HC Deb 20 January 1998 vol 304 cc453-4W
Mr. Leslie

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 16 June 1997,Official Report, column 36, what progress has been made by the Drinking Water Inspectorate in considering prosecution in the alleged cryptosporidium incident at Bingley in June 1993; and if he will make a statement. [23475]

Angela Eagle

The Drinking Water Inspectorate has completed its investigation of this incident involving an outbreak of cryptosporidiois. On 14 January 1998, it wrote to Yorkshire Water Services Limited informing the Company of its conclusions and recommendations arising from the incident. A copy of this letter has been sent to the health authority, local authority and the Yorkshire Customer Service Committee. I have arranged for a copy of the letter to be sent to the hon. Member and for copies to be placed in the library of the House.

The main conclusions of the Inspectorate were that: (i) the epidemiological study carried out by the Bradford Health Authority provided strong grounds for suspecting that water unfit for human consumption was supplied; (ii) the Company would not have had a defence of due diligence due to deficiencies in the management of the catchment and the operation of Gilstead Water Treatment Works; and (iii) in view of the decision by the Judge in the prosecution of South West Water about an incident involving an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in Torbay, not to admit as evidence the report of the epidemiological study, a prosecution cannot be mounted against the Company under Section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991.

The Inspectorate's investigations uncovered some serious deficiencies in the Company's operations. Although Gilstead Water Treatment Works has since been closed, the Inspectorate considers it vital that the Company demonstrates that it has improved its operational procedures and performance in order to protect public health and therefore it has asked for an urgent reply from the Company to its recommendations.

In the light of the judgment in the Torbay case and the Inspectorate's conclusions on this incident, I have asked the Inspectorate to advise on what steps, including changes to the legislation, can be taken to secure successful prosecution when it is believed that water unfit for human consumption has been supplied.

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