§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many agreements have been made by the Nature Conservancy Council under section 15 of the Countryside Act 1968, or section 16 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 which have not been subject to the financial guidelines produced as a result of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
§ Mr. TrippierThe majority of NCC payments under management agreements are made under the terms of 351W "Financial Guidelines for Management Agreements"—DOE Circular 4/83 published on 31 January 1983. Payments are also made in respect of national nature reserves to encourage the maintenance and enhancement of the scientific interest. Information on how many agreements have not been subject to the financial guidelines is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Company Area affected Dale of expiry of Order East Surrey Water Plc East Surrey 9 August 1990 Eastbourne Water Company Eastbourne 22 February 1990 Folkstone and District Water Company Folkestone 14 March 1990 Mid Kent Water Company Mid Kent 25 January 1990 Mid Kent 25 July 1990 Mid Sussex Water Company Mid Sussex 16 July 1990 Severn Trent Water Ltd. Buxton 21 March 1990 Derbyshire 26 April 1990 Nottinghamshire Leicestershire Southern Water Services Ltd. Kent and Sussex 20 January 1990 West and East Sussex 21 May 1990 West and East Sussex 19 July 1990 North and East Kent 19 July 1990 South West Water Services Ltd. Devon and Cornwall 2 February 1990 West Kent Water Company West Kent 4 February 1990 The following water companies introduced hosepipe bans under section 16 of the Water Act 1945 on 4 May:
Company Area affected Mid Kent Water Company Mid Kent Southern Water Services Ltd. North Kent These are the first hosepipe bans to be introduced in 1990. I understand that none of those introduced in 1989 remains in force.
Water use restrictions in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to increase the responsibilities of local authorities in their monitoring of domestic water supplies; what action he intends to take to record the number of samples taken that do not meet required standards centrally; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmorySection 56 of the Water Act 1989 places a general duty on local authorities to keep themselves informed about the wholesomeness and sufficiency of both public and private water supplies in their areas.
For public supplies the primary monitoring is undertaken by the relevant water company, which is required by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 to maintain a public record of the results of the analysis of samples and send information at least annually to each local authority in its area. This monitoring will provide the basis for the annual report on the quality of water supplied by each company which the drinking water inspectorate will prepare on behalf of the Secretary of State, although the inspectorate may also carry out some monitoring of its own. The results of any monitoring carried out by local authorities will also be taken into