That this House welcomes OFWAT's conclusions to its approval of companies' charges schemes in 2001-02 Consultation Paper; and agrees that it would be simpler to require companies to adopt all private sewers than introduce a system of reduced charges for customers with unadopted sewers.

That this House welcomes OFWAT's conclusions to its approval of companies' charges schemes in 2001-02 Consultation Paper; and agrees that it would be simpler to require companies to adopt all private sewers than introduce a system of reduced charges for customers with unadopted sewers.

That this House welcomes the conclusions, recommendations and objectives in the Second Report of the House of Commons Committee on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs on sewage treatment and disposal, which is aimed at improving water quality; calls on the Government to immediately instruct the regulatory body OFWAT and the Environment Agency that the tough guideline bathing water quality standards, as described in the EU Bathing Water Directive, be met at all designated bathing sites and therefore, the financing of these improvements be prioritised ahead of price cuts or increased company profits in the AMP3 periodic review, believes that where it is necessary to fulfil the objective of meeting guideline standards the Government should end the use of high natural dispersion areas as a mechanism for exempting water authorities from the installation of secondary treatment, a basic requirement of the European Waste Water Treatment Directive; and considers that the above measures are essential if the public is to regain confidence in the U.K.'s coastal bathing waters, which are so important to the economic health of its coastal resorts and to eliminate the public health risk.

That this House welcomes the conclusions, recommendations and objectives in the Second Report of the House of Commons Committee on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs on sewage treatment and disposal, which is aimed at improving water quality; calls on the Government to immediately instruct the regulatory body OFWAT and...

That this House endorses the view of the Water Regulator at the launch of his Annual Report on Friday that the water industry is experiencing a loss of public confidence; expresses surprise that he did not accept the Regulator's role in this; deplores the record of the industry since privatisation of increasing prices, decreasing investment in infrastructure renewals and repair and company leakage figures which have actually increased; believes that Mr Byatt's continued obsessive campaign on metering ignores the concerns over the social and health costs of water metering installation, and constitutes undue discrimination against 90 per cent. of domestic customers who pay on the basis of their property value which is an effective way of distributing the cost of the service fairly between rich and poor; and is seriously concerned that the regulatory regime is becoming more concerned to defend its past record than to bring forward tighter regulation in order to restore public confidence.

That this House endorses the view of the Water Regulator at the launch of his Annual Report on Friday that the water industry is experiencing a loss of public confidence; expresses surprise that he did not accept the Regulator's role in this; deplores the record of the industry since privatisation...

That this House notes the criticism made by the Director of Water Services of the management of North West Water, South West Water and Yorkshire Water; especially notes the application by the latter company for a 24 hour drought order, potentially leaving half a million domestic customers and many industrial users without water, despite promises to reduce leakage and introduce a grid to improve the supply; believes that all three water and sewerage companies should be the subject of a full public investigation under the auspices of the Environment Committee; and urges the Government to review the powers of the regulator, particularly with reference to penalising companies for inadequate performance with mandatory compensation payments.

That this House notes the criticism made by the Director of Water Services of the management of North West Water, South West Water and Yorkshire Water; especially notes the application by the latter company for a 24 hour drought order, potentially leaving half a million domestic customers and many industrial...

That this House notes OFWAT has ended its contract with Ludgate Laud, the lobbying company whose directors include the honourable Member for Romsey and Waterside; further notes OFWAT are to appoint a parliamentary and briefing officer at a salary of ??26,000 a year; understands the person appointed is expected to take OFWAT's voice into the 'corridors of power' in the House; and trusts that the House authorities will ensure this OFWAT official is not issued with an official pass in his or her own right or if they seek to masquerade as a 'researcher' or a 'personal assistant' to an honourable Member.

That this House notes OFWAT has ended its contract with Ludgate Laud, the lobbying company whose directors include the honourable Member for Romsey and Waterside; further notes OFWAT are to appoint a parliamentary and briefing officer at a salary of ??26,000 a year; understands the person appointed is expected to...

That this House condemns the continued refusal by Ian Byatt, Director-General of OFWAT, to disclose how much OFWAT is paying to hire Ludgate Laud, the London-based lobbyists, primarily to arrange meetings between Mr.Byatt and Labour honourable Members; and believes public organisations funded by the taxpayer should be required to reveal how much taxpayers' money they are spending on political lobbyists.

That this House condemns the continued refusal by Ian Byatt, Director-General of OFWAT, to disclose how much OFWAT is paying to hire Ludgate Laud, the London-based lobbyists, primarily to arrange meetings between Mr.Byatt and Labour honourable Members; and believes public organisations funded by the taxpayer should be required to reveal...

