§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional resources have been allocated within his Department to oversee the regulation of the water industry. [115012]
§ Mr. Mullin[holding answer 16 March 2000]: Departmental resources for overseeing the regulation of the water industry have been kept broadly constant in real terms since the election. The Department's Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) regulates drinking water quality on behalf of the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales. DWI expenditure in 1998–99 was £2.1 million, and is expected to be £2.2 million in 1999–2000, compared with £1.8 million in 1997–98.