HC Deb 21 January 1999 vol 323 cc563-4W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will meet the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health to discuss its proposal that the Water Industry Act 1991 be amended to place a duty on water companies and OFWAT to operate in such a way as to protect public health and the environment. [66556]

Mr. Meale

The Government are deeply committed to protecting both the environment and public health. However, the Water Industry Act 1991 already places the Director General under a duty to consider the environment when formulating or considering any proposal relating to water companies' functions. In the context of the current review of utility regulation, we intend to strengthen this so that the Director General will be under a statutory duty to have regard to statutory guidance on social and environmental objectives in the exercise of his statutory functions.

The 1991 Act also places a number of duties on the water and sewerage undertakers, and the protection of public health is at the core of these duties. The Water Industry Bill will further protect public health by removing water companies' ability to disconnect people's homes in the event of non-bill payment. There are therefore already clear duties on both the Director General and the water companies to take account of public health and the environment. Apart from strengthening the duties on the Director General through the utility regulation review, I do not see a need for further duties.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what method is used by OFWAT to determine the adequacy of investment in the sewerage network by the water and sewerage companies; and if he will make a statement. [66558]

Mr. Meale

Ofwat's approach to assessing the adequacy of capital maintenance expenditure on the sewerage network is to consider trends in the serviceability of assets to customers and to the environment and, if appropriate, allow for the expenditure levels to be adjusted at the next price review.

In "Raising the Quality" (September 1998) we published guidance to the Director General of Water Services which suggested that sewerage companies should take a strategic approach to the maintenance of their sewerage assets by, for example, developing an assessment system similar to the one already used for water supply.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those water and sewerage companies which have met their targets on flooding from sewers and collapses(a) between 1990 and 1995 and (b) since 1995. [66559]

Mr. Meale

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 19 January 1999,Official Report, columns 441–42, in response to a Question from the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Brake).