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1. INTRODUCTION
Under the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (the WEWS Act), Scottish Ministers, SEPA and public bodies have a general duty to protect the water environment when carrying out their wider functions. This discussion paper has two aims:
- to raise the profile of this duty within the wider policy context; and
- to set out our proposals for identifying particular enactments and functions, in respect of the Scottish Ministers and SEPA, where this duty is strengthened.
As its starting point, the paper provides a platform for discussing the continuing exchange of best practice across various parts of Government. We recognise that in many cases a collaborative approach is already being adopted by all those involved, and this is leading to real benefits 'on the ground'. Accordingly, one of the key aims of this discussion paper is to reinforce the importance of this work, and promote an increasing awareness across Government of the impact that policy development and implementation can have on the water environment in Scotland.
It is through this exercise that we aim to promote further the contribution that Ministers and SEPA can make, when going about their normal day-to-day activities, to the overall implementation of the WFD in Scotland. Our policy in relation to the role of public bodies in this regard was previously set out in our Ministerial policy statement of 2006. 1
Your views and comments are welcome in relation to any aspect of our proposals. These will be used to inform the policy development process prior to the finalisation of our policy statement and the designation of WEWS relevant enactments in 2008.
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