That this House is appalled that Welsh Water plc has been permitted by the Office of Water Regulation and the Welsh Office, its previous sponsoring department, to defraud its consumers of ??9.9 million through the entirely secret deal allowed by the Welsh Office in 1989 and extended by the Office of Water Regulation in February 1994 to overcharge consumers on the ostensible premise that the sum allocated was to be spent on sewer renewal, but which the Sewer Renovation Federation has now established has been banked by Welsh Water and the other water and sewerage franchise monopolies; is shocked that the so-called consumer watchdog, the Director-General of the Office of Water Regulation, has connived in this deception of the consumer; and calls on the Secretary of State for Wales and the said Director-General to refund to Welsh Water consumers the ??9.9 million taken under false pretences and hidden from view of both the taxpayer and consumer in a manner that constitutes a travesty of open and honest government.

That this House is appalled that Welsh Water plc has been permitted by the Office of Water Regulation and the Welsh Office, its previous sponsoring department, to defraud its consumers of ??9.9 million through the entirely secret deal allowed by the Welsh Office in 1989 and extended by the Office...

That this House condemns water companies for overcharging customers by ??280 million for infra-structure renewals which have not yet been carried out as revealed by the Independent on Sunday; believes that this is another example of the way privatisation of the water industry has been geared to ensure big profits at the expense of consumers and the environment; and further believes that it is unacceptable that OFWAT has proved ineffectual in upholding the interests of consumers, that the position of the Director-General of OFWAT is now untenable and that the present structure of OFWAT must be replaced by a regulator truly independent of the privatised water industry.

That this House condemns water companies for overcharging customers by ??280 million for infra-structure renewals which have not yet been carried out as revealed by the Independent on Sunday; believes that this is another example of the way privatisation of the water industry has been geared to ensure big profits...

That this House, believing that a regulatory body should be independent from those it regulates, congratulates the Yorkshire Post on revealing the network of appointments to the chairmanships of the regional consumer water services committees by Ian Byatt, Director-General of OFWAT; recognises that they show that nepotism, a close relationship to water companies and a willingness to accept his directives are far more important to him than the needs of consumers; knows that this is entirely consistent with his sacking of Diana Scott from the Yorkshire Committee because she represented consumers as she saw fit; and calls on him to resign forthwith and the Secretary of State for the Environment to ask for his resignation if it is not proffered.

That this House, believing that a regulatory body should be independent from those it regulates, congratulates the Yorkshire Post on revealing the network of appointments to the chairmanships of the regional consumer water services committees by Ian Byatt, Director-General of OFWAT; recognises that they show that nepotism, a close relationship...

That this House deplores the rise in water charges by three times the rate of inflation; notes that since water privatisation consumer charges have risen by up to 90 per cent.; understands that 48 water chiefs have received ??14 million in share options; believes that the regulator has failed to put consumer interests first, and has failed to reappoint Diana Scott, the Chairman of Yorkshire Customer Services Committee, who, unlike the regulator, has successfully put forward the views of consumers, even when they conflict with water company or Government policy; and calls on the Secretary of State to remove Ian Byatt from his position as Regulator of OFWAT, and establish an independent inquiry into the rise in water prices, profits, board room perks and the failure of water companies to give a fair deal to customers.

That this House deplores the rise in water charges by three times the rate of inflation; notes that since water privatisation consumer charges have risen by up to 90 per cent.; understands that 48 water chiefs have received ??14 million in share options; believes that the regulator has failed to...

That this House expresses its appreciation of the magnificent, sterling work of the Yorkshire Customer Services Committee of OFWAT, and in particular of Diana Scott, who has chaired the committee for the last four years, and the way in which she has represented the views of water consumers in Yorkshire who are adamantly opposed to compulsory metering of domestic water supplies and the disconnections thereof; and hopes that she will be reconfirmed in her position when it falls due next February.

That this House expresses its appreciation of the magnificent, sterling work of the Yorkshire Customer Services Committee of OFWAT, and in particular of Diana Scott, who has chaired the committee for the last four years, and the way in which she has represented the views of water consumers in Yorkshire...

That this House calls on the Secretary of State for Wales to launch an immediate thorough and independent investigation into the reasons why the rate of disconnections by Welsh Water plc was three times the national average and to establish what groups, families and individuals bear the brunt of these disconnections; notes that the Director General of Ofwat expressed concern over last year's figures and yet is only now promising an inquiry; and considers that a more far-reaching investigation is necessary (a) to identify root causes of non-payment, (b) to identify the impact of economic and social factors and the problems arising from poverty in Wales on the disconnection figures and (c) to consider whether disconnection of a necessity for life is an appropriate power in circumstances where most plcs and public bodies would have to use recovery methods which are subject to legal protections and greater scrutiny.

That this House calls on the Secretary of State for Wales to launch an immediate thorough and independent investigation into the reasons why the rate of disconnections by Welsh Water plc was three times the national average and to establish what groups, families and individuals bear the brunt of these...