§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue guidance to local authorities on the planning considerations associated with534W the water companies' investment to improve the quality of bathing and drinking waters and to construct new water treatment works; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungMy right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales have today issued for public consultation a draft circular about the planning implications for local authorities, of substantial investment by the water industry to improve the quality of bathing and drinking waters. Comments have been invited from the local authority associations, the water companies and other representative bodies.
The draft circular stresses the urgency of improving the quality of bathing and drinking waters, and emphasises local planning authorities' responsibility to work with the water industry to find suitable sites for sewage treatment works and to handle planning applications without delay.