§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects all water supplies in Wales to meet the drinking water standards set by the EC drinking water quality directive; and what is the number of people currently supplied from non-complying sources.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettPublic water supplies already comply with the great majority of the standards in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 1147) which implement EC standards or set more stringent standards. Where relaxations from the standards have been authorised under regulation 4 or undertakings accepted under section 20(5)(b) of the Water Act 1989, most should comply with the standards by 1995. Undertakings have been accepted which relate to all the zones supplied by the companies my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has appointed. The existence of a relaxation or undertaking does not mean, necessarily, that the water supplied does not meet the standards set in the water quality regulations. Copies of all the relaxations and undertakings have been placed in the Library of the House.