HC Deb 21 October 1991 vol 196 cc621-2
3. Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in implementing the EC directives on bathing water quality and drinking water quality.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Nicholas Bennett)

We brought both directives into United Kingdom legislation and have given major investments to water undertakings to ensure that the directives are met.

Mr. Griffiths

Yes, but the Minister must be aware that we have not met the deadlines set in the directives. I had hoped that this afternoon the Minister might have been able to tell me when, as a result of discussions with the chairman of Welsh Water, he expects the bathing water and tap water quality directives to be met in Wales. Has there been any slippage, as I believe, in the investment programme announced on the privatisation of Welsh Water? Perhaps the Minister does not appreciate the seriousness of the problem, but in parts of Cardiff more than 20 per cent. of the water has lead levels above the safety limit. Does he agree that it would be far better for Welsh Water to invest money in improving water quality than in buying shares in South Wales Electricity and other such companies?

Mr. Bennett

Welsh Water is investing £1.8 billion over 10 years in the water industry in Wales—that is £500,000 every day for 10 years—and it is doing an excellent job. Its programme will mean that shortly no lead pipes will be in Welsh Water's control and it has put forward a £10 million programme to help householders to get rid of lead pipes in their homes.

Mr. Grist

Will my hon. Friend confirm that Britain is the most successful EC country in providing decent. clean water and that we are honest in our testing, we publicise our testing and we obey the directives, unlike some of our partners?

Mr. Bennett

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, because 99 per cent. of Welsh drinking water already meets or exceeds EC standards. It is distressing that the Labour party spends all its time running down Britain when our record is much better than that of our European partners. One need only smell the Rhine at Cologne or go on the beaches in the Mediterranean or Greece to see that our European partners have a long way to go to catch up with British standards.

Mr. Wigley

Does the Minister accept that it is unreasonable to fund that large expenditure, which must be met, from the charges made for water? Does he accept that the profits retained to fund such improvements in capital works have driven up the price of Welsh water to the extent that some of my constituents, pensioners living in single-bedroomed flats, pay £220 a year in water charges? Is not that ridiculous? The Government must look at means of funding general improvement work other than through the taxation now charged by Welsh Water.

Mr. Bennett

The hon. Gentleman must look at the facts. Welsh Water is spending £108—

Mr. Wigley

Answer the question.

Mr. Bennett

I am answering the question, if the hon. Gentleman would listen. Welsh Water is investing £108 for every £100 that it collects in charges. The average charge to consumers in Wales is 55p per day, which is a small charge. I admit that, to some people, it is a considerable amount to collect in one lump, but it can be paid over a period of 10 months. It is important that we get over the period of neglect of the last Labour Government, when investment fell to an all-time low.