§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make water companies responsible for damage caused by water surges. [48862]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 6 July 1998]: Water Companies are liable under the Water Industry Act 1991, section 209, for damage caused by surges on pipes which are vested in the water company itself. Water companies are not responsible under this Act for damage caused on private property resulting from water surges, although a customer may have recourse through common law, if negligence or a fault on the part of the water company can be proved to have caused the damage. At the present time, we have no plans to increase water companies' responsibility in this area.