Introduction
Aims of the inquiry
1. Ensuring that people in England and Wales
have clean, reliable and affordable water supplies, and that action
is taken to minimise the threat of and respond effectively to
flooding, are central Department for the Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (Defra) responsibilities. On coming to power, the
Government announced its intention to implement the findings of
the Pitt Review to improve flood defences,[1]
as well as to prevent unnecessary building in areas of high flood
risk. It also committed itself to reform of the water industry
in order to enhance competition and improve water conservation.
In September 2010 Defra announced a public consultation prior
to publication in June 2011 of a Water White Paper. It has also
announced that it will publish a Natural Environment White Paper
by spring 2011.
2. In September 2010, we launched an inquiry
to assess progress on flooding and water management policy, with
the aim of identifying key priorities for these White Papers.
The Committee sought evidence from interested parties and invited
submissions on:
- which of the key issues covered
by the consultation into the draft Flood and Water Management
Bill and by the Walker Review,[2]
and the Cave Review,[3]
should be taken forward as legislative priorities;
- the further policies which are required to ensure
flood and water management which delivers optimum social, economic
and environmental outcomes, and
- any issues related to the Flood and Water Management
Act 2010 (including sustainable drainage systems) and to the transfer
of private sewers and lateral drains.
3. We received 34 written submissions and held
three oral evidence sessions. The first of these was held on 13
October 2010, taking evidence from Ofwat and the Consumer Council
for Water. On 20 October we took evidence from the Environment
Agency and Water UK, the body which represents water and sewerage
companies in England and Wales. On 3 November we took evidence
from Richard Benyon MP, Defra Parliamentary Under-Secretary of
State for Natural Environment and Fisheries.[4]
We would like to thank all those who gave us evidence in person
or in writing.
4. While acknowledging that these are inter-related
topics, we set out below our findings firstly on flood management
policy, and secondly on water management, including waste water
management, policy.
1 Sir Michael Pitt, Learning Lessons from the 2007
Floods, December 2007. Back
2
Anna Walker, The Independent Review of Charging for Household
Water and Sewerage Services; Interim Report, June 2009. Back
3
Professor Martin Cave, Independent Review of Competition in
Water Markets; Final Report, April 2009. Back
4
The Minister was accompanied by Sonia Phippard, Director,
Water, Floods, Environmental Risk and Regulation, Defra. Back
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