§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what arrangements the fire services are charged for the use of water from hydrants; to whom payments are made; and what levels of payment have been in force for each of the last four years.
§ Mr. MacleanUnder section 147 of the Water Industry Act 1991 no charge may be made by a water undertaker for water used by a fire authority for extinguishing fires or any other emergency purpose. But under section 57 of the Act, the expenses incurred by a water undertaker in providing and maintaining fire hydrants requested by a fire authority are chargeable to the fire authority concerned. Information on the level of these charges is not held centrally.