§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what measures he intends to take to make new buildings more water efficient; and if he will make a statement; [20345]
(2) what measures he intends to take to promote greater water efficiency in households; and if he will make a statement. [20344]
§ Angela EagleThe Environment Act 1995 introduced a duty for the water companies to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. At the Water Summit we encouraged the water companies to fulfil this duty with vigour, imagination and enthusiasm. We also said that we would make new Water Regulations which would include significantly tighter requirements for water efficiency. The Water Regulations Advisory Committee have recently consulted on their proposals and we are now considering their recommendations.
§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the average water consumption per person in each region of England and Wales(a) was in 1977, (b) was in 1987, (c) is estimated to be in 1997, (d) is projected to be for the year 2007 and (e) is projected to be for the year 2017. [20343]
§ Angela EagleForecasts of per capita consumption for the years 2007 and 2017 will be collected by the Office of Water Services as part of its forthcoming Periodic Review. At the last review projected per capita346W consumption estimates were not separated from estimates of supply pipe leakage for the years in question. There are no published figures for 1977 and 1987. The average domestic water consumption per capita for 1996–97 in each water undertaker's area in litres per day is:
Litres per day Water and sewerage companies Anglian 152.0 Dwr Cymru 145.6 North West 136.4 Northumbrian 143.4 Severn Trent 136.4 South West 151.9 Southern 156.4 Thames 158.7 Wessex 143.1 Yorkshire 131.0 Water only companies Bournemouth and West Hampshire 164.3 Bristol 155.9 Cambridge 148.1 Chester 154.4 Essex and Suffolk 160.3 Folkestone and Dover 156.7 Hartlepool 152.3 Mid Kent 166.1 Mid Southern 167.5 North Surrey 160.2 Portsmouth 161.6 South East 165.0 South Staffordshire 146.5 Sutton/South East 169.5 Tendring Hundred 145.7 Three Valleys 170.6 Wrexham 148.8 York 142.4
§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the quantity of extra water resources required to meet the demand of the projected 44 million extra households up to the year 2016. [20342]
§ Angela EagleThe latest household projections show the need for 4.4 million additional households between the years of 1991 and 2016. It is for water companies to quantify and provide the water supplies required. This is a normal part of the planning process.