	35,920
Total	203	76,693

These figures do not include variations, successions, drought orders or re-issued time limited licences. The quantities for Welsh, South Western and Southern regions have been distorted by the issue of several very large, low loss licences—fish farms, Hydropower and cooling.