§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she intends to take to increase sewerage disposal in the South East. [116219]
§ Mr. MorleyUnder section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991, sewerage undertakers have a duty to provide, improve and extend their public sewer network. It is a matter for each sewerage company to decide on its programme of work.
Companies are now in the process of drawing up draft business plans for 2005–10, and it is open for them to include costed proposals to extend their sewerage network. Ofwat will examine their plans, and decide the allowance for sewerage works when they set companies" price limits in 2004. Companies" draft business plans will be published in the autumn and there will be an opportunity for all interested parties to comment to Ofwat.