§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors he considered before deciding not to review the permissible level of lead in drinking water; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierMy right hon. Friend considered whether any new evidence or considerations had become available.
§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what time scales are to be afforded to water suppliers in order to meet(a) the informal standards on pesticides, and (b) all other health-related, toxic or microbiological, standards in the EC drinking water directive, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, solvents and lead.
§ Mr. TrippierThe standards set in the EC drinking water directive have been incorporated into the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. Most water supplies already meet most of the standards in the regulations. The supplies that do not yet comply are the subject of remedial action which will generally bring them into compliance by 1995. This remedial action is set out in undertakings given by the companies under section 20 of the Water Act 1989 and copies of these are in the Library. The only standards set by the regulations in respect of pesticides are the ones in the EC directive and it is to those standards that the actions specified in the relevant undertakings relate.
§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many authorisations have been granted for departures from his Department's regulations for drinking water quality; and if he will list these departures, together with time scales for their remediation.
§ Mr. TrippierMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has authorised 719 relaxations under regulation 4 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. Most of them contain provision for work to be carried out to achieve the relevant standard by, at latest, 1995. The remainder are subject to review by 1994. Copies of the relaxations have been placed in the Library of the House.