Written question asked by Lord Burnett (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 30 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 2 February 2001. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Friday, 2 February 2001 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what powers he has to regulate the presence of radon and similar contaminates in drinking water in the United Kingdom.

Answer: Mr. Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to regulate the presence of radon and similar contaminates in drinking water in the United Kingdom. [148423] Mr. Robert Ainsworth: Regulations governing the quality of public water supplies require water undertakers to ensure that the water supplied contains no element, organism or substance in the water at a concentration or value which would be detrimental to human health. These Regulations are enforced in England and Wales by the drinking water inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales. Local authorities have powers to enforce similar provisions in respect of private water supplies.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 148423; 362 c315W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Contamination Drinking water Monitoring Water supply Water companies Radon gas Natural radioactivity
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk