HC Deb 20 May 1988 vol 133 cc605-6W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his Department proposes that the members of the Office of Water Regulation will be selected; what the composition of the Office of Water Regulation will be; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

Planning for the establishment of the water services office is still at an early stage, but we expect to recruit a suitably experienced and qualified Director General of Water Services. The staff of the office is likely to be a mixture of civil servants on loan from their Departments and specialist staff recruited on contract from elsewhere.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources his Department intends to place at the disposal of the Office of Water Regulation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

The water service offices is likely to be a non-ministerial department, the Exchequer costs of which will be financed by licence fees from the utility companies which will hold appointments as water and sewerage undertakers. The Department will ensure that it is established with adequate resources to commence its regulatory tasks; thereafter this will he the reponsibility of the Director General of Water Services.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers the Office of Water Regulation will have with regard to the level of charges paid by water customers/users.

Mr. Moynihan

The charges of water utility companies will be limited in accordance with one of their conditions of appointment, which will be administered by the Director General of Water Services. The arrangements for the regulation of charges are described in a policy letter dated 3 March 1988 (reference WRP1), copies of which have been placed in the Library.