§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the water companies about ensuring the increased provision of water supplies to West Sussex homes following his announcement on 7 March on the need for more houses. [114401]
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§ Mr. MullinUnder the supervision of the Environment Agency, each water company produced in April 1999 a water resources plan, showing how it would maintain an adequate balance between supply and demand in its area for the next 25 years. The Environment Agency published its assessment of these plans in a report to my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Wales in June 1999.
Following guidance issued by the Environment Agency on 28 February 2000, each water company will review its plan annually and will report the outcome to the Environment Agency in September each year. In that way, each water company will show how it proposes to respond to any changes which may influence its water resources plan. The Environment Agency will report to Ministers its assessment of these annual reviews.