§ Mr. Chris Smith asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why, under article 20 of the European Community directive (80/778/EC) relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption, he has applied for a delay on lead for four years and on all private water supplies for 10 years for the United Kingdom as a whole, rather than specified geographical areas thereof.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Government's response of 1983 to the ninth report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution set a target date of December 1989 for reducing lead concentrations in drinking water to acceptable levels. Our application to the European Commission under article 20, which is consistent with that policy, relates to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and to the areas covered by the Anglian, Severn-Trent, North West and Yorkshire water authorities where major improvement programmes are still under way. These programmes will be substantially complete by the target date.
Private supplies, although only serving 1 per cent. of the population, are spread throughout the country and in general do not constitute a serious health risk. District councils have a duty to ascertain the wholesomeness of private water supplies and powers to ensure that action is taken to secure improvement when necessary. The article 20 application does not relate to private supplies serving more than 500 people.