§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to modify his direction to water companies specifying the uses of water which may be restricted by means of drought orders made under section 131 of the Water Act 1989.
§ Mr. TrippierMy right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, have today given a fresh direction, the Drought Direction 1991, to water companies under section 131 (4)(b) of the 1989 Act. The direction prescribes the uses of water which a company may be authorised to prohibit or limit under Drought Orders made by the Secretary of State.
The 1991 direction replaces the Drought Direction 1989, with the following modifications:
- (a) the watering of all gardens (other than market gardens), together with landscaped areas such as road verges, may now be restricted (previously, only the watering of ornamental gardens or lawns was specified);
- (b) the watering of all surfaces used for sport or recreation, including artificial surfaces, may now be restricted;
- (c) the filling of privately owned pools designed for use in a medical treatment programme, or requiring to be filled during construction as a necessary part of the construction process, is now exempt from restrictions;
- (d) the manual cleaning of windows is now exempt from restrictions.
Once a Drought Order has been made, its implementation and enforcement are the responsibility of the relevant water company. I am placing a copy of the Drought Direction 1991 in the Library.