§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the allocation of responsibility for water pipes up to the meter.
§ Mr. MoynihanAn announcement will be made shortly on this and other aspects of the water and sewerage law review.
§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to report on water board monitoring of the chemical content of water supplies; and what steps he will take if the chemical content is found to be too high.
§ Mr. MoynihanIf the chemical content of a public water supply exceeds concentrations permitted under the EC drinking water directive, the water authority must take steps to reduce the concentrations to an acceptable level. If this will take time, the water undertaker must submit an action programme to the Department for approval. My right hon. Friend has no plans to report on monitoring by water undertakers.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if there has been any official communication from Her Majesty's Government to the European 711W Commission that the United Kingdom will comply with the European Community drinking water directive; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe information contained in my statement of 20 January 1988, at column 742, about the withdrawal of nitrate derogations, and in the statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 21 December 1987, at column 915, about the interpretation of the term "maximum admissible concentration" in the drinking water directive has been officially communicated to the European Commission by Her Majesty's Government.