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The 2004 periodic review of water price limits - January 2003

Initial guidance from the Secretary of State to the Director-General of Water Services

In preparation for the 2004 Periodic Review of water price limits, the Secretary of State published initial guidance to the Director General of Water Services on 21st January 2003.

The guidance sets out potential policy requirements that may affect water companies in the period 2005 - 2010. In particular, it sets out a number of potential improvements that companies may be expected to make in their water resources policies, on drinking water quality and to help environmental water quality.

In a Ministerial Statement to the House of Commons, Secretary of State Margaret Beckett said:

"The guidance is about ensuring regulators and water companies take account of future policies affecting the water and sewerage industries, be they environmental, social or economic. Previous periodic reviews have produced ambitious and successful programmes of improvement in water and environmental quality. The Government will expect these gains to be maintained and, where possible, further improvements to be made. In deciding how far and how fast to take improvement programmes the Government will also take account of the effects on customers."

This initial guidance will be followed up by the Secretary of State's Principal Guidance to the Director General in January 2004 which will give decisions on which policies should proceed.

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Page published 21 January 2003;
Page last modified 5 February, 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs