§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for developing and applying criteria for determining long-term investment in sewers. [39481]
§ Mr. MeacherThe 10 water and sewerage companies in England and Wales are responsible for managing investment in their sewerage systems, both in capital maintenance and in new provision.
This Department, the Office of Water Services (Ofwat), Environment Agency, Drinking Water Inspectorate and water companies have worked closely together on a water industry capital maintenance framework, covering sewerage systems as well as other asset systems. A jointly commissioned study will be published in May.
Ofwat will shortly hold a preliminary consultation on its approach to capital maintenance at the forthcoming review of price limits. Ofwat with the Environment Agency have consulted on enhancements to the serviceability indicators for assets against which companies report to Ofwat. The new indicators will be used for the first time in companies' returns to be made in June 2002 and so provide better information for draft and final business plans.
Ofwat also issued, on 13 March 2002, "Flooding from sewers—A way forward" which consults on how companies should bring forward investment proposals to address sewer flooding both in the short term before 2005 and in the longer term for the period 2005–10. The consultation ends on 15 June.
The steps and timetable leading up to setting price limits in 2004 for the period 2005–10 are set out in "Ofwat Forward Programme 2002–03 to 2004–05" which was published on 21 March 2002. This year Ofwat will consult on its approach to the periodic review in October and in December the Government will issue guidance on the policies and programmes requiring investment in sewerage services.