§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government plan to take steps to establish duties on water companies to(a) conserve water when carrying out their functions and (b) prepare and implement drought contingency plans. [7335]
§ Angela EagleWe shall bring forward legislation on these matters when Parliamentary time allows. Following the Water Summit in May, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister asked water companies what steps they were taking to prepare and agree drought contingency plans voluntarily and he will be making an announcement on their responses shortly.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the replies he has received from the water companies in response to the Government's water summit will be available to interested parties. [7330]
§ Angela EagleThe replies will be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the timetable for the Government's review of water company charging systems. [7334]
§ Angela EagleMy right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment launched the Government's review of the system of charging for water in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 25 June 1997Official Report, column 514. My Department has written to interested bodies seeking their representations on the full range of issues which will be considered in the review. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library. The closing date for comments on the review is 31 July 1997. The Government intends to set out its proposals in the autumn. There will then be a period of formal consultation, with a view to reaching decisions fairly early in 1998.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those water companies that have agreed voluntarily to(a) offer domestic customers free simple devices to reduce toilet flushes, (b) offer free water efficiency audits to 448W domestic customers, (c) increase efforts to encourage water efficient gardening and (d) publish more performance and financial information [7333]
§ Angela EagleMy right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will be making an announcement on these matters shortly.