§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has(a) to give the latest EU directive allowing less lead in domestic water supplies legal effect and (b) to provide funding to those councils which are already trying to operate within the new directive. [68535]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe UK is required to transpose the standards set in the new EU drinking water directive into national law by 25 December 2000. Any new burden on local authorities arising from the directive will be discussed within the Expenditure Committee of the Working Party on Local Government Finance.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.