Section 3 Supplementary provisions as to directions and orders.

(1)

An order containing a direction under section 1 or section 2 above shall be made before the beginning of the year to which the direction relates and, accordingly, the determination of the amount of any equalisation levy or equalisation payment specified in such a direction shall be made by reference to such estimates and other information as may be available to the Secretary of State at the time the order is made.

(2)

An order under section 1 or section 2 above may be varied or revoked by a further order made before the beginning of the year to which it relates.

(3)

As soon as practicable after the end of each year in respect of which orders have been made under sections 1 and 2 above the Secretary of State shall determine, by reference to the accounts of statutory water undertakers and other information then available to him, the extent of the discrepancy (if any) between—

(a)

the amount of any equalisation levy or equalisation payment specified in a direction for that year; and

(b)

what the amount of that levy or payment would have been if the final figures for that year had been available to him before that direction was made;

and in determining the amount of any equalisation levy or equalisation payment for a later year, the Secretary of State shall make such adjustment as is necessary to take account of any discrepancy determined for a previous year under this subsection.

(4)

Before making any order under this Act, the Secretary of State shall consult the National Water Council.

(5)

Any power to make an order under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument and no order shall be made in the exercise of such a power unless a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the Commons House of Parliament.