§ Lord Gainfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will publish their proposals for measures to replace water company by-laws in 1997.
§ Viscount UllswaterWe have today published a consultation paper about the purpose, format, scope, and administration of measures to replace water by-laws. Copies have been placed in the House libraries. For many years, water companies have made by-laws for the prevention of waste, misuse, undue consumption and contamination of water. Current by-laws expire in 1997 but there is no provision now for the companies to make new ones. We are therefore consulting a wide variety of interest groups and individuals on a range of replacement options.
The paper explores a number of possible options from a non-statutory code of practice to national regulations either as part of the building regulations, as separate water regulations or a combination of these two. It also considers whether water companies should continue to control the replacement provisions or whether the responsibility should be transferred to the local authorities, an independent agency or placed under joint control. There are some difficult issues to be addressed but above all the health and safety of consumers must be protected and water companies must be able to carry out their statutory duty to maintain an adequate supply of water which is fit for human consumption.