§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of the drinking water inspectorate.
§ Mr. TrippierThe drinking water inspectorate was established on 2 January 1990 under section 60 of the Water Act 1989 which empowers my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales to appoint persons to act on their behalf as technical assessors in relation to their powers and duties concerning the quality and sufficiency of water supplied by water undertakers.
Its principal task is to check the quality of water supplied by water undertakers in England and Wales for compliance with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. If water undertakers are found not to be meeting their statutory requirements the inspectorate will advise my right hon. Friends, as appropriate, on enforcement action and if water is supplied which is unfit for human consumption will advise on possible prosecution.
The inspectorate will also provide advice to my right hon. Friends on objections made to them against enforcement notices served by local authorities relating to private water supplies. It also provides technical and scientific advice to my right hon. Friends on drinking water quality standards and other issues including negotiations within the European Community.
The inspectorate will produce an annual report which will be published.