Consultation on draft statutory social and environmental guidance to Ofwat
Water Supply and Regulation DivisionDefra
Ergon House, Area 2D
Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 2AL
Telephone 020 7238 5098
Website www.defra.gov.uk
7 February 2008
Dear Consultee
Consultation on draft Statutory Social and Environmental Guidance to Ofwat
1. I am writing to invite views on draft statutory Social and Environmental Guidance to the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat).
2.The Water Industry Act 1991, as amended by the Water Act 2003, gave the Secretary of State powers to issue Social and Environmental Guidance to Ofwat. The draft Guidance is being published alongside a new Water Strategy for England, Future Water. In reflecting the policies set out in Future Water, it is one of the means by which the Strategy's priorities can begin to be delivered. The draft Guidance concerns Ofwat’s activities regulating water and sewerage undertakers whose appointment areas fall wholly or mainly in England and licensed suppliers operating in those areas. Welsh ministers will be issuing separate Guidance in respect of Ofwat’s activities for appointment areas which are wholly or mainly in Wales.
3. The full consultation document together with a list of consultees can be found on Defra’s website: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ofwat-guidance/
4. If you wish to obtain a copy of this consultation, please contact:
Consultation on Guidance to Ofwat
Water Supply and Regulation Division
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
2C Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London, SWiP 2AL
Email: ofwat.guidance@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Fax: 020 7238 5105
Responses
5. Please send responses to either: Consultation on Guidance to Ofwat (as above) or email: ofwat.guidance@defra.gsi.gov.uk
6. Responses should be received by 30 April 2008.
7. In line with Defra´s policy of openness, at the end of the consultation period copies of the responses we receive will be made publicly available through the Defra Information Resource Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR. The information they contain will also be published in a summary of responses.
8. If you do not consent to this, you must clearly request that your response be treated confidentially. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in e-mail responses will not be treated as such a request. You should also be aware that there may be circumstances in which Defra will be required to communicate information to third parties on request, in order to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations.
9. The library will supply copies of consultation responses to personal callers or in response to telephone or email requests (tel: 020 7238 6575, email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk Wherever possible, personal callers should give the library at least 24 hours notice of their requirements. An administrative charge will be made to cover photocopying and postage costs.
10. If you have any comments or complaints about the consultation process, as opposed to the content of the consultation paper, please address them to Marjorie Addo Defra’s Consultation Co-ordinator, Area 7B Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, or email consultation.coordinator@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
11. This consultation paper has been produced in accordance with the Better Regulation Executive Guidance on written consultation as set out at http://bre.berr.gov.uk/regulation/consultation. This includes:
- Consult widely throughout the process, allowing a minimum of 12 weeks for written consultation at least once during the development of the policy
- Be clear about what your proposals are, who may be affected, what questions are being asked and the timescale for responses
- Ensure that your consultation is clear, concise and widely accessible
- Give feedback regarding the responses received and how the consultation process influenced the policy
- Monitor your department’s effectiveness at consultation , including through the use of the designated consultation co-ordinator
- Ensure your consultation follows better regulation best practice, including carrying out a Regulatory Impact Assessment if appropriate
Related consultation
12. You may also be interested in a second consultation that Defra is issuing today on surface water drainage. In line with the initial conclusions of Sir Michael Pitt’s Review on Learning Lessons from the 2007 floods, this consultation considers policy measures to improve the way that surface water runoff is managed. In particular, it proposes: (1) using Surface Water Management Plans as a tool to improve co-ordination between stakeholders involved in drainage and local management of flood risk; (2) increasing uptake of sustainable drainage systems by clarifying responsibilities for adoption and management; and (3) reviewing the ability for premises to connect surface water drainage automatically into the public sewer system (Section 106 of Water Industry Act 1991).
13. We welcome your views and comments on the draft Guidance. If you have any queries please contact us as above.
Yours sincerely,
Richard WoodDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Page published: February 7 2008