Written Ministerial Statement by Phil Woolas: Progress report on action taken by Government to encourage the conservation of water - 21 July 2008
The Minister for the Environment (Mr Phil Woolas)
My Right Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn) has today laid before Parliament a progress report as required by Section 81 of the Water Act 2003, setting out the action taken by Government to encourage the conservation of water during the period 1 April 2004 – 31 March 2007 and the steps Government proposes to take in the future.
This is the first such report we have prepared. The first report was due to cover the three year period from 1 April 2004 – 31 March 2007. However, the drought of 2004-06 together with the subsequent development, with stakeholders, of a new water strategy for England enables us to present a comprehensive report to Parliament, particularly in respect of our future proposals.
We published our water strategy for England, Future Water, in February 2008, which provides a comprehensive forward look of the Government’s plans for water in the future. The key message contained in Future Water was that we all need to value water and take responsibility for protecting this essential and unique resource. Today’s report sets out the Government’s contribution to date and our plans for the future to help achieve this aim.
A copy of the report is also available of the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/conserve/what.htm
Page published: 21 July 2008