(1)The Secretary of State may, by an order made after consultation with the National Water Council, provide that sections 30 and 31 of the [1973 c. 37.] Water Act 1973 (which among other things relate to charges for facilities provided by water authorities and to schemes for the payment of the charges) shall apply to discharges of trade or sewage effluent which are made or authorised to be made by virtue of a consent given in pursuance of this Act or the [1937 c. 40.] Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1937 as those sections apply to facilities provided by water authorities; and any such order may—
(a)provide that, in the said section 30 as applied by the order, subsection (4) (under which regard is to be had to the cost of providing facilities in fixing charges for the facilities) and references to that subsection shall be omitted; and
(b)repeal sections 59(1)(e) and 61(4) of the [1961 c. 64.] Public Health Act 1961 (which provide for conditions relating to charges to be attached to consents for discharges which are given in pursuance of the said Act of 1937).
(2)An order made in pursuance of the preceding subsection—
(a)shall include provision for appeals to the Secretary of State in respect of charges payable to a water authority by virtue of that subsection ; and
(b)may include provision for the giving by the Secretary of State in consequence of an appeal of directions in respect of the charges to the authority or any other party to the appeal (including directions as to the charges which are to be payable in respect of any period before the determination of the appeal);
and the Secretary of State may by order vary or revoke any provisions which by virtue of this subsection or section 104(1)(a) of this Act are contained in an order made in pursuance of this section.
(3)This section does not apply to Scotland.