§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will make it his policy to issue guidelines to consumer consultative committees with the water industry as to their rights of access to, to request, and to receive papers and documents from water authorities;
(2) whether it is his intention that briefing material provided by water authorities for their board members shall be made available to members of consumer consultative committees; according to what criteria; and on what basis.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMy Department issued on 22 November 1982 draft guidelines on the representation of water authority consumers' interests. Comments are invited by 31 March 1983. The draft guidelines state that water authorities and companies should be obliged to inform a consumer consultative committee of their general plans and arrangements and to provide such supporting information as is necessary for a committee to discharge its functions. Officers of the authorities and companies should attend committee and sub-committee meetings on request. We will reconsider the guidelines in the light of comments received.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his intention that the proposed reorganised water authorities shall have the discretion as to what matters are brought before the consultative committees for the water industry.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe draft guidelines on the representation of water authority consumers' interests specify that a consumer consultative committee should be able to consider any matter affecting the interests of water authorities' and companies' consumers. The committees will decide their own agendas.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his intention that matters referred from the proposed reorganised water authorities to the consultative committees shall be brought before such committees prior to decisions on those matters being taken by the water authorities.
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§ Mr. Giles ShawThe draft guidelines on the representation of water authority consumers' interests require water authorities and companies to consult consumer consultative committees before putting into effect proposals with significant implications for their consumers, such as charges. They also require authorities and companies to inform a committee of their general plans and arrangements. On major issues, such as charging policies, I would expect the committees to be consulted well in advance of any final decisions being taken.