HC Deb 25 January 1999 vol 324 cc33-4W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he proposes to take to ensure that information is made publicly available to enable a proper scrutiny of the environmental and public health performance of the water and sewerage companies; and if he will make a statement. [66555]

Mr. Meale

Details of companies' discharge consents and compliance monitoring data for both consents and quality standards set for bodies of water, including bathing water quality results, are made publicly available on the Environment Agency's statutory pollution control registers, as are details of authorisations of processes subject to integrated pollution control (IPC). The Agency also compiles an inventory of emissions from processes subject to IPC, which it proposes to extend to require reporting of emissions by other processes it regulates, such as sewage treatment works.

As regards drinking water, water companies are required to compile annual records, including details of tests of water quality which they have conducted, in respect of each of their water supply zones. This information is available for public inspection. In addition, the Chief Inspector of the Drinking Water Inspectorate produces an annual report of checks made by the Inspectorate on the quality of water supplied by water companies.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the length of critical sewers in(a) grade 1, (b) grade 2, (c) grade 3, (d) grade 4 and (e) grade 5 by water and sewerage company. [66557]

Mr. Meale

This information is not available in the form requested but Ofwat's annual reports on Financial Performance and Capital Investment, copies of which are in the Library of the House, list the total lengths of critical sewers renovated and replaced each year and in 1997–98 these renovations and replacements were at their highest level since 1991–92.

Ofwat assesses the performance of underground assets by reference to trends in their serviceability to customers and they will publish more information about serviceability of assets later this year.