Committee
Transport and the Environment Committee, 23 Jan 2002
23 Jan 2002 · S1 · Transport and the Environment Committee
Item of business
Water Industry (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
The committee is aware of all the other amendments that the Executive will lodge at stage 3, and I wanted to ensure that this particular amendment did not come as a surprise to members.The intention behind the amendment is to address current arrangements on the reasonable cost obligation that can result in the water authorities making payments to developers in excess of £1,500 per property.We want to replace those arrangements with an approach whereby Scottish Water will contribute to the cost of developments where such a contribution can be justified by reference to any future revenue and costs that it might incur from the development. The organisation will do so on the basis of regulations made by ministers, which will be the subject of consultation with all interested parties such as the local authorities, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the drinking water quality regulator, the water industry commissioner and developers' and builders' representatives. The consultation will allow them to comment in detail on how the principle will be applied in practice.The other issue is a new approach to first-time connections to the public network in the interests of environmental protection and public health as part of the quality standards exercise. In future, those needs will be considered as part of the process under which ministers will consult on the standards and improvements that Scottish Water will deliver. To allow for that, section 32(4)(d) of the bill explicitly provides that the cost of extending the public networks in accordance with ministers' requirements should be taken into account by the commissioner in the strategic review of charges.The provisions will allow Scottish Water to target resources for new developments in accordance with objective cost-benefit analysis or in line with public health or environmental protection priorities as determined through the consultation on the quality standards exercise. I hope that my comments meet with the committee's approval and I will be happy to answer any questions.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
Agenda item 2 is continuation of our stage 2 consideration of the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill. In addition to the members that I mentioned at the start of...
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Allan Wilson):
Lab
The committee is aware of all the other amendments that the Executive will lodge at stage 3, and I wanted to ensure that this particular amendment did not co...
The Convener:
Lab
I will accept short questions for the minister on this issue, but I would prefer that any extended questions be dealt with in writing. In any case, we will h...
Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
I have a short question for the minister. I understand the necessity of bringing forward this issue and I am grateful to the minister for writing to us. The ...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
That is a fair point. I hope that the consultation process will highlight such issues. It is not our intention to subvert structure plans in any direction th...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
What impact will this have on remoter rural areas, where linking people to a water supply often incurs high costs?
Allan Wilson:
Lab
Obviously, there is no blank cheque. Our proposal addresses the current problems, and the enabling powers will help us to resolve what constitutes reasonable...
The Convener:
Lab
Before we consider today's first amendment, I ask members to be as disciplined as possible in their contributions. With a fair wind, we should be able to com...
Section 35—Collection of charges by local authority
The Convener:
Lab
Amendment 77 is grouped with amendments 78, 79, 94, 31 and 32.
Allan Wilson:
Lab
Amendments 77, 78 and 79 are drafting changes that are connected to amendments 75 and 76, which were debated last week. The three amendments make it clear th...
John Scott (Ayr) (Con):
Con
Amendment 94 is about further checks and balances and the water industry commissioner being made aware of problems faced by individual customers. It further ...
Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I would like clarification on amendment 32. Could the minister outline the circumstances under which the new section introduced in that amendment will apply ...
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
I am concerned about amendments 31 and 32, which the minister said were minor amendments. I spoke to officials from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorit...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
COSLA has not made such representations to me, although I am not disputing with Bruce Crawford what its officials said. However, I think that the committee s...
The Convener:
Lab
If I may inform members, paragraph 65 of the stage 1 report refers to the issue. I will not read out the whole paragraph, but it says:"While, in principle, w...
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
I accept that the Transport and the Environment Committee wanted this amendment. However, it would be useful if the minister would consult COSLA on the amend...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I am happy to take on board Bruce Crawford's point and to hear what COSLA has to say. If there is a problem, we will address it.
Amendment 77 agreed to.
Amendments 78 and 79 moved—Allan Wilson—and agreed to.
Amendment 94 moved—John Scott.
The Convener:
Lab
The question is, that amendment 94 be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Members:
No.
The Convener:
Lab
There will be a division.
ForIngram, Mr Adam (South of Scotland) (SNP)McLeod, Fiona (West of Scotland) (SNP)Scott, John (Ayr) (Con)AgainstHarper, Robin (Lothians) (Green)MacKay, Angus...
The Convener:
Lab
The result of the division is: For 3, Against 5, Abstentions 0.
Amendment 94 disagreed to.
Amendment 31 moved—Allan Wilson—and agreed to.
Amendment 95 not moved.
Section 35, as amended, agreed to.