- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (14/07/2014)
- Original (As enacted)
Point in time view as at 14/07/2014.
Environment Act 1995, Section 53 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 14 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.
(1)Without prejudice to any other provision of this Act or any other enactment by virtue of which an inquiry or other hearing is authorised or required to be held, the appropriate Minister may cause an inquiry or other hearing to be held if it appears to him expedient to do so—
(a)in connection with any of the functions of a new Agency; or
(b)in connection with any of his functions in relation to a new Agency.
[F1(1A)Without prejudice to any other provision of this Act or any other enactment by virtue of which an inquiry or other hearing is authorised or required to be held, the Welsh Ministers may cause an inquiry or other hearing to be held if it appears to them expedient to do so—
(a)in connection with any of the relevant environmental functions of the Natural Resources Body for Wales; or
(b)in connection with any of their functions in relation to the relevant environmental functions of that Body.]
(2)Subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the M1Local Government Act 1972 (which contain supplementary provisions with respect to local inquiries held in pursuance of that section) shall apply to inquiries or other hearings under this section or any other enactment—
(a)in connection with any of the functions of the Agency [F2or any of the relevant environmental functions of the Natural Resources Body for Wales], or
(b)in connection with any functions of the Secretary of State or the Minister in relation to the Agency [F3or any functions of the Welsh Ministers in relation to the relevant environmental functions of the Natural Resources Body for Wales],
as they apply to inquiries under that section, but taking the reference in subsection (4) of that section to a local authority as including a reference to the Agency [F4or, as the case may be, the Natural Resources Body for Wales].
(3)The provisions of subsections (2) to (8) of section 210 of the M2Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (which relate to the holding of local inquiries) shall apply to inquiries or other hearings held under this section or any other enactment—
(a)in connection with any of the functions of SEPA, or
(b)in connection with any functions of the Secretary of State in relation to SEPA,
as they apply to inquiries held under that section.
[F5(4)In subsections (1) and (3) above, “enactment” includes an enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament.]
[F6(4)In this section, “relevant environmental functions” means—
(a)pollution control functions (within the meaning of section 5); and
(b)any functions relating to water resources, flood and coastal erosion risk management or fisheries.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 53(1A) inserted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 374(2) (with Sch. 7)
F2Words in s. 53(2)(a) inserted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 374(3)(a) (with Sch. 7)
F3Words in s. 53(2)(b) inserted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 374(3)(b) (with Sch. 7)
F4Words in s. 53(2) inserted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 374(3)(c) (with Sch. 7)
F5S. 53(4) added (S.) (30.6.2014) by Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 3), s. 61(2), sch. 3 para. 43(8); S.S.I. 2014/160, art. 2(1)(2)
F6S. 53(4) inserted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 374(4) (with Sch. 7)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 53(1)(a): transfer of functions (with effect in accordance with art. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Consequential Provision) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1821), arts. 1(2), 9(2) (with art. 24)
C2S. 53(1)(b) functions cease to be exercisable (with effect in accordance with art. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Consequential Provision) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1821), arts. 1(2), 9(1) (with art. 24)
C3S. 53(2): transfer of functions (with effect in accordance with art. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Consequential Provision) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1821), arts. 1(2), 9(2) (with art. 24)
Marginal Citations
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: