HC Deb 24 January 1990 vol 165 cc763-4W
Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are the water service guidelines for all member countries laid out by the EEC Commission on new connections for sewerage service;

(2) what EEC guidelines are laid out for member countries' water services in reference to service response time to sewerage problems;

(3) what EEC guidelines are laid out for member countries' water services in reference to sewage flooding;

(4) what guidelines are set out by the EEC Commission for its member nations' water services with reference to customer contact by telephone calls, correspondence and appointments.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

I am not aware of any such guidelines being issued by the Commission of the European Communities. Water Services

Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what codes of practice are required of member states by the EEC Commission in their treatment and disposal of sewage;

(2) what codes of practice are required of member states by the EEC Commission in their handling of complaints and commendations on their water services;

(3) what standards are required by the EEC Commission of its member nations in their sewage works' control of odours and effluent discharges;

(4) what standards, in terms of summary details and measurements used, are required of member states by the EEC Commission for the availability of raw water in the supply system;

(5) what standards, in terms of summary details and measurements used, are required of member states by the EEC Commission for the water pressure of their water supplies;

(6) what standards, in terms of summary details and measurements used, are required of member states by the EEC Commission for the restoration of clean water after the interruption of that service.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

I am not aware of any such requirement on member states from the Commission of the European Communities.

Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the process by which the standards and prices for water services are agreed in each member country of the EEC;

(2) which governmental bodies decide what the water standard will be for each member country of the EEC;

(3) which governmental body within each EEC member country determines water service prices; how these prices are constructed; and if he will give details of pricing policy and price construction on a member country basis.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

These are matters for individual EC member states.

Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of(a) properties and (b) population is connected to a clean water supply in each member state of the EEC.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

The available information is to be found in table 13c of "Waterfacts '88" published by the Water Authorities Association, a copy of which is in the Library.

Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what, in terms of bandings and representative national averages, are the unit prices of(a) water, (b) sewerage and (c) trade effluence for all member states of the EEC.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

We do not hold such information.