Water Industry (Consumer Consultative Committees)

HC Deb 24 May 1985 vol 79 cc557-8W

Mr. O'Brien

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what value he attaches to the water industry consumer consultative committees.

Mr. Macfarlane

As was made clear in the Department's recent evidence to the Public Accounts Committee, I attach a good deal of importance to water authorities' arrangements for consumer consultation under elapsed between the submission of alterations by the counties and his decision to put them to public examination, and secondly the time which elapsed between that decision and his approval to the alterations.

Mr. Macfarlane

The information is as follows: section 7 of the Water Act 1983, and to the valuable advice which water authorities derive from their consumer consultative committees on a wide range of issues.