§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what parts of their area of operations East of Scotland Water propose an embargo on all future developments because no additional effluent can be accommodated in the existing sewerage systems. [4612]
§ Mr. ChisholmEast of Scotland Water has no plans to introduce any such embargoes nor has any power to do so. When the Authority was established last year, however, it inherited insufficient capacity in the public sewerage system in a number of areas which prevents new connections. The areas principally affected are West Edinburgh and South East Edinburgh, and part of West Lothian and Midlothian. The Authority has made58W substantial progress in procuring additional infrastructure which should result in the lifting of restrictions in these areas from the year 2000.
There are a number of other parts of the Water Authority's area, mainly small towns and rural areas, where restrictions on new connections to the public sewer may also apply. In all of these areas, the Authority plans to take appropriate action as soon as possible to resolve any problems.