§ Mr. LofthouseTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of staff employed by the Office of Water Services; what are their terms of reference; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryThe Water Act 1989 established the Office of Water Services as an independent Government Department under the Director General of Water Services, who was appointed by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales. Its main tasks are to enforce the new system of economic regulation of the industry and to protect the interests of customers. Its organisation and staffing are matters for the director general. An account of its initial period of operation was given in the director general's annual report which was laid before the House on 19 June and a copy of which is in the Library.