- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive why it considers that the household sector would not benefit from competition in the provision of sewerage services.
Answer
Paragraphs A14 to A16 of theconsultation paper on the draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill (Bib. Number.29575) make clear that the Executive considers, in light of the currentarrangements for charging the household sector, that it is unlikely that retailcompetition for water or sewerage services would develop in a manner that wouldbenefit all domestic customers.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place to prevent water or sewerage service retail licensees from charging high amounts for services under the provision of the Draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
Under the proposals outlinedin the Executive’s consultation on the draft Water Services (Scotland)Bill (Bib. Number. 29575), the amounts charged by retailers will reflect theservices that they offer to non-household customers and customers’willingness to pay for these services. As is made clear, in paragraph A23 of the consultation paper, the charges set by new retailers will not be regulated,but will instead be agreed between supplier and customer in a competitivemarket.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what customer protection is provided for in the Draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
Paragraph A23 of theconsultation paper on the draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill (Bib Number.29575) proposes that the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland’s dutiesshould be extended. Under this proposal the Commissioner would be given ageneral function to promote the interests of all customers connected to thepublic networks, whether served by Scottish Water or a retailer.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it has identified in respect of disallowing competition in the sewage treatment sector.
Answer
The benefits of prohibiting thirdparties from drawing sewage from the public networks for treatment, are set outat paragraphs A11 and A12 of the consultation paper on the draft Water Services(Scotland) Bill (Bib. Number. 29575). These benefits include minimising the riskof interruption to supply and damage to public infrastructure, which couldresult in pollution, sewage flooding and damage to the environment.
As the consultation papermakes clear, waste water treatment by third parties who are not connected tothe public networks will be unaffected by the bill.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish Water expects drinking water supplies will meet relevant national standards in relation to trihalomethanes.
Answer
This is an operationalmatter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to writeto you about this matter.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 9 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what external and independent advice was received by Scottish Water when shortlisting bidding consortia during the process leading to the establishment of Scottish Water Solutions Ltd.
Answer
This is an operationalmatter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to writeto you about this matter.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 9 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive why the Procurator Fiscal decided to take no further action on the report submitted to him in respect of an alleged breach of section 76C of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 by Scottish Water in North Ayrshire on 16 April 2002.
Answer
In any case reported to aProcurator Fiscal, a decision will be made in the public interest whether toprosecute or take alternative action, including taking no proceedings. It is animportant feature of our criminal justice system that Procurators Fiscal makedecisions independently and in the public interest. This prosecutorialindependence is enshrined in the Scotland Act.
The decision in this casewas taken after consideration of all of the circumstances of the case andconsultation with the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland. Iunderstand that procedures were introduced by Scottish Water very quickly afterthis incident which should avoid future incidents of this kind.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 9 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the remuneration is of each director of Scottish Water Solutions Ltd.
Answer
This is an operationalmatter for the board of Scottish Water and they have been asked to write to youabout this matter.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 9 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water will be able to establish further joint ventures such as that with Scottish Water Solutions Ltd if the Draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill is enacted.
Answer
The draft Water Services (Scotland)Bill has no bearing on Scottish Water’s power to enter into joint ventures asprovided for by section 25 of the Water Industry (Scotland)Act 2002.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 9 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts or other documents have established the legal relationship between Scottish Water and Scottish Water Solutions Ltd and whether such documents will be made publicly available.
Answer
This is an operation matterfor the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to write to youabout this matter.
