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Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason she did not make her announcement of 21 April 2004 on sustainable development by means of a oral statement to the House. [169859]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 30 April 2004]: The Secretary of State announced the consultation 'Taking it on—developing UK sustainable development strategy together', on 21 April, to the House by means of a written statement.

On the same day both the Secretary of State and I spoke at the launch event for the consultation. We were delighted to be joined by ministerial colleagues: Charles Clarke, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills; Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for International Development; Bill Rammell of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Angela Smith of the Northern Ireland Office, Yvette Cooper of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Carwyn Jones from the Welsh Assembly Government; as well as Jonathon Porritt, the Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission and Klaus Topfer, the Executive Director of the UN Environmental Programme.

We are greatly looking forward to considering the responses we receive to the consultation. The consultation closes on 31 July 2004.

EU Directives

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had recently with the industries concerned in the implications of the introduction of the (a) Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and (b) End of Life Vehicles directives. [167890]

Mr. Morley: The Government has been in ongoing talks with affected stakeholders on both of these Directives.

The second consultation on implementation of the WEEE Directive concluded in March. 219 responses were received, and a summary of these can be found at      www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability. Further, the Government recently completed a series of large workshops, in eight UK regions, to raise awareness amongst stakeholders. The Government is continuing discussions with all stakeholders in frequent meetings with industry.

The last of 4 public consultations on the ELV Directive closed on 30 March. The Consultation Document set out the Government's proposals for a system, drawn up after extensive discussions with the industry sectors involved, to meet the "free take-back" and recycling requirements of the Directive. 65 responses to the consultation were received. These are now being assessed with a view to finalising the Regulations before presentation to Parliament.
 
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Water Companies

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which water companies have been found to have been providing water not fit for human consumption in each year since 1997; and what action was taken against them. [168876]

Mr. Morley: It is an offence under section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991 for a water company to supply water unfit for human consumption, subject to a due diligence defence. The meaning of water "unfit for human consumption" is not defined in the Act and is a matter for the courts to decide on a case-by-case basis. It is usually taken to mean that the water has caused ill health or is rejected for drinking by consumers on the grounds of taste, smell or appearance.

All incidents affecting drinking water quality are investigated by the Drinking Water Inspectorate and proceedings are instituted as appropriate. Since 1997 10 companies have been prosecuted for supplying water unfit for human consumption in respect of 29 separate incidents, with six further incidents taken into consideration. Eight companies have also been cautioned in respect of 16 incidents.

Date of incident	Date of court case	Company	Offence
20 February 1997	20 March 1998	Yorkshire Water	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured)
6 May 1997	5 November 1998	North West	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured)
16 May 1997	1 April 1998	Dwr Cymru	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured)
12 June 1997	10 June 1998	Dwr Cymru	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured)
24 July 1997	26 January 2000	Thames Water	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
25 July 1997	15 July 1998	Dwr Cymru	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (low pH & discoloured)
31 July 1997	19 October 1998	Severn Trent	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured)
1 October 1997	5 October 1998	Northumbrian Water	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured)
22 October 1997	17 May 1999	South West	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
31 October 1997	6 April 1999	South West	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured)
14 November 1997	15 November 1999	North West	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
15 December 1997	23 April 1999	Severn Trent	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured)
16 December 1997	5 January 1999	Anglian	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured)
18 December 1997	3 November 1999	North West	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
19 December 1997	11 January 1999	Anglian	Section 70 Supply of water unfit (untreated river water)
29 January 1998	16 August 1999	South East	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
6 March 1998	5 November 1999	South East	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
21 April 1998	6 October 2000	North West	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
8 May 1998 1 June 1998 2 July 1998 5 November 1998	10 December 2000	Yorkshire Water	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured) (Four separate incidents)
June/July 1998	12 March 2001	Mid Kent Water	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
13 December 1998	25 January 2000	North West	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
13 January 1999	13 October 2000	North West	Section 70 supply of water unfit (taste and odour)
February 1999	11 January 2002	Yorkshire	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
July 2000	18 June 2001	Dwr Cymru Cyf	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
28 August 2000	5 September 2001	Anglian	Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured)
3 April 2002	26 March 2004	Anglian	Section 70 supply of water unfit (taste)

 
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Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what checks are made to ensure that the water companies provide water that is fit for human consumption; and how often they are made. [168877]

Mr. Morley: Water companies in England and Wales have a duty to supply wholesome water. The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000, or in Wales the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2001 set out the numbers and types of samples that water companies must take to fulfil this duty. One of the roles of the Drinking Water Inspectorate is to ensure that water companies carry out the requisite checks. During 2002 more than 2,973,500 regulatory tests were carried out, of which 99.87 per cent. demonstrated compliance with the relevant water quality standards. The Drinking Water Inspectorate investigates all incidents affecting water quality which includes an assessment of additional samples taken to determine water quality.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Big Ben

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission on which dates Big Ben has (a) shown an incorrect time and (b) failed to sound since 1 May 1994. [170086]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: Big Ben is the name of the hour bell of the Great Clock rather than of the clock itself. Accuracy adjustments, usually within one or two seconds, are undertaken three times a week. Variations of this nature are caused by changes in temperature. The clock has been stopped for repair purposes for four periods since 1994 and work on the quarter chimes has taken place on seven occasions. In the latter cases the clock was not stopped.
 
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The most recent failure of the quarter chimes took place on 29 April and was caused by an internal stress fracture affecting the brake release shaft. It is intended to install the new shaft during the evening of 8 May, when the hour strike brake release shaft, fly fan and other components will be examined for any similar problem by a specialist company.

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