§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to direct water companies to permit public inspection of reports concerning the safety of reservoirs, especially in those cases where water companies are required to submit such reports to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardNo. Under the Reservoirs Act 1975 county and metropolitan district councils are required as part of their enforcement role to keep public registers containing prescribed information about large raised 41W reservoirs in their areas. The information includes a summary of the contents of all reports made under the Act. The registers provide the means by which members of the public can satisfy themselves that the requirements of the Act are being met and any safety recommendations made by inspecting engineers implemented.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when a civil engineer last inspected Horton Bank Top reservoir in Bradford; when their draft report was passed to Yorkshire Water; when Yorkshire Water expects the completed report to be passed to Bradford metropolitan district council; whether the public will be entitled to inspect the report lodged with Bradford council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardThese are matters for Yorkshire Water as the owner of Horton Bank Top reservoir and for Bradford metropolitan district council as enforcement authority under the Reservoirs Act 1975. The register which the council is required to maintain will show when the reservoir was last inspected and give a summary of the engineer's report.