HL Deb 24 July 2002 vol 638 cc91-2WA
Lord Hoyle

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the consultation paper on competition in the water industry will be published. [HL5541]

Lord Whitty

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Environment (Michael Meacher) announced in another place on 19 March the Government's proposals for increasing competition in the water industry in England and Wales (HC Deb, Col 265W). We promised to publish a consultation paper with further details of our proposals later in the year.

We can now confirm that the consultation paper on competition in the water industry will be published in the next few weeks.