Written question asked by Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party) on Wednesday, 18 April 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 20 April 2007. It was answered by David Cairns (Labour) on Friday, 20 April 2007 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Water

Question: (2) what the status is of the septic tank emptying agreements between Northern Ireland Water and households in Northern Ireland; what direct communication the households concerned have received on the alteration of the agreements; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The Water and Sewerage Services (NI) Order 2006 transferred responsibility for the delivery of water and sewerage services from the Department’s Water Service Agency to a statutory water and sewerage undertaker. A government-owned company, Northern Ireland Water (NIW) has been appointed as the undertaker and the issues raised are operational matters for it. I have asked the Chief Executive of NIW (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to these questions.

Secondary information