Written evidence submitted by The Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
1. Defra's structural reform plan[13]
commits the Government to "implement the findings of the
Pitt Review to improve our flood defences and prevent unnecessary
buildings in areas of high flood risk"; and to "reform
the water industry to enhance competition and improve conservation".
2. On the latter, the reform plan commits
the Government to publish a White Paper in June 2011 on reform
of the water industry to ensure more efficient use of water and
to protect poorer households, and put the required legislation
in place by November 2012. The Water White Paper will be developed
closely alongside the Natural Environment White Paper. The Natural
Environment White Paper will be broader in scope and will consider
our wider water environment including the effects of pollution
and water availability.
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
WHITE PAPER—TO
BE PUBLISHED
APRIL 2011
3. Major pressures on the environment are
driving continued use of natural resources beyond their capacity
for renewal and causing ongoing damage to our natural systems.
In general, these pressures are now systemic, diffuse and cumulative
in character, as opposed to the "point source" pollution
which much existing environmental policy was designed to address.
This suggests a need for future policy to focus on the ecosystem
as a whole, rather than separate facets in isolation.
4. The Natural Environment White Paper will
articulate a new, compelling and integrated vision about the value
of our natural environment, capital and services. It will set
out a programme of actions designed to put the value of the natural
environment at the heart of Government accounting and decision-making.
It will take in policy on marine, air quality, biodiversity, soil,
landscape and recreation and water.
5. The White Paper will be a key part of
the commitment to be "the Greenest Government ever".
THE WATER
WHITE PAPER—TO
BE PUBLISHED
JUNE 2011
6. The Water White Paper will cover the
following themes:
— securing sustainable water supplies;
— increasing choice and delivering better
value to customers;
— modernising the current regulatory system;
— ensuring fair and affordable water charges;
and
— incentivising water conservation.
7. The intention is for the White Paper
to set the high-level strategic framework for the next Ofwat Price
Review, taking into account the various reviews to date, including:
— Anna Walker's Review of charging for
household water and sewerage services (we will be consulting on
proposals on this later in the year, although many of Anna Walker's
recommendations do not require consultation or new legislation);
— Martin Cave's Review of competition and
innovation; and
— Our review of Ofwat, being led by David
Gray—due to conclude in March 2011.
8. We will be considering the need for legislation
to implement the policies outlined in the White Paper. Regulation
will only be pursued once non-legislative options have been ruled
out. However, some deregulatory measures under consideration would
themselves require primary legislation.
REMAINING MEASURES
FROM THE
DRAFT FLOOD
AND WATER
MANAGEMENT BILL
9. Government is currently considering the
case for bringing forward the other measures included within the
draft Flood and Water Management Bill which were not included
in the final Act. Whether and how quickly these measures come
forward will be subject to our stringent tests on the need for
new legislation, as well as the availability of Parliamentary
time.
FLOOD AND
WATER MANAGEMENT
ACT 2010 IMPLEMENTATION
10. The first commencement order for the
Act was laid in Parliament on 31 August; commencing powers to
make orders under section 4(2) (f) and section 36 of the Act.
These powers have been used by ministers to make two orders (Flood
Risk Management Functions Order and the Water Use (Temporary Bans)
Order) which came into force on 1 October.
11. Also commencing on the 1 October were
definitions within the Act; statutory instrument making powers;
and the provisions that require the Environment Agency and local
authorities to develop strategies for risk management. The main
responsibilities for local authorities are expected to start in
the spring, coinciding with the start of the next spending period
and the availability of funding released by the transfer of private
sewers. The implementation timetable is subject to change as we
re-examine the case for introducing further regulation.
SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE
SYSTEMS (SUDS)
12. We are currently scoping the regulations
for aspects of approvals and appeals, adoption and enforcement.
We are also preparing draft SuDS National Standards. The technical
standards should provide a framework to guide decision-making,
but be flexible enough to take account of local and site-specific
circumstances. We intend to consult on the timescale of implementation
of SuDs provisions, but do not anticipate these will be in place
earlier than the common commencement date of October next year.
13. The Government is currently considering
options including around the requirement for approval and whether
a phased approach would give local authorities, developers and
others time to familiarise themselves with the new requirements.
Under this scenario new SuDS would be approved, built and adopted
over time, which would see funding requirements grow progressively
in a manageable way.
14. We are developing options for long-term
funding for adoption. Initially, SuDS adoption will be funded
from the transfer of private sewers.
TRANSFER OF
EXISTING PRIVATE
SEWERS AND
DRAINS TO
WATER AND
SEWERAGE COMPANIES
(WASCS)
15. A joint consultation with the Welsh
Assembly Government is currently underway on regulations that
would implement the transfer to WaSCs from October 2011 of private
sewers that drain to the public sewerage system. The transfer
of pumping stations is proposed to take place by October 2016
to allow water and sewerage companies time to resolve technical
and health and safety concerns.
16. The government proposes that new sewers
intended to connect to the public system should automatically
be adopted by WaSCs. A mandatory build standard for new drains
and sewers will help to ensure that there is certainty and consistency
in what gets built and what is required of developers. Discussion
of the detailed standards with stakeholders is ongoing and a public
consultation is proposed for later this year.
October 2010
13 http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/about/our-priorities/ Back
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