§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of the number of prosecutions since 1 January 1989 for contraventions of water byelaws made in accordance with his model.
§ Mr. YeoThis information is not held centrally. Prosecutions are a matter for individual water companies.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when national regulations will replace water byelaws; and what the enforcement arrangements will be;
(2) what plans he has to improve the level of enforcement of the water byelaws and regulations replacing them by recognising prescribed persons under section 74(2)(d) of the Water Industry Act 1991;
(3) if the proposed environment agency will enforce national water and waste water regulations suggested in paragraph 9.3 (vi) of the consultative document, "Using Water Wisely":
(5) if it is his intention to retain the requirements for prevention of waste, misuse, contamination and undue consumption embodied in the current water byelaws when regulations are introduced to replace these byelaws:
(5) what plans he has to consult the public and the plumbing industry when regulations are drafted to replace the current water byelaws.
§ Mr. YeoThe consultation paper "Using Water Wisely" sought views on matters regarding the replacement of water byelaws by regulations, including the issue of enforcement. We shall shortly be publishing the Government's proposals for taking these matters forward. It is intended that regulations will come into force before the current water byelaws expire in 1997. There will be further wide consultation both before and after the regulations are drafted.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider making it illegal under consumer legislation to sell plumbing fittings which would contravene the water byelaws, or their replacement regulations, if fitted to the water supply system in or around buildings;
(2) what representations he has received on the practice of selling plumbing fittings which, when fitted and used, are illegal under water byelaws.
§ Mr. YeoI have received two representations about this matter. The supply of construction products, which includes plumbing fittings, is controlled by the Construction Products Regulations 1991. Only those products which satisfy the requirements of these regulations may be lawfully supplied.