§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to provide advice to local authorities on the problems associated with inadequate drains and private sewers. [43967]
§ Angela EagleThe Department is currently consulting interested parties on a draft planning circular relating to cesspits and septic tanks. There are no plans at present to issue guidance to local authorities on private drains and sewers. The latter are subject to Building Regulation control to ensure that, when constructed, they meet certain minimum requirements in the interests of health.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department responded to the Water Research Centre draft water industry specification for thermoplastic structured wall pipe systems for sewers; and if the Department's response will be made public. [43962]
§ Angela EagleSuch specifications are matters for the water industry, and my Department has not commented on it.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to respond to the second report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee on Sewage Treatment and Disposal (HC266); and if he will make a statement. [43964]
§ Angela EagleThe Government are considering the recommendations of this report very carefully and intend to respond shortly.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1998,Official Report, column 359. what research studies he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated to establish whether or not leakage from (i) public and (ii) private sewers, is likely to cause health or pollution problems. [43963]
§ Angela EagleThe Department has not commissioned any such studies relating to sewerage leakage. In 1996, a report produced by Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) on behalf of various interests, including the National Rivers Authority, found no conclusive evidence that leaking sewers are a common cause of groundwater contamination.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to review the law relating to sewers and drains and the controls relating to their construction, materials and maintenance. [43966]
§ Angela EagleThere are no plans at present to review the law relating to sewers and drains. A sewerage undertaker has a duty, to maintain sewers so as to ensure that the area for which it is responsible is and continues to be effectively drained. The specification of materials and the maintenance regime is the responsibility of the sewerage undertaker.
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