Written question asked by Jonathan Sayeed (Conservative) on Wednesday, 15 January 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 January 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 22 January 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will estimate the overall costs to the United Kingdom that will be incurred by the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. - Inc figure and ref to Dep 01/464.

Answer: Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the overall costs to the United Kingdom that will be incurred by the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. [91932] Mr. Morley: In England and Wales a preliminary assessment of the costs and benefits of implementing the Directive was set out in the first consultation paper issued jointly by the then Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the National Assembly for Wales. The study estimated total costs in the range of £2 billion to £9.2 billion. A copy of the paper is in the House Library. These costs will be updated in the revised Regulatory Impact Assessment which is in progress and which will be published with the Third Consultation Paper which will be published this year. Implementation of the directive in the United Kingdom is a devolved matter. Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government are working jointly on transposition.

Secondary information