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An Act to protect the natural resources of the United Kingdom and prevent
exploitation of its countryside.
[22nd November 2014]
B E IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of
the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled,
and by the authority of the same, as follows:
2 Resource taxation
(1) The Chancellor of the Exchequer may by regulations provide for a levy to be
charged at the earliest possible point in the harvesting or extraction processes for all
natural resources.
(2) The Chancellor of the Exchequer may by regulations, after consultation with the
Natural Resources Department, prescribe or vary the rate at which a levy imposed
by regulations under subsection (1) is charged.
(3) Regulations made under subsection (2) must provide for a zero- or reduced-rate
levy for recycled materials and reused products.
(4) The revenue from charging the levy must be applied for or in relation to
(a) subsidising or investing in energy conservation causes and community-
owned renewable energy generation, or
(b) programmes for the conservation of the rural environment.
3 Water
(1) The Natural Resources Department may issue consents for the abstraction of water
for agricultural, domestic, or industrial purposes.
(2) The Department must only issue a consent if
(a) unavoidable or unacceptable environmental costs will not result, and
(b) the best available technology is to be used to minimise the potential of
pollution of subsequent discharges.
(3) There is established a body corporate known as the National Water Board.
(4) The functions of the Board are the supply of drinking water and the management of
water services.
(5) Any other enterprise managing water services is to cease operating such services by
1st January 2017.
(6) The Water Regulatory Services Authority is to oversee the National Water Board.
(7) The National Water Board must, before it may tender a contract, receive the consent
of the Secretary of State and the Water Regulatory Services Authority.
4 Hydraulic fracturing
(1) Despite any previous enactment, on-shore hydraulic fracturing is to be prohibited.
(2) Any licence issued by which permits on-shore hydraulic fracturing is revoked to
the extent which it permits such fracturing; and no further such licences may be
issued.
(3) Any subsidies programme relating to the extraction of fossil fuels is to cease; and
any funds which were to be spent in connection with such a programme are to be
applied for or in relation to
(a) investment in renewable energy sources and in particular community-owned
projects,
(b) the elimination of fuel poverty, and
(c) rural environment conservation programmes.
6 Regulations
(1) Regulations under this Act are to be made by statutory instrument.
(2) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this Act must not be made
unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution
of each House of Parliament.