Water Industry (Hansard, 21 May 2002)

§ Malcolm Bruce
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes she proposes to the regulation of the water industry; if her preparatory work included consideration of their effect on sustainable development; and if she will make a statement. [56549]

§ Mr. Meacher
The main changes proposed to the regulation of the water industry are contained in the draft Water Bill, which has sustainability as a central theme. The Government response to the consultation was published on 2 May and the Bill will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.
The Water Bill contains changes to the water abstraction authorisation system to ensure that water is used sustainably. It also aims to put consumers at the heart of regulation of the water industry, through mechanisms such as the creation of an independent Consumer Council for Water and requiring companies to make clear any links between directors' pay and company performance. The Bill also includes proposals to give the Director General of Water Services a specific sustainable development duty.
Any future regulatory measures that are needed to ensure compliance with obligations in new European Community water quality legislation will be fully consulted on with the water industry and other stakeholders.

§ Malcolm Bruce
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations(a) have been undertaken and (b) are planned by her Department relating to the water industry; and if she will make a statement. [56550]

§ Mr. Meacher
Since May 2001 there have been the following formal consultations relating specifically to the water industryHow should England implement the 1991 Nitrates Directive? (February 2002) Draft Guidance on the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 (March 2002) Water Grid PPP: Removal of Restrictions on British Waterways Statutory Powers (May 2002). The Department also intends over the coming months to undertake further formal consultations on the following subjects: competition in the Water Industry revisions to the Vulnerable Groups Scheme implementation of the Water Framework Directive requirements in Article 16 of the Water Framework Directive regarding the Priority List daughter directives implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive in respect of certain water resource projects water industry and environment policy document. Aside from formal consultations, Ministers and officials from DEFRA have frequent contact and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders in the water industry.