HC Deb 06 December 1995 vol 268 cc302-3W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has issued to the water authorities in Scotland on the subject of conflicts of interest between their business and personal intersrts and their membershiip of the water authorities. [4454]

Mr.Kynoch

The instrument of appointment signed by members required them to notify the Secretary of State of interests which might be prejudicial to their appoinment. Members are also required by the provisions of schedule 7 to the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 to disclose at a meeting of the affect consideration of matters being dealt with by the authority to which they have been appointed.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what tendering procedure was used by his Department in awarding the contract for drafting the property transfer for the new water authorities in Scotland. [4453]

Mr. Kynoch

To assist outgoing councils and the Central Scotland Water Development Board in the drafting of the transfer schemes required Board in the drafting of the transfer schemes required under section 91 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, the Scottish office let two contracts: the first was to liaise with councils and the board on the preparation of sehemes and to evaluate the content of submitted schemes.

Both contracts were let by competitive tender. For the first, six firms were invited to tender from which the Babtie Group was chosen. For the second contract expressions of interest, were sought by advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Thereafter, 13 firms were invited to tender and the contract was awarded to the Babtie Group.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he is proposing in respect of payments of water rates by the new unitary councils to the new water authorities in Scotland; what procedures he will put in place to resolve disputes between the water authorities and the unitary councils over the levels of payments; and what plan he has to allow unitary councils to be billed by the water authorities in advance for water rates. [4443]

Mr. Kynoch

My right hon. Friend will require the unitary councils to bill and collect unmeasured domestic water and sewerage charges on behalf of the new water and sewerage authorities in 1996–97. A copy of the consultation paper setting out our proposals is available in the Library of the House. The consultation period ends on 31 December. The billing and collection of other water and sewerage charges is a matter for the new water and sewerage authorities.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what personal interests have been declared by members of the new water authorities; and what procedures there are for public scrutiny of these interests. [4455]

Mr. Kynoch

No member of a water authority has declared any interest within the terms of schedule 7 to the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. Each of the new water authorities is presently considering the issue of public scrutiny of any declarations of interests. The West of Scotland Water Authority has agreed interim standing orders which provide for the public inspection for a register of members' interests.