HC Deb 31 July 1997 vol 299 cc537-8W
Mr. Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to provide guidance to the Office of Water Services on the implementation of legislation to improve the quality of drinking water and the environment as part of the 1999 periodic review of water pricing. [10649]

Angela Eagle

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, together with the Secretary of State for Wales, will issue public guidance in 1998 to the Director General of Water Services on the extent and timing of the water quality and environmental obligations likely to be placed on water and sewerage companies during the review period. In providing this guidance, the Government will draw on advice from the Environment Agency and the drinking water inspectorate on quality requirements, and advice from the Director General of Water Services on the investment likely to be required to meet quality standards and the price implications for customers. It is then for the director general to take account of that guidance in setting price limits in the 1999 periodic review.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, announced an inter-departmental review of the regulation of the utility industries on 30 June, Official Report, columns 20–21. When issuing guidance to the Director General of Water Services, the Government will take into account the conclusions of that review.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the purity of English drinking water by region; and how that compares with the purity of drinking water in other EU countries. [12167]

Angela Eagle

The drinking water inspectorate publishes an annual report on the quality of water supplied by the 29 water companies in England and Wales. The report for 1996 was published on 8 July and is available in the House Library. It confirms that the quality of drinking water in England and Wales remains very high. In excess of 3 million samples were tested in 1996 and of these 99.7 per cent. complied with the standards. Comparable data for the quality of drinking water in other EU member states are not generally available.