§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals his Department is currently making with regard to the protective powers of Ofwat; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe conditions of appointment of the water utility companies will provide a framework of protection to be operated by the water services office602W under powers to be provided in legislation to be laid before Parliament. A series of policy letters, copies of which will be placed in the Library, was announced in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) on 8 March, at column 121. The letters will give details of the regulatory framework. The first dealt with the regulation of charges by the new water utility companies